Nutritional Facts of Banana Peel and its Health Benefits

We all have been eating the banana and throwing off the banana peel. However, one thing which might surprise you is that you can also eat the banana peels. And yes! You read it right. Banana peels are not only edible but are also very healthy for you. There are a lot of nutritional benefits of banana peel and people from many countries have been benefiting from it. Read below to know the nutritional facts of banana peels and also know about some of its health benefits.

While the flesh of the banana fruit is soft and sweet, the skin or the banana peel is thicker, fiber and somewhat bitter. However, you can either boil, fry or bake the banana peel for at least 10 benefits and consume it to get the nutritional and other health benefits out of it.

• Banana peel is loaded with potassium and contains much more soluble and insoluble fiber than the banana fruit flesh.
• All this dietary fiber enhances better digestion and proper bowel movements and could even reduce the levels of blood cholesterol.
• Banana peel is also rich with antioxidants called Lutein, which could protect and enhance the eye health.
• Banana peels also contain Tryptophan, that is a mood-enhancing substance. This affects the mood much like the drug Prozac does.

1. Benefits of Banana Peel in Whitening of Teeth:

   Banana peel helps in teeth whitening. For smokers and for people drinking coffee regularly, teeth can get damaged. In such case, you might look for techniques of teeth whitening. So, you can consider using a home remedy having a banana peel for whitening your teeth. Clean your teeth with your toothbrush and the regular toothpaste and then rub in a banana peel in circular motion in your teeth for at least 2 minutes. Doing this two times in a day could get you positive results in whitening of teeth.

2. Skin Health Benefits of Banana Peel:

   There are a lot of skin health benefits of banana peel. Below are some of them.

Banana peel is known to eliminate warts in approximately 10 days. Warts are typical and may be somewhat unpleasant. They could be a sign of potassium deficiency in the body. Banana peels which are rich in potassium, may be beneficial in reducing the warts. Simple peel a banana and also cut a little section of the banana peel. Clean your affected area and then rub the banana peel on the wart. Alternatively, you can also leave the small banana peel piece around the wart and apply an adhesive bandage in the wart and leave it for overnight to see the improvement next morning.

You simply need to massage banana peels in your face and body for at least 5 minutes every day so as to avoid pimples. You can see effective results in a week’s time. Keep using the banana peel until acne vanishes.

The banana peel helps in maintaining the skin hydration. Just add an egg yolk in to a mashed banana peel and apply this mix in your face and allow it for 5 minutes. Then after, wash off your face in 5 minutes. This helps in reducing wrinkles.

Psoriasis is often a typical skin disorder. Banana peel when rubbed on the affected skin can help it heal in a natural manner. You will see the skin turning red while you use the banana peel, and gradually on regular use, you can see a big difference in your skin.

Banana peel is also beneficial for treating your skin, if you are allergic to the sort of food. All you need is to rub the skin on the affected portion of the body and wash them when it is dry. Rather than spending money on costly facial creams and covering, you may use a mixture created from banana peel and make use of it just like a cream. For preparing this mixture, mash 1/4 of the banana peel in a paste. Whisk an egg white in the mixture and add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to it. Use a thin layer of this cream and apply on your face, and let it to sit for at least 30 minutes. Use a clean cloth and tepid to warm water for eliminating the facial cream. You can store the remaining unused mixture in the refrigerator for 3 days approximately.

1. Benefits of Banana Peel as a Pain Reliever:

   One more benefit of banana peel is that it is used as a pain reliever. Using banana peel right on the painful area of the body and leaving it for 30 minutes can help in easing the pain. A combination of vegetable oil and banana peel will help with a better pain relief.

2. Banana Peel Benefits in Healing of Wounds:

   Banana peel can also be used to heal wounds. Simply rub the banana peel in the affected area and doing this helps the wound dry faster with all the scab formation. Moreover, it also helps to prevent the wound from leaving any indication.

3. Banana Peels Helps in Reducing Headaches:

   There is also the health benefit of banana peel for you if you are suffering from a headache. You need to mash the banana peel properly and place on the forehead to prevent the painful headache.

4. Eye Health Benefits of Banana Peel:

   There are also tremendous eye health benefits of banana peel.

Banana peel works great in safeguarding our eyes through the dangerous UV rays. Be very much sure that you leave the banana peel under the sun just before rubbing the peel in your eyes. It is also known to be beneficial in preventing cataracts.

Banana peel is known to have lutein, an additional carotenoid along with antecedent properties. It is recognized to reduce oxidative stress and also neutralize free radical to several organs, together along with your skin; but additionally offers excellent nutritional sustenance in your eyes. Lutein present in banana peel reduces the chance of macular degeneration and also cataracts, filters out the harmful UV rays and also protects your eyes from free radical damage.

Banana peels can be beneficial to combat tired and puffy eyes. You need to use the banana peel on your eyes just like you do with cucumbers and that would provide you bright and freshened look.

One more eye health benefit of banana peel is that it helps in treating dark circles. You can place small pieces of banana peel beneath your eyes after a tiring day, so as to deal with dark circles.

1. Banana Peels Help in Treating Anemia:

   There is another health benefit of banana peel. Banana peel contains large amount of fiber and iron and thus, consuming the peel can help in improving the condition in anemia.

2. Mental Health Benefits of Banana Peel:

   Talking about mental health benefits of banana peel; it is simply huge!

Banana peels are loaded with mood-boosting Serotonin; or a neurotransmitter that is derived from tryptophan. These banana peels are really a feel-good food and eating these peels can help you enhance your mood in a great way.

One more mental health benefits of banana peel is that it is beneficial for depression. Banana peels are loaded with serotonin that enhances mood and fights with depression, much like the drug Prozac and a lot of other mood enhancing drugs.

Research suggest that by consuming two banana peels every day for 3 continuous days, you have got a net 15% increase in serotonin level in your body.

Talking about tryptophan, banana peels are rich with this compound and it is an important amino acid that is often recommended in supplement form for dealing with sleep problems. Consuming banana peels may help you get a good night’s sleep.

1. Banana Peel Benefits in Lowering Cholesterol levels:

   The cholesterol levels can be reduced by increasing the consumption of fiber that helps in reducing the chance of heart attack and heart stroke. Banana peels are loaded with more soluble and insoluble fiber as compared to the fruit flesh of banana. So, you can consume the peel and lower the cholesterol levels to some extent.

2. Cardiovascular and Heart Health Benefits of Banana Peel:

   There are also some great cardiovascular and heart health benefits of banana peel. Banana peel may help remove atherosclerosis from the body, by avoiding cholesterol from sticking on the arterial walls.

   Moreover, being rich in both, soluble and insoluble fiber, banana peels are also beneficial in protecting your heart as they reduces cholesterol levels and help ward off complications from heart diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.

3. Banana Peel Benefits in Weight Loss and Obesity:

   As banana peels are loaded with fiber, they are keep you fill up and thus can be beneficial in dealing with weight loss and obesity as well. Moreover, they are not rich with calories and this could be an essential food to keep away excess weight from gathering at the waistline.

4. Banana Peel Helps Detox the Body and Enhance Immune System:

   Being rich in lot of fiber, you can create an excellent place for probiotic bacteria or good bacteria to grow within your colon and thus, enhance your immune system by consuming banana peels. Moreover, it also helps in eliminating constipation and also helps detox the body and make up a better functional immune system.

5. Banana Peel Benefits as an Anticancer Agent:

   Banana peels have active anticarcinogenic substances, which aid in avoiding cancer. Moreover, the peel also consists of crytoprotective agents and antimutagenic agents which reduces your risk of getting cancer. At the same time, there are also plenty of carotenoids and polyphenols in banana peel, just like that found in green tea, which help in maintaining your healthy and functional immune system.

6. Other Health Benefits of Banana Peel:

   Below are some of the other health benefits of banana peel.

   Red Blood Cell Protective Agent:

   As per research, banana peels are known to protect RBCs or Red blood cells from breaking down. Moreover, the green banana peels are found to be even more efficient in protecting the body from free-radicals.

   Heals Mosquito Bites:

   There are a number of people who, whenever bitten by a mosquito, gets a small wound around the bitten area. This is mainly present in newborn babies, for they have an inclination to scratch ad it itches. You can apply the banana peel around the mosquito bite and you can see, in short while, that it no longer itches.

   It Provides Lot of Electrolytes:

   Usually to stop muscle cramping, bananas are eaten before playing a big game. This is because the potassium or electrolytes within the banana fruit plays an active role in muscle building, metabolizing of carbohydrates and also in the regulation of acid-base balance via the entire body. Banana peels are also loaded with potassium and can work in the similar way.

There are many places in the world, where people eat banana peels on regular basis and also, in some cultures banana peels are fried and enjoyed as a treat. In Eastern India, the peels are used for making a lot of dishes and also many desserts.

You may also make use of the banana peel by preparing the banana tea. For preparing banana peel tea, you simply need to boil banana peels in water, allow the water to cool and you can drink it to get plenty of healthy nutrients which would help you remain healthy and strong. Moreover, this nutrient rich banana peel tea may be used in soups, gravy, sauces and also in rice and other dishes.

You can also prepare a wonderful smoothie together with the whole banana including the banana peel. For preparing this, you need to take a complete banana and add 1 and 1/2 cups of any kinds of milk you prefer, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla and 1/2 cup of ice cubes and blend in a strong blender. Believe it! This tastes great and you get the amazing health benefits too.

You can also cook the whole banana along with the banana peel and the banana fruit flesh and consume it for the health benefits.

You can also cut the banana peels and dry them in the sun and then steam them for a great tasting treat.

Banana peels are simply great in providing amazing health and nutritional benefits. So, next time before throwing the banana peel in the bin, do think about the benefits of banana peel and you would love to try it out and experience the amazing benefits on self.