According to Business Insider, banana peels contain some really great vitamins and nutrients that we're just throwing in the compost.
Bananas have been a highly cultivated fruit for
thousands of years. Many species of primate consume the entire banana,
peel and all, which may have led indigenous peoples to follow suit.
Although not common practice in the West, peoples of Asian countries eat
banana peels, but they are usually cooked in some capacity.
They are
not nearly as sweet as the flesh, but they are rich in some nutrients,
especially potassium, and can be used for a variety of other health
benefits.
The flesh of the banana is a rich source of many
nutrients and considered high in carbohydrates. The sugar content in a
banana is highest when the skin has turned completely black, which
indicates that the starches have all been converted to sugars such as
sucrose, fructose and glucose, as cited in “Biochemistry of Human
Nutrition.”
The flesh is high in vitamins B-6 and B-12, magnesium and
potassium, but also contains some protein and fiber. In general, the
peels of fruits contain additional nutrients and fiber that complement
the inside flesh.
The peels of apples, oranges and kiwis are good
examples and more commonly eaten in Western countries, although banana
peels seem to be better appreciated in India and Southeast Asia.
The Nutrients in Banana Peels
Banana peels are also rich sources of potassium
and contain much more soluble and insoluble fiber than their flesh.
Dietary fiber promotes digestion and bowel movements and can reduce
blood cholesterol levels. Banana peels also contain tryptophan, which
increases serotonin levels in the body and affects mood, much like the
drug Prozac does.
According to “Prescription for Nutritional Healing,”
researchers in Taiwan discovered banana peel extract can ease depression
because of its effect on serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter in the
brain responsible for balancing mood and emotions.
Others found that
eating two banana skins a day for three days increased blood serotonin
levels by 16 percent. Further, banana skin contains lutein, a powerful
antioxidant that protects the eye from free radicals and harmful
frequencies of UV radiation from the sun.
Lutein has been proven to
reduce the risks of cataracts and macular degeneration, as cited in
“Biochemical, Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition.”
Eating Banana Peels
Banana peels can be eaten raw, although they are
purported to be ropey and have an unpleasant taste. Waiting for the
fruit to ripen makes the skin much thinner, a little sweeter and easier
to chew, according to “Contemporary Nutrition.”
Some people prefer to
boil the peel for 10 minutes or so before eating it, putting it through a
juicer or blending it with other fruits.
In Asian countries, banana
peels are cooked with their flesh or fried on their own. Cleaning
commercially grown bananas before you eat the skins is essential due to
all the spraying that bananas are subjected to.
Other Health Uses
In addition to eating banana peels, they can be
used to rub on your skin to stop itching, reduce inflammation, remove
warts, smooth out wrinkles, get rid of acne, control psoriasis, and
improve skin tone and texture. These are anecdotal claims, of course,
but it's worth a try and certainly economical.
LIVING STRONG
0 comments:
Post a Comment