If you’re like most people, you probably see banana and orange peels as nothing more than protection for the goodness that lives underneath. But did you know that those two peels in particular contain a whole host of amazing compounds and nutrients? When you mindlessly toss them in the trash, you’re throwing away lots and lots of potential benefits – benefits we’ll explore in this article.
I guarantee that after learning the truth about banana and orange peels, you’ll never throw them away again!
Banana Peels
Remember, as with oranges, make sure you buy organic and wash the peel thoroughly before you go further.
Banana peels are considerably tougher to chew straight than orange peels. Jessica Orwig writing for Business Insider recommends blending a banana peel into a smoothie or frying, baking or boiling it for 10 minutes to loosen up the tough texture.
Once you’ve got that out of the way, prepare for some awesome benefits!
Wart Removal
In her book Natural Healing Wisdom and Know-How, Amy Rost recommends using a brown or black banana peel to get rid of warts. The peel contains a healthy helping of antioxidants that fight off the oxidative damage responsible for warts.
Just use medical tape to attach the peel to the wart. Leave this to sit overnight. You’ll need to repeat this nightly for roughly three weeks, at which point the wart should be gone.
Depression Treatment
That’s right – a banana peel can help treat depression. No, this method does not involve watching funny videos of people slipping on banana peels. It’s far more scientific than that.
Banana peels contain tryptophan, a chemical that is key for boosting serotonin levels. As an added bonus, if your depression is robbing you of sleep, tryptophan and magnesium-laden banana peel will also help in that area.
Eat one banana peel daily.
Nutrients Galore!
The peel from a single medium-sized banana contains:
- 12% of your daily fiber, which will improve your digestion, help you lose weight and lower your risk of diabetes.
- 17% of your daily vitamin C intake, which will boost your immune system.
- 20% of your daily vitamin B-6 intake, which will help your body convert food into energy more efficiently.
Read more about the nutritional benefits of banana peels in this article.
Treat Bug Bites
Are you getting absolutely ravaged by mosquitoes this summer? Banana peel can help reduce itching and pain. The natural sugars in it will draw mosquito fluid up out of the bite.
Rub the inside of a banana peel on the affected area for a few minutes. Repeat as needed. This will also work for any other sort of insect bite or sting.
