5 Ways to Use Banana Peel as a Natural Remedy
Bananas are one of the best fruits to have in your diet. Not only are they widely available, they also contain nutrients and several properties that are beneficial for your health. Banana shows up in many a natural remedy, too, but most people don’t know that the peel can be great too.
As for bananas themselves, for many years, it was thought that they could cause weight gain because of their sugar and calorie content. But we now know that they actually have the opposite effect.
Even, banana peels, the part that we generally just toss out, contain a high quantity of antioxidants and vitamins that we can use in many ways to promote well-being. Best of all is that they’re very easy to use and are always within reach.
In today’s article, we want to highlight 5 ways you can use banana peel as a natural remedy for various ailments. Don’t miss out!
Banana peel as a natural remedy
1. Fighting constipation
Although the banana fruit itself has constipation-fighting properties, banana peels are also a great source of dietary fiber.
This essential nutrient regulates intestinal function, which helps get rid of waste that’s stuck in the colon.
In this case, we recommend combining it with the nutrients you get from oats for faster results.
Ingredients
- 1 banana (including its peel)
- 3 tablespoons of oats (30 g)
- 1 glass of water (200 ml)
Method
- First, put the banana in the blender.
- Then, cut off a piece of the peel and blend it together with the pulp, oats and glass of water.
- Make sure it has a smooth texture and consume it as soon as possible.
- Drink it on an empty stomach, 2 or 3 times a week.
2. Stress and depression
Banana peels contain an essential amino acid known as tryptophan which can help fight insomnia and alleviate stress and depression.
Read more:
6 Remedies to Treat Depression Naturally
Tryptophan also helps your body produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with the feeling of well-being.
Ingredients
- 1 glass of water (200 ml)
- A banana peel
- 1 tablespoon of honey (25 g)
Method
- First, bring the glass water to a boil and add the banana peel when it reaches boiling point.
- Leave the mixture on low heat for 3 minutes and then remove it.
- Let it stand for 10 to 15 minutes, then strain it and sweeten it with a spoonful of honey.
- Consume it as soon as you experience the first symptom of some emotional imbalance or depression.
3. Warts
The active compounds in banana peel can be used as a natural remedy to help get rid of any ugly warts that form on the skin.
When combined with a little apple vinegar, banana peels remarkably reduce these small callouses that are usually difficult to remove.
Ingredients
- 1 banana peel
- 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (10 ml)
Method
- First, cut a piece of banana peel and dip it in a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
- Then, apply the soaked banana peel on the wart and secure it with some tape.
- Leave it on all night and repeat this remedy every day until the wart is gone.
4. Headaches
The high concentration of potassium in banana peels can help reduce the swelling that causes headaches.
Plus, its antioxidant properties improve circulation, which improves the body’s oxygenation process. That can, in its own way, help you get headache relief.
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Ingredients
- 1 banana peel
- ½ teaspoon of cinnamon (2 g)
- 1 glass of water (200 ml)
Method
- First, put the banana peel into a pot with a glass of water. Bring it to boil and let it brew for 3 minutes.
- After this, remove the mixture from the heat and add a teaspoon of cinnamon.
- Strain it and consume as soon as you experience any sign of pain.
5. Fluid retention
The essential minerals in banana peel make it a great natural remedy for controlling the level of swelling of the bodycaused by fluid retention.
On top of that, these nutrients can also help regulate the body’s electrolyte levels and improve circulatory and lymphatic function.
Ingredients
- 3 banana peels
- 2 cups of water (500 ml)
Method
- First, put the banana peels in a pot together with two cups of water and let them boil for 5 minutes.
- Afterwards, let the mixture stand until it reaches a bearable temperature. Then, consume it.
- Distribute the amount you to make between 2 or 3 shots a day.
Did you about know these uses of banana peels? Now that you know how to take advantage of them, don’t hesitate to make them an ally for your health!
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
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Tee, T. P., & Hassan, H. (2011). Antidepressant-Like Activity of Banana Peel Extract in Mice. American Medical Journal. https://doi.org/10.3844/amjsp.2011.59.64
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Kapadia, S., Pudakalkatti, P., & Shivanaikar, S. (2015). Detection of antimicrobial activity of banana peel (Musa paradisiaca L.) on Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans: An in vitro study. Contemporary Clinical Dentistry. https://doi.org/10.4103/0976-237X.169864
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Phuaklee, P., Ruangnoo, S., & Itharat, A. (2012). Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of extracts from Musa sapientum peel. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet Thangphaet.
