If you, like me, have been peeling your bananas before adding them to banana bread, banana cake or your morning smoothie, you're doing it wrong. They're totally, completely edible and by adding just one more step, you can keep that banana peel out of the landfill.
What are the health benefits of eating banana peels?
There is limited nutritional data about banana peels (the database EatingWell uses to analyze its recipes, for instance, doesn't have nutrition information for them). But according to research published in Process Safety and Environmental Protection, banana peels are 71% to 83% fiber. Most of us don't eat enough fiber, but getting enough can help you lose or maintain a healthy weight, promote healthy digestion and slash your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and other chronic diseases.
What are the risks of eating banana peels?
There aren't many but if you are going to eat your banana peels, give them a good scrub under running water first. According to the Environmental Working Group, banana cultivation is pesticide-intensive. Few pesticides make their way to the fruit itself, but there could be residues on the peels. If this is of concern to you, consider using organic bananas, which are less likely to have traces of commonly used pesticides.
Because banana peels are high in fiber, you might notice some digestive discomfort if you start eating lots right away. Pureed peel mixed into banana bread batter will only give you a bit in each slice, but a whole peel in a single-serving smoothie is another thing. So start slowly and be sure to drink water alongside this new fiber-rich addition to your diet. Water helps fiber move smoothly though your system, rather than back you up.
What are the environmental benefits of not discarding banana peels?
The peel makes up 30% to 40% of the banana, and humans discard approximately 3.5 million tons of them every year. Anything we can collectively do to cut back on food waste is a good thing. Discarded food is the biggest type of garbage in landfills, where it emits methane and other greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
If you've been wondering if you can eat raw, cooked or even frozen banana peels, the answer is yes! If you are going to eat your banana peel, know that—just like the fruit itself—the riper the peel, the sweeter it will taste.
If you plan to blend the bananas into smoothies, slice the unpeeled bananas before freezing and add them right out of the freezer into the blender jar. You can freeze your unpeeled bananas whole, though, if they're destined to be turned into banana bread or cake. Trim the tough blossom end and the tip of the stem (in our testing, we found that most of the stem was soft enough to blend). Then thaw the bananas before pureeing, and stir the puree into the batter.
On a savory note, Nadiya Hussain, host of Nadiya's Time to Eat on Netflix and season 6 winner of The Great British Baking Show, grew up eating banana peels. "My favourite way to eat it is with fermented fish and prawns, but I also love cooking it like pulled chicken," Hussain said in an email.
Vegans have leaned into the almost-meaty quality of banana peels to make plant-based versions of bacon, Bolognese sauce and pulled "pork." People in the Netherlands can even buy the latter from a company called Banana Business. Researchers are also experimenting with using banana-peel flour as a gluten-free alternative to make breads and noodles. And some non-food uses are popping up as well: Circular Systems created a fiber called Agriloop that is made from various crops including banana peels.
Bananas are sweet, soft fruits popular all over the world. Their thick, fibrous peels, however, are a less popular source of nutrition, at least in Western countries. But contrary to what many people believe, banana peels are not only safe to eat, they also offer a number of health benefits.
Few pesticides make their way to the fruit itself, but there could be residues on the peels. If this is of concern to you, consider using organic bananas, which are less likely to have traces of commonly used pesticides.
You'll see, in addition to being a good fertilizer, it's also a great natural tool for repelling insects! Banana peel can also be used to clean green plants and make them shine. Again, cut small pieces of banana peel and rub them on the leaves of your plants! No need to wipe with a cloth afterwards.
While this shouldn't be a concern if you only eat fruit, be careful when eating the peel. Pesticide exposure can have adverse health effects and increase the risk of diseases such as autism, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes and dementia.
Banana peels don't do anything to whiten your teeth. Many articles recommend rubbing the peel against your teeth for a few minutes. While this could scrub off some surface stains, it's no more effective than brushing your teeth. Banana peels have no special whitening properties.
Bananas may have some skin benefits – Bananas do contain beneficial antioxidants like vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium, and potassium. And the inside of the peel contains lutein, which may hydrate, brighten, and soothe skin. So rubbing it on your face probably provides some nourishment.
For instance, the peels of avocados and honeydew melon are considered inedible, regardless of whether they are consumed cooked or raw. Other fruit and vegetable peels, such as those from pineapples, melons, onions, and celeriac, can have a tough texture that is difficult to chew and digest.
Place a medium pan over medium/high heat and let it get hot. Then add banana peels and cook on both sides for 2-3 minutes until they get a little charred. Remove from heat and enjoy it like bacon!
Nutrient extraction: Banana peels are rich in nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, fiber, and antioxidants. Boiling them can extract some of these nutrients and make them easier to consume. Digestive aid: Boiled banana peel can help with digestion and relieve constipation due to its high fiber content.
How Does This Work? Banana peels contain lots of nutrients, including potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium—all of which are needed for good plant growth. Soaking the banana peels allows the nutrients to leech into the water, and once it hits the soil, the roots grab all those sweet, sweet minerals.
Therefore, eating a banana every day is certainly a good idea. However, if a person has any health concerns, including uncontrolled diabetes, late-stage kidney failure, or is taking medication for high blood pressure, they should check with a health professional to see if bananas are safe for them to eat.
Adding banana peels directly to the soil (trench composting) will give the same result as using banana water. Nutrients will be unavailable until the peels have completely broken down and unless you bury them deeply, they can attract pests and rodents.
Banana peels contain tryptophan, an amino acid that gets converted into serotonin, a feel-good hormone that promotes happiness. They are also a rich source of potassium, and contain more soluble and insoluble fiber than the fruit on the inside.
Packed with ample amounts of dietary fibre and resistant starch, raw bananas aid digestion, keep you satiated for a longer time and assist in losing weight. Rich in potassium, which works as a vasodilator and regulates blood pressure levels.
While it is safe to eat banana peels, it's important to wash them thoroughly first. According to the Environmental Working Group, bananas are grown in a pesticide-intensive environment. This means that chemical residues may be left on the peel when you buy your bananas from a store.
Introduction: My name is Saturnina Altenwerth DVM, I am a witty, perfect, combative, beautiful, determined, fancy, determined person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
