Did you know there are benefits to eating the peels of bananas? I give you a run down of the health benefits and show you the weird way I eat bananas. From antioxidant power to weight loss, eating banana peels can give you the boost you need.
I eat bananas a little differently than most people–I eat the peel and you should too!
Back when I posted my what I eat in a day video, I mentioned that I eat the peels of my bananas and people kind of flipped out, though not as much as they did about the lettuce. They wanted to know the reasons for eating the peels and whether it was beneficial and safe. To be honest, I started eating the peels simply because I liked the taste! It was really only after being asked about it that I looked into all the benefits of eating the peel.
Just a quick note: This information was gleaned from less than rigorous scholarly research so take this with a grain of salt. You’ll notice I’ll be saying “studies has shown” or “have found” without citing those particular studies. This is because the sources I found, though some written by doctors, did provide citations to the original studies. Okay, my nerd note is over. Lets get on with the peel eatin’ benefits!
Bananas:
- Raise your mood: Clinical studies have shown that banana peels contain tryptophan, an essential amino acid that is a precursor to serotonin, your brain’s happy hormone.
- Lower your cholesterol: Banana peels are loaded with soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber has been proven through a myriad of studies to lower your levels of Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL), also known as “bad” cholesterol.
- Help you poop: Again with the fiber content…I think that one’s pretty self-explanatory.
- Help you maintain a healthy weight: Because you pooped! Oh and because soluble fiber helps keep you full. But also the pooping thing.
- Provide a blast of antioxidants: “Antioxidant” is quite the health buzzword. They credited with everything from preventing cell damage to reversing aging to causing unicorns and stardust to secret from your pores. In reality, an “antioxidant” is not a substance; it’s a behavior. Any compound that can donate electrons and counteract free radicals has antioxidant properties. And they are a good thing and they do prevent cell damage. Banana peels peels are rich in polyphenols and carotenoids, which are phytochemicals with antioxidant properties.
- Save your eyeballs: Banana peels contain lutein, another carotenoid with antioxidant properties. It’s known to reduce oxidative stress and neutralize free radical to various organs, including your skin, but also provides nutritional sustenance to your eyes. Lutein reduces the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts, filters out harmful UV rays, and protects your eyes from free radical damage.
Now, if you don’t want to eat your banana peels, don’t throw them away!
I hope you enjoyed this lil’ nugget on nana peels!
— Emily Moran Barwick
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Bananas should not be eaten along with the essential fatty acids because the pectin will interfere with its absorption/ thank
I want more of your excellent thoughts and vegan way of life ideas . THANKS BANANA TEA IS SEEPING AS WE SPEAK!!???
use banana peel for treatment is something unexpected. I usually immediately make a banana peel shortly after consuming the fruit. nice info
I have suffered for more than a decade with IBS-C (Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Constipation). It was making my life miserable and I would have 3 – 4 nights a week where I had to sit up all night and couldn’t sleep due to the pain and discomfort in my stomach. I had numerous tests, diets, and meds – nothing helped. I started adding 1/2 a frozen banana with the peel to my green smoothie and have not had an IBS attack in over 6 months – WOW!!! Amazingly, I only used the bananas due to my Scottish frugality. A friend had given me 8 bananas, as she was going out of town. I usually don’t eat bananas due to the high carb content and me being diabetic. I decided to try leaving the peel on and see if they affected my blood sugar too much. They didn’t raise my blood sugar too much and it came down quickly. After a couple of weeks, I noticed no IBS trouble. This was the only thing different I was doing. Have told my IBS support group and several have tried this with success. BTW I found pairing the half banana with peel along with half a cucumber with peel in the smoothie is even more efficacious. Yeah for bananas and their peels.