This secret ingredient will elevate your Memorial Day recovery smoothie

While Monday is for hot dogs, pool parties, and spiked drinks, Tuesday may call for some recovery. Whether you’re healing from your Memorial Day sunburn, or healing from your headache, this cure-all smoothie trick is the newest and best way for Westerners to amp up your fruity concoction.

For Americans, the banana peel is something that we waste and throw away. For people in other countries, especially India, the banana peel has always been a staple in their diet. Environmental benefits are another part of eating a banana peel. The banana was America’s most popular fruit in 2013 and the average citizen eats 11.4 pounds of bananas a year. That means that for each person, we eat 38 bananas, and about 12 billon in the entire country. So, as you can imagine, that’s a lot of waste.

We all know to add some citrus, a little bit of mango, possibly some spinach, every now and then a carrot. But, have you tried this necessarily and nutritious addition to your smoothie? Banana lovers, behold: the banana peel. Yes, you read that right. The banana peel has more nutrients than the pulp, and what’s better is that you don’t have to waste it. You can add it right into your blender!

When the peel is completely black, that’s when the nutrients in the pulp are at it’s richest. The pulp contains vitamins B-6 and B-12, and the peel has even more of these nutrients.

Start off by, obviously, peeling the banana and throwing away the stem. Using a high-powered blender, mix up the peel with various other fruits for the best flavor.

What are some reasons to include a banana peel into your smoothie?

1 It boosts your mood

While you’re sad about your Memorial Day festivities being over, your banana peel can help ease your woes. Banana peels have tryptophan, which is a mood booster, as well as serotonin.

2 It protects your heart

Bananas are high in potassium, which balances your fluids, and therefore, protects you against heart disease. By eating the pulp and the peel together, you’re adding the needed nutrients to your body.

3 It provides hydration 

Like all smoothies, it will hydrate you after a long day out in the sun. The extra antioxidants in the peel helps your body fight against cancer.

Some other benefits of a banana peel include treatment for acne, wrinkles, smoothing out warts, and reducing inflammation. Whatever your preferred method may be, banana peels and their benefits are at our finger tips. Don’t let it go to waste!