6 Hidden Health Benefits of Eating Peels, Stems and Rinds

Nutritional Benefits of Eating Swiss Chard Stems

A study by the Institute of Food Technology in Germany revealed that Swiss chard stems are loaded with glutamine, an amino acid that boosts the immune system and bolsters the body's ability to recover from injuries and surgery.

How to eat them: Bruce Sherman, a chef celebrated for his farm-fresh cuisine at Chicago's North Pond restaurant, ties the stems in bundles of six to eight with kitchen twine and braises them in vegetable stock, red wine vinegar, honey, and garlic for 20 to 30 minutes.