All this time we’ve been eating the insides of bananas when it is the peel that is three times more fortified with nutrients. Next time you instinctively motion to fling that slip hazard into the trash can, think twice. Close your eyes, pinch your nose, and try a bite of the bitter, stringy skin. If you can muster the taste and texture then here are the health benefits you will reap, no matter how una“peel”ing it might seem.
1. lt lowers your cholesterol
Your cholesterol can be lowered by increasing intake of fiber, which decreases risk of heart attack or stroke, and is a study-proven option for bolstering any diet. Banana peels contain more soluble and insoluble fiber than the more traditionally eaten fruit inside.
2. It provides lots of electrolytes
Anyone who played sports as a kid knows that if muscles are cramping then bananas are what you eat before the big game. The potassium (and electrolytes) in the fruit contributes to muscle building, metabolizing of carbohydrates, and the regulation of acid-base balance throughout the body. Banana peels are equally proficient at supplementing potassium.
3. It makes you happier
Banana peels possess high levels of serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter sourced from tryptophan. Serotonin is most commonly regarded as a chemical that governs a body’s mood balance. A deficit can lead to depression and a surplus can lead to giddiness.
4. It makes you sleep better
Your sleeping troubles can be answered. Tryptophan is commonly prescribed by doctors as a supplement to treat sleep disorders. Insomnia got you down? Don’t peel the banana. Just eat the whole thing.
5. It decreases your waist line
Banana peels are low in calories and abundant in fiber and nutrients that your body needs making them an ideal supplement source for anyone aiming to stay slim.
6. It helps prevent cancer
If you are looking for an additional method to help prevent cancer then look no further. Banana peels are rich in antioxidants and they are comprised of compounds that guard cells from threats of mutation, which typically lead to cancerous tumors.
7. It strengthens your red blood cells
Red blood cells dispatch oxygen to body tissues constantly. Banana peels include nutrients that strengthen red blood cells by ensuring oxygen distribution and minimizing red blood cell breakdown.
8. It keeps your eyes healthy
Your vision is critical. Banana peels can optimize the health of your eyes because of their high levels of lutien. Lutien is a compound that aids in night vision capability and it helps prevent cataracts and macular degeneration.
9. It boosts you immune system
Banana peels are so rich in fiber they aid in creating probiotic bacteria, or “good bacteria”, in your colon leading to efficient detox and a better immune system.
10. You need to make sure you only eat organic banana peels
Eating banana peels raw is the easiest, most bitter, and stringiest way to absorb all of its fiber and nutrients but they can also be boiled to soften up the texture and make the taste more palatable. Or, you can drop them into a blender and turn them into liquid. The most important thing to note is that if you do begin consuming banana peels remember that you want to buy organic. The slightly cheaper alternative will be covered in pesticides and insecticides, which will defeat the purpose and impose unintended harms.
