I have nothing against banana bread. It’s a favorite with just about everyone. But relegating over-ripe bananas to just banana bread is like insisting cauliflower can only be eaten steamed. It’s such a sad waste of talent and potential. (Not to digress, but for cryin’ out loud, cauliflower can be roasted and mashed, used in soups, made into “rice,” “tater tots,” “hashbrowns,” “buffalo wings,” used as a pizza crust, and even made into a bread. You get the point…)

So back to my over-ripe banana theme. You savvy Cook’n cooks likely already know lots of ways to put old bananas to work. Banana muffins, cake, cookies, pancakes, and waffles; bananas Foster; banana shakes and smoothies; banana puddings; frozen banana “ice cream” (bananas blended with Greek yogurt); pan-fried cinnamon bananas; banana cheesecake; banana oatmeal; and so on, are just some of the ways this versatile fruit can be used.

But here’s an idea I’d never thought of. It came from Melissa Breyer of www.care2.com a few years ago. She asked us to consider skipping the banana bread routine and make something that would feed our skin instead. She suggested we make a natural body scrub with our over-ripe bananas, and provided a recipe for a luxuriant yet simple homemade banana sugar scrub.

Sure, there are lots of commercial bath scrubs out there, but we want to think twice before using these. The skin is the largest organ of the body and will absorb what’s applied to it. Preservatives, chemicals, artificial fragrances and colors, and other mystery ingredients are all part of commercial bath products. These are readily absorbed and put a heavy burden on the liver and kidneys (the guys in charge of handling all incoming toxins). So, seriously consider trading out the commercial junk for something that will nourish and smooth your skin instead.

Turns out, research shows bananas are a “natural” for body care. Their creamy pulp is luscious and soothing, and works well as a carrier for other ingredients. Banana is nourishing (loads of potassium the skin can actually use) and moisturizing, and can be used for gentle exfoliation and skin-tightening.

In this simple formula, bananas and sugar are combined for a wonderfully aromatic and gentle exfoliating body scrub. I always check reader comments attached to online articles, and I was happy to see that other readers were having happy results with this recipe and leaving positive reviews. Folks said the aroma was amazing and their skin felt wonderful long after their showers.

Another positive people mentioned was how the scrub rinsed down the drain—the banana easily dissolved as the water from the shower hit it. The only downside, if it’s a downside at all, is that it should be used VERY quickly because the sugar starts dissolving immediately, minimizing the exfoliation effect.

Finally, I’ll add one tip to Melissa’s wonderful idea, one you’re likely already doing: Never hesitate to freeze your bananas. I’d suggest peeling them first for easier use later on. This way you always have bananas on hand for your smoothies, baking, or this nourishing scrub.

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