After reading the following surprising benefits of banana peels, trust me, you will think twice before tossing any banana peel into the bin! From directly eating banana peels (yes, you heard that right!) to using banana peels as water purifiers, the benefits of banana peels you will read here are sure to open your eyes just a little bit wider.

Banana peels are the thick ropey-textured and green to yellow colored skin of bananas. In western society, banana peels are discarded while the flesh is eaten; however, many animals in the primate family consume bananas whole, peel and all.

Many indigenous tribes in Africa are also known to consume bananas whole, just as the primates do. Although in Asian society, only banana flesh is eaten as fruit, many know the unique and abundant benefits provided by banana peels, and as such, they have been using delicious recipes to cook and eat banana peel since ancient times.

In this hub, we shall explore the benefits of banana peels that can be enjoyed whether for skin and beauty purposes, for home remedy purposes, and also for health purposes.

Banana peels can be eaten raw, but many cultures around the world cook banana peel to make it more palatable. Check out the health benefits of banana peels when consumed.

1. Rich source of soluble & insoluble fiber

Fiber is best known to promote healthy bowel movement and relieve constipation – however, did you know that dietery fiber has other benefits as well? Banana peels are rich in soluble fiber as well (just like apple peel), which can help you maintain a healthy weight, by making you feel full. Studies have also shown soluble fiber to reduce the risk of heart attacks and avert early onset of diabetes.

2. Fight Cholesterol

The soluble fiber contained in banana peel (and banana flesh too) is also importantly used in lowering cholesterol levels. Soluble fiber has been extensively studied and proven to reduce the levels of low density lipoprotein, LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol.

3. Boost your Mood with Banana Peel

Clinical studies conducted on the properties of banana peel discovered that banana peel contains a particular substance called tryptophan. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that is needed for the production of hormones like serotonin, a brain hormone, which acts as a mood booster. This property is found in banana flesh as well.

4. Antioxidant properties

Anti-oxidants are the much-pursued miracle substances which offer sublime anti-aging benefits. Banana peel has been found to be rich in polyphenols and carotenoids, which are phytochemicals with antioxidant properties. Studies have found that unripe banana peel contains more of these anti-oxidants than ripe banana peel. No wonder Asian recipes fry unripe banana peel as a crispy and anti-oxidant rich salted snack!

5. Protect your Eyesight

Another antioxidant found in banana peel is ‘lutein’, is known to reduce oxidative stress and neutralize free radical damage in various organs, including the skin. But lutein is also known to provide nutritional sustainance to the eyes – by not only reducing the risks of macular degeneration and cataracts, but by also filtering out harmful UV rays from damaging the eyes, as well as protecting cells in the eyes from free radical damage.

Researchers suggest a minimum of 6mg – 10mg is required daily to derive the benefits of lutein. So as you add up on your daily lutein intake with dark green leafy vegetables, spinach and fruit, why not throw in some banana peel as well to hit the mark?

Besides the valuable health benefits of banana peels derived when eaten, there are also many more versatile benefits of orange peels in daily life, from outdoor to indoor uses. Explored below!

6. Meat Tenderizer

Many Asian cuisines use banana leaves to cook tender meat, but the thing is banana peel contains potent enzymes that can help tenderize meat too! To tenderize meat with banana peel, simply place ripe banana peel on your meat roasts to lock in moisture and keep your roast unbelievable moist and juicy.

7. Teeth Whitening

Got yellow teeth? Not surprising, as today’s highly refined food and caffeine products are leaving everyone’s teeth stained. A very cheap and accessible way to whiten stained brown/yellow teeth is through rubbing the inner part of the banana peel of a ripe banana on your teeth! After you eat a banana, simply get the inner portion of your banana peel and rub it back and forth on your frontal teeth with your index finger. Most of the inner portion will have transferred onto your teeth. Keep it for atleast 5 minutes and then rinse off with water. You may notice your teeth looking instantly brighter, but the results will be even more drastic with a couple of more tries. Of course, it helps to wean off soft drinks and coffee, too.

8. Banana-tastic Bug-bite Relief

Ancient Chinese had a remedy for mosquito bites – it was rubbing on some good ol’ banana peel. Rubbing banana peel onto mosquito bites and general bug bites is an instant relief for itching and inflammation. In fact, most itchiness can get some form of relief with banana bites, including itchiness caused by Poison Ivy!

9. Polishing agent

Polish your leather furniture and silver items with banana peel for a natural alternative to chemical polishing liquids. To clean leather furniture, simply rub the inside of a ripe banana directly onto the leather. Then clean up any ropey stuff and buff off with a cotton cloth. For silverware and other silver items, blend banana peel with a little warm water. Rub this paste onto the items and wipe down with a cotton cloth. Dry items thoroughly with tissues and behold your new shiny silver!

10. Skin Beauty with Banana Peels

Once you know something is rich in various nutrients and antioxidants, you can guess just how helpful it will be for your skin! Applying the inner portion of banana peels to your face alone, can help you brighten and tone your skin. Got dry skin? The vitamins and minerals in banana peel can help you get rid of dry and dull skin by locking in moisture. Got acne? The enzymes in banana peel can help get rid of not only acne, but dark blemishes as well. Got wrinkles? No problem! The antioxidants in banana peel will help hydrate and promote supple youthful skin.

11. Boost your Garden with Banana Peel Compost

Take advantage of the high nutritional content of banana peels to boost your garden soil, in a cheap, natural and effective way. Banana peel not only decomposes fast but also contains important minerals like potassium and phosphates which will help in the growth of healthy plants and flowers. The best part is, you are putting banana peels to use instead of trashing them. The more you recycle, the more you help save the environment. Banana peels are particularly used to care for rose plants by burying them near the rose plants to protect them from aphids.