Is It Healthy To Eat Banana Peels?

Bananas are one of the most popular fruits on the planet. They contain so many nutrients and are undoubtedly needed for various health benefits.

Now, aside from the fleshy part of this amazing fruit, the skin/peel which houses this fruit, has also been proven to contain several nutrients beneficial in many ways to humans, animals, and plants as well, such as potassium, magnesium, vitamins, fiber, polyunsaturated fats, and essential amino acids.

Sadly, this has often been disregarded by many people due to unawareness.

In addition to bettering our environment, reducing wastage, and ensuring full use of your hard-earned cash, this article delivers different ways to put your banana peels to good use, instead of letting them rot in a bin.

Is It Healthy To Eat Banana Peels?

Yes, it is! I bet you didn’t know you can, a banana peel could be eaten just as much as the banana fruit itself.

Although a banana peel is harder and more bitter than the main fruit, it would taste better if the banana were riper.

Eating banana peels has various advantages, which include;

Improving a person’s eyesight
Digestive health
Relieving depression and other mood disorders
Augmenting sleep habits because of tryptophan which turns in serotonin and vitamin B6 contained in the peels
It can also reduce blood pressure
and greatly reduce the risk of cancer.

The Different Ways you can Eat Banana Peels

You can be creative with how you want to consume your banana peels. The only rule is that you get to wash properly before use.

Banana peels can be fried and eaten as chips
Can be blended into smoothies
Can be mixed with other ingredients to cook
Can be boiled and melted to form an edible paste
The infusion can be added to salads
Can be baked with cinnamon and sugar and enjoyed as an afternoon snack
The extracted liquid can be the drunk entirety

Other Benefits Of Banana Peels

Applied on Skin

Banana peels are very rich in amino acids and various vitamins which work miracles on the skin. This is why very many beauty and skincare products include bananas and peels in their recipe.

Banana peels are good for brightening and softening the skin because of the vitamin E they possess. They can also help to fade dark spots, reduce eye bags or puffiness, reduce aging because of their antioxidant properties, and rejuvenate the skin to a silky smooth tone.

The inner part of the peel should be placed under puffy eyes for a few minutes, and the peel can be blended and applied on the face as a mask, or on the skin for a full effect. Do this every day, and gradually watch the blemishes fade away.

Banana peels can also treat acne because it contains lectin and zinc, which have antibacterial traits. Gently rub the inner part of the peel against your face and leave for a few minutes, leave to dry, and wash off after. Repeat the step every day for a week. (the peel of an unripe or slightly ripe banana is best for this)

The banana peels contain a high moisture content and this also helps to moisturize dry areas of the skin, soothe bug bites and remove warts. The simple trick is rubbing the spot or affected area with the inner part of the peel.

Applied on Hair and Finger

Your hair and nails are exoskeletons, that thrive on potassium and other minerals that banana peels secretly possess.

If you find your natural nails turning brown, generally not looking as attractive as they should be or you simply wish for longer nails, then a repeated good 20 minutes soak of those fingers in a vessel filled with soaked banana peels for a few days would be your best bet.

For your hair, you could spice things up a little, boil the peels in water, allow to get warm, apply it sufficiently into your hair and massage thoroughly, wrap your head in a towel, and leave for 30minutes before washing off with your shampoo.

This procedure not only strengthens your hair, but also boosts growth, and helps combat dandruff on the scalp.

Can be Used to Whiten Teeth

Potassium, magnesium, manganese, and other natural minerals present in banana peels are used for removing stains on the teeth, and whitening them.

The process includes rubbing the inner part of the peel on the teeth until it forms a thin paste, leaving it on the teeth for a couple of minutes, and washing off before using your normal toothpaste to brush your teeth. This should be done constantly every day for two weeks. The result is breathtaking.

The method bears a safer alternative to the usual harsh chemicals used for teeth whitening, it is cost-effective and can be done on your own and at your leisure.

As animal feed

The high levels of potassium and other numerous beneficial attributes in banana peels are needed for animal growth.

Banana peels are sometimes used as feedstock for cattle, goats, pigs, monkeys, poultry, rabbits, fish, etc.

For poultry, the peels can be dried, then grounded, and mixed with their usual feed.

For cattle and goats, it can be used as an alternative or complementary feed during periods of forage shortage. They have high moisture content which helps animals to stay hydrated.

For fish, the peels can be cut into tiny pieces and fed directly to the fish

For piggery, the peels can be dried and mixed with concentrate or can be fed solely to the pigs

As Plant fertilizer

Banana peels contain Potassium and phosphorus, which is good news, especially to small-scale farmers or vegetable growers who are solely interested in organic farming.

The peels can be chopped into tiny bits and buried in the soil around the plant, or dried to a crisp and grounded, this can then be sprinkled around the plant of your choice.

Another effective way would be to soak the banana peels in a transparent jar filled with water and leave it under direct sunlight for three to seven days. After, strain the peels out of the water, and water your plants with the liquid as often as possible.

It amazingly rejuvenates a plant, supplies nutrients, strengthens the plant’s roots, and also keeps pests and diseases away.

Is It Healthy To Eat Banana Peels?