10 Amazing Benefits Of Banana Peels

While you may be familiar with the benefits of eating bananas, are you aware that banana peels can also benefit your health? Yes, you got that right. This article introduces you to the many benefits of banana peels and how to make the most of them.

While most of us know the banana as a delectable and nutritious fruit that is rich in potassium, vitamins, fiber and mineral content, we mostly tend to discard the banana peels (or use them for home composting). You would be surprised to know that banana peels are also replete with polyphenolsⁱ  Naturally occurring micronutrients in plants that protect from oxidative stress and offer important health benefits. , carotenoidsⁱ  Yellow, orange, and red organic pigments in plants known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and other health benefits. , and other antioxidants that can help remove the toxic free radicals from your skin and body (1).

Want to know more about the benefits of banana peels? Read on!

Know Your Ingredient: Banana Peel

What Is It?
The outer covering of a banana.

What Are Its Benefits?
Banana peel can help with reducing pimples, wrinkles and even aid in skin issues like psoriasis.

Who Can Use It?
Anyone looking for skin benefits can use it, unless they are allergic to it

How Often?
You can apply for it twice weekly.

Caution
There are no such side effects unless you are allergic to banana

Banana Peel Uses

1. Sparkling Teeth

Rub the banana peel every day for a week on your teeth for about a minute. This may result in teeth whitening, which can cost a lot of money otherwise.

Rethabile-Marah, a blogger, found banana peels to be the perfect remedy for brownish teeth. She writes, “So after polishing and brushing my teeth for about 10-20 minutes with the outer part of a banana peel…I eventually checked my teeth, and they were white as snow (i).”

2. May Remove Warts

Anecdotal evidence suggests that banana peel helps in removing wartsⁱ  A skin infection caused by human papillomavirus that leads to small, grainy bumps on the skin and spreads through skin-to-skin contact. and preventing the occurrence of new ones. For this, simply rub the peel on the affected area or tie the peel overnight on it. This is one of the simplest ways to use a banana peel for the skin.

3. Eat Them

Banana peels can also be eaten. You can find amazing Indian recipes that use banana peels in stir fries, chutneys, and curry preparations. Raw banana peels are also used to tenderize and preserve meat and chicken (2).

Fun Fact

Vegans use banana peels to make a vegan version of bacon. When cooked the right way, banana peel is said to have the same meaty quality as pork.

4. May Treat Pimples

If you have ever wondered how to treat acne with banana peels, try this simple procedure: Apply banana peels to your face and body and massage it for at least 5 minutes daily to treat pimples. The results should be available within a week. Continue to use the banana peels until the acne clears up.

5. May Reduce Wrinkles

Although there is no scientific evidence to support this claim, it is said that a banana peel helps to keep your skin hydrated. Add an egg yolk to a mashed banana peel. Apply this mixture on your face, leave it on for 5 minutes and then wash it off. The antioxidants in banana peel help prevent oxidative stress and reduce signs of aging like wrinkles and fine lines (3).

6. Pain Reliever

Apply the banana peel directly on the painful area. Leave it for 30 minutes till the pain is gone. Banana peels have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties that can help reduce the pain (3). A mixture of vegetable oil and banana peel might also help in pain relief (4).

7. May Treat Psoriasis

Apply the peel on the psoriasis affected area. The banana peel has moisturizing properties and also reduces itchiness. It may treat mild to moderate psoriasis (3).

8. May Treat Bites By Bugs

Massage the peel on the mosquito bites to get instant relief from the itching and pain. The antioxidants and vitamins help increase the blood circulation healing the pain and inflammation (3).

9. Shoes, Leather, Silver Polish

Rub a banana peel on shoes, leather, and silver articles to make them shine instantly.

10. UV Protection

Banana peel may help in protecting the eyes from the harmful UV rays. Make sure you leave the peel under the sun before rubbing the banana peel on your eyes. It is also said to reduce the risk of cataractsⁱ  An eye condition that causes the natural lens of the eye to become cloudy, making things look blurry and less colorful. .

As mentioned before, banana peel can be incorporated into your diet. Here is a quick and delicious recipe you can follow to get started.

Banana Peel Recipe

Banana Peel CrispsIngredients

• 2-3 ripe banana peels
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon of paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of onion powder

How To Prepare

1. Clean the banana peels thoroughly and cut them into small pieces or strips.
2. Mix the olive oil with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder in a bowl to create a marinade.
3. Toss the banana peel pieces in the marinade and coat them evenly.
4. Heat a pan over medium heat and add the marinated banana peels one by one.
5. Sauté until they become tender and slightly crispy.
6. Serve as a side dish or snack.

Some Important Tips

1. Use a fresh, yellow banana peel for best results.
2. Never keep an unpeeled banana for long. The polyphenols turn it brown on exposure to air. Consume immediately after peeling. Also, the peel should be used immediately.
3. Store bananas in a cool, dry place and always keep them away from heat or sunlight.
4. Never store banana peels in a refrigerator.
5. Avoid throwing banana peels on the roads or public places as they are slippery in texture. Use bins or save them for better purposes.

Quick Tip

The riper the banana peel, the sweeter its taste, making it better for use in any cooking recipe.

Infographic: Top 5 Incredible Benefits Of Banana Peels

You enjoy adding bananas to everything, from baked items to your daily porridge. But the peel? Not really – because you feel banana peels should be thrown out. However, the peels have dozens of possible uses that can be beneficial in numerous ways. Check out the infographic below to learn more.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Does drinking boiled banana peel water help tighten the skin?

Mary Sabat, RDN, says, “Drinking boiled banana peels is not recommended. There is no scientific evidence that boiling banana peels can provide any health benefits or tighten skin.”

What do banana peels in water do?

Putting banana peels in water would leach their nutrients into the water. The resulting mixture is similar to compost tea.

Can I leave banana peels on my face overnight?

Yes. Banana peels may help rejuvenate your skin and deal with pimples.

Does banana peel lighten skin?

Possibly. Banana peels contain antioxidants and small amounts of vitamin C that may help brighten your complexion.

How do you make banana peel powder?

Cut the peels into small pieces and sun-dry them. Alternatively, you can dry the banana peels in the oven and grind them to obtain banana peel powder.

What does banana peel do to your hair?

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the antioxidants in the banana peels may help boost hair growth and leave silky soft and shiny hair behind.

Illustration: Amazing Benefits And Uses Of Banana Peels

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

This video explains how banana peels can whiten your teeth, manage acne, even soothe a headache, and much more. Discover the amazing health benefits of this ingredient that would otherwise end up in the trash can. Play the video now!

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Reviewer Expert Author Editor Fact Checker

Avantii DeshpaandeMSc (Food Science & Nutrition)

 

Avantii Deshpaande is a nutritionist, author, speaker, and entrepreneur with over 20 years in the field. She is also a nutrigenomic counselor and a gut microbiome specialist. She worked in the food industry for 10 years and was a faculty member in various nutrition and food tech colleges.

Read full bio of Avantii Deshpaande

• 
  Mary SabatMS, RDN, LD Mary Sabat, MS, RDN, LD, is a registered dietitian and a certified in personal training by the American Council of Exercise. She has 30 years of experience in nutrition education, wellness coaching, fitness training, holistic health, and weight loss coaching. She obtained her bachelor's degree in Dietetics and Nutrition from the University of Delaware and master’s degree in Human Nutrition with an emphasis on Exercise Science from Rutgers University.
  
  Mary Sabat, MS, RDN, LD, is a registered dietitian and a certified in personal training by the American Council of Exercise. She has 30 years of experience in nutrition education, wellness coaching, fitness training, holistic health, and weight loss coaching. She obtained her bachelor's degree in Dietetics and Nutrition from the University of Delaware and master’s degree in Human Nutrition with an emphasis on Exercise Science from Rutgers University.

Tanya ChoudharyHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Tanya is an ISSA certified Specialist in Fitness & Nutrition. She specializes in writing articles on ingredients that benefit skin, hair, and health. She believes in the right health and lifestyle practices and strives to promote the same to everyone around her.

Read full bio of Tanya Choudhary

Ravi Teja TadimallaCo-Editor-in-Chief

Ravi Teja Tadimalla is a Co-Editor-in-Chief and a published author. He has been in the digital media field for over a decade. He graduated from SRM University, Chennai, and has a Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition & Research from Wageningen University.

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Moksha GandhiHealth & Wellness Writer

Moksha is a health and wellness writer and a certified diet and nutrition coach. Her passion for science and writing has helped her excel in crafting evidence-based articles. Her previous experience in writing science-based research papers ensures that her articles are grounded in research and provide practical tips that are reader-focused.

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