Good for depression
Banana peels are packed with serotonin, a chemical that helps in boosting your mood and makes you feel good. According to a study at the University of Taiwan, if you consume two banana peels for three days continuously, your serotonin level will increase by 15 per cent.
Helps you sleep better
Banana peels are full of tryptophan, a chemical that is known for inducing more relaxed sleep.
Lowers Cholesterol
Banana peels are full of soluble and insoluble fibre. In fact, they have more fibre than banana itself. Fibre helps to lower your cholesterol and thus, helps prevent cardiovascular diseases and strokes. A study conducted on a group of people who had high LDL (bad cholesterol) levels proved this fact. When the participants consumed banana peels everyday, it was reported that their bad cholesterol levels were decreased noticeably.
Weight loss
Because banana peels are full of fibre, they help in losing weight.
Creates probiotics
Again because of a high fibre content, banana peel creates a space for good bacteria to grow in your colon and thus, boosts your immune system.
Cardiovascular Health
Banana peels can help in eliminating atherosclerosis from your body by preventing cholesterol from sticking to the walls of your arteries.
Helps to detox
Because of good bacteria in your colon, these peels help get rid of constipation and thus, help detox the body and create a better immune system.
Protective agent for Red Blood Cells
Banana peels help to protect the red blood cells in your body from breaking down. It was found that green banana peels were more effective in doing so.
Good for eye health
Banana peels contain lutein which is important for night vision. They also prevent muscular degeneration and prevent cataracts.
Skin health and Anti-Inflammatory Agent
Banana peels are good anti-inflammatory agents that help to sooth away all kinds of inflammations. Banana also help with warts, psoriasis, itching, insect bites, rashes, wrinkles, and help to better skin texture.
HOW TO EAT
It's not easy to eat a banana peel as it's thick, bitter and fibrous but there are ways you can eat this healthy peel. Some of the common ways are:
- Blend it into a smoothie.
- Fry them a little.
- Bake them
- Boil them in water for 10 minutes
- Make banana peel tea
(In the last four methods, heat will break down the peel's fibre and loosen up the tough texture, making the peel easier to chew and digest.)
Nutritional benefits of a banana peel
The flesh of a medium-sized banana contains significant amount of your daily recommended intake of many nutrients, such as:
- 12 per cent of your fibre requirement which helps in digestion and lowering blood sugar levels.
- 17 per cent of your Vitamin C requirement, which is required by your immune system and which also keeps your skin glowing.
- 20 per cent of your vitamin B6 requirement, which helps body to convert food into energy.
- 12 per cent of your potassium requirement, which helps in growth, development and repair of tissues and cells all over the body.
- 8 per cent of your magnesium requirement, which is important for regulating glucose and blood pressure levels in your body.