1. When it comes to nutritional value, oranges are right there among the top
2. They are easy to digest and help the body get rid of toxins
3. They are good for the health of your hair, skin and nails
4. Oranges protect us from viral infections like common colds and flu and also arm us against cancer
5. The fibre in oranges aids in lowering unhealthy levels of cholesterol in the blood
6. Their potassium and magnesium content help to lower blood pressure
7. The magnesium in oranges helps to strengthen the teeth and bones
8. The natural sugar present in oranges helps to satiate sugar cravings—safe even for diabetics
9. The pectin and fibre in oranges help to ease constipation.
10. Known as a magical fruit for weight watchers, oranges are a wonderful snack in-between meals—they curb your hunger pangs and prevent binge eating.

How and when to eat them

Eating whole orange is preferable to drinking concentrated juice. When buying packaged orange juice, check the nutritional value and avoid if it contains sugar or artificial sweeteners. Also remember, our rate of metabolism is low towards the end of the day, so it’s best to avoid consuming oranges after dinner as doing so can spike up your sugar levels.

Wait! Don’t throw the peel away

Orange peels also provide multiple benefits just like the pulp. Though it is bitter/sour in taste, this edible cover contains fibre, flavanoids and other nutrients.

Orange peels can be sun dried, powdered and then used in food preparation as well as for face or hair packs/masks.

Orange peel powder is a commonly used ingredient in many cosmetic products. It can help reduce blackheads, whiteheads, oily skin and provides a beautiful glow to the skin.

Weekly orange face pack:

• One tsp of orange peel powder
• One tsp of neem powder [readily available in ayurvedic shops]
• One tsp of multani mitti
• Few drop of honey
• Mix well and apply

Leave it on your skin for 15 minutes and then wash it off your face.

For long lustrous hair and to rid your scalp of dandruff, add some powdered orange peel to coconut oil and massage it on your scalp. Leave this overnight and rinse the next morning with a mild shampoo. This helps to stimulate hair growth.

Orange peels can also be added along with essential oils to your bathing water as it has a relaxing effect and also helps soften the skin.

This was first published in the January 2016 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

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Did you know that the banana plant is not a tree? It is actually the world’s largest herb!

There are over 300 species of bananas; however, only 20 are commercially cultivated. Also, there are two main varieties of the fruit: the sweet banana [the fruit] and the plantain [the cooking banana].

Health benefits

1. Constipation

Bananas are rich in fibre. Including ripe bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, and also overcome the problem of constipation without resorting to the use of laxatives. Avoid unripe bananas though as they are known to cause constipation.

2. Depression

Bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, the feel-good hormone. This is known to aid you to relax, improve your mood and make you feel happy.

3. Heartburn

Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body. If you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

4. Morning Sickness

Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

5. Mosquito bites

Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly useful for reducing the swelling and irritation.

6. Hangover

One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey (see recipe below). Banana calms the stomach and, with the help of honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels. Milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

7. Post-menstrual-syndrome [PMS]

Vitamin B6 in banana regulates your moody blues—a common symptom of PMS.

8. Warts

Some naturopaths believe that a banana peel can eradicate a wart. Take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape.

9. Hypertension

Some doctors in India reckon that eating two bananas a day can reduce blood pressure by 10 per cent—in just a week’s time.

Banana Recipes

Breakfast Banana Shake

Ingredients

• 300 ml skimmed milk
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 ice cubes
• 1 medium-sized banana-slice

Directions

Blend all the above ingredients at high speed. Pour into a tall glass and sprinkle some cinnamon or chocolate powder on the top.

This serves as an excellent breakfast, ready in minutes. It also gives you all the necessary nutrients to start your day. Your kids will love it, too. Also, “victims” of Saturday Night Fever claim this to be a great cure for their hangover.

Banana Loaf Recipe

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups unbleached flour [you can also substitute with wheat flour to make it a healthy food — but, for this, you need to add 2 beaten eggs to the wet ingredients]
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 very ripe bananas
• 1 tablespoon cooking oil
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon cooking oil
• 2 teaspoon baking powder.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt, in a large bowl.
3. Mash bananas, and add one tablespoon oil, white sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla, in a small bowl. Add beaten eggs to this if you are using wheat flour. You can add your choice of nuts to this mixture too. Walnuts and banana, for instance, make a great combination.
4. In a separate bowl, mix two tablespoon water, one tablespoon oil, and two teaspoons of baking powder. It gets fizzy and this is the secret to the moist soft loaf. Add mixture to the wet mixture in a small bowl and mix well. Now add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir until well blended.
5. Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 50-55 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a wooden toothpick stuck in the centre comes out clean. Let the bread cool for about 10 minutes.

Serve as a tea snack or a healthy dessert. Also, warm bread can be served with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream.

Another advantage: the next time your bananas get over-ripe, you know what to do!

Last updated on 2^nd July 2020

The post 9 health benefits of bananas + 2 nutritious banana recipes appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.