15 Unusual Uses for Banana Peels.

 

What’s in a Banana Peel?

Banana fruit is high in carbs, potassium, and vitamins C and B. The peel also boasts an impressive health profile. Here’s a breakdown of the nutrients:

• Potassium
• Calcium
• Iron
• Manganese
• Bromine
• Phenolic compounds
• Carotenoids like beta-carotene and lutein

You’ll also find trace amounts of some inert metals, including strontium. Our body naturally has some strontium, which may help strengthen teeth and bones.

We need carotenoids for healthy vision. A 2012 article in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked at carotenoid’s role in eye protection. Researchers reported lutein helps our eyes filter light and protects the tissues from sun damage. Lutein and other carotenoids rich foods do the same with skin and can help protect from sun damage.

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Health Benefits of Banana Peels

Different cultures have used banana peels for centuries to help address health concerns, and now we have established science backing it up.

Germ-Fighters

Like elderberry syrup, oregano, and other plants, bananas are high in antioxidant phenols. Not only that, bananas have potent germ-fighting properties. Researchers found compounds in banana peels fight a variety of microbes that cause wound infections. In one study it was shown effective against the yeast Candida albicans.

Friendly Antioxidants

In 2011, researchers looked at the antioxidant capacities of different peels. They found unripe, green peels have more antioxidants than riper peels. The higher the antioxidant levels, the more free radical scavenging it can do.

That’s not to say ripe peels don’t have their benefits… they are better at inhibiting nitric oxide activity. Nitric oxide works as a signaling molecule in the body and plays an important role in certain body functions. However, too much nitric oxide in the body leads to inflammation and chronic diseases. Researchers are exploring how inhibiting nitric oxide could lead to more positive outcomes in diseases.

Liver and Prostate Support

The carotenoids and antioxidants in bananas can also help other organ systems. In a 2016 study in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, researchers looked at banana peels for liver protection.

Polyphenols from bananas increased glutathione, the body’s main detox hormone. The peels also reduced inflammation and protected liver cells.

As men age, it’s common for the prostate gland to enlarge, causing bladder problems, according to the Mayo Clinic. Research indicates banana peel extract may support prostate health.

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A Yummy Way to Detox

Scientists are exploring banana peels as a way to purify water. They’re thought to act as an adsorbent and bind to heavy metals and pesticides, like charcoal.

In 2013, scientists used banana peels to remove pesticides from the water. A 2020 article in BMC Chemistry also found banana powder removes the toxic heavy metal chromium from water.

So what does all of this mean for us? While I won’t be shoving banana peels in my water filter anytime soon, eating the peels could help with detox.

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How to Use Banana Peels

The big question of course is how do we harness the benefits of banana peels? Fortunately, you don’t have to chow down on raw, unpeeled bananas to see results. You can even use them in an organic garden or for pets.

Bananas for the Garden

Since bananas are so high in nutrients, they have some handy uses in the garden. Here are some ways to incorporate the peels into your gardening routine:

• Seedling food- Add peel pieces to the hole when planting seedlings. This gives them a nutrition boost when they’re first starting off.
• Deter aphids – Place banana peels around the base of rose bushes and other plants aphids like (see this post for more). Cover with a little soil to avoid foraging animals from making a visit.
• Fertilizer – Mix dried, ground peels into the soil or spread on top. Worms also love chowing down on them.
• Attract butterflies – Add some banana peels to a butterfly garden to attract these beautiful insects.
• Garden tea – Make a compost tea with peels and warm water. After steeping for a few days, use the banana tea to water the plants in your garden.
• Banana vinegar – Some plants, like blueberries, thrive in more acidic soil. You can ferment banana peels then dilute the resulting mixture with water. Use the mixture to water acid-loving plants. The method is the same as making apple cider vinegar, but with banana instead of apple peels.
• Compost – Like all fruits and veggies, bananas enrich compost. Here’s how to get started.

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Depression Relief

The high levels of tryptophan in bananas, combined with the B6 in banana peels, can help relieve some symptoms of depression and other mood disorders. Tryptophan turns into serotonin as it breaks down, which can improve your mood. Vitamin B6 can help improve sleep, which has a positive impact on mood over time.

Digestive Health

Fiber-rich banana peels can help regulate the digestive system, easing both constipation and diarrhea. This can be a particularly important benefit of banana peels for people with Crohn's disease or irritable bowel syndrome.

Better Eyesight

Vitamin A can help keep your eyes strong and healthy. This vitamin is abundant in both bananas and banana peels.

May Lower Cancer Risk

Banana peels are packed with polyphenols, carotenoids, and other antioxidants that fight cancer-causing free radicals in your body. Eating more banana peels, especially green, unripe peels, can increase your antioxidant levels and help reduce your risk of cancer.

Studies on the anti-cancer properties of banana peels were done in test tubes, not on humans. Further research is needed to understand whether banana peels can lower cancer risk in people.

Nutrients per Serving

The exact composition of banana peels is still being investigated, so there’s no standard nutrition profile yet. A number of factors affect the nutrients found specifically in banana peels.

However, the nutrients per serving of bananas are readily available. One medium banana provides approximately:

• Calories: 105
• Fat: 0 grams
• Carbohydrates: 27 grams
• Sugar: 14 grams
• Fiber: 3 grams
• Protein: 1 gram

Bananas are also a rich source of:

• Potassium
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Calcium
• Iron

The banana peels themselves offer additional nutrients, including: 

• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin B12
• Magnesium
• Potassium
• Fiber
• Protein

How to Prepare Banana Peel

Banana peel can make for a healthy afternoon snack or a delectably healthy dessert. Get creative and you'll soon see why chefs around the world commonly leave the banana peels on.

Unlike the inside of a banana, which is soft and sweet, a banana peel is harder and more bitter. The more ripe your banana, the sweeter and softer the peel will be. It's also important to wash the peel thoroughly to remove any fertilizer or chemicals the fruit may have been sprayed with.

There are a number of ways banana peel can be prepared to make it even more delicious: 

• Blended into smoothies.
• Fried and caramelized to use as an ice cream topping.
• Baked with cinnamon and sugar.
• Boiled and eaten with a spoon.
• Made into banana vinegar and added to salads.
• Cooked with meat on top of it.