Is Banana Peel Edible (Health Benefits Of Eating Banana Peels) – With eating a banana people often think of what they can do with the banana peel. Of course, they will throw the peel right? but the people who throw don’t know the uses of banana peel and the nutrients they contain that can be beneficial for your health. They often think is banana peel edible or not.
Is Banana Peel Edible
Yes, banana peels are edible and eaten in many parts of the world. It contains a high amount of vitamin B6 and B12, as well as potassium and magnesium. But banana peels might not taste good if you eat them raw. You need to prepare them correctly or You can either blend them into smoothies or fry or bake them.
Now, let’s take a detailed look at how can you eat a banana peel, whether is it safe to eat and what it tastes like.
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Does Anyone Eat Banana Skin?
Most people think is banana peel edible. And they don’t like eating banana peel but many people don’t know that they are eaten in some eastern cuisines, especially in India. People in Asian countries eat banana skin and have been taking advantage of their nutrition. As the skin of the banana is thick and slightly bitter, so they need to be prepared in certain dishes. It’s the choice of people to try anything like eating the skins of fruits. But before trying them all you need is to figure out if they’re safe to eat or not.
Are Banana Peels Safe To Eat
Yes, if you have the urge to try eating them and think is banana peel edible? Well, banana peels are safe to eat.
An Australian nutritionist claims that they have additional nutrients such as potassium, dietary fiber, essential amino acids, and polyunsaturated fats. The banana skin contains an additional 78 milligrams of potassium and enough fiber that can support your heart health.
If you’re thinking about the pesticide residue in banana peels which is used to kill insects and other pests, the United States Department Of Agriculture sets pesticide limits for safety and bananas don’t exceed that limit. Hence they are completely safe to consume even with pesticide residue.
All you need is a certain recipe to make them edible instead of eating them raw. And if you’re trying to eat them raw, make sure you wash them properly.
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How Do You Prepare Banana Peels To Eat?
Once decided of eating the banana peel, next you need a method of preparing them to eat precisely. Those slippery banana peels can taste bitter, so to make them taste good, follow the steps given below:
- To prepare the banana peel edible, simply remove its stem and wash the peel thoroughly. It is important to remove all the dirt that sticks on the peel.
- Next, you can blend them to make a smoothie by adding your favorite ingredients along with the banana peel.
- You can also fry them or bake them into a delicious snack. Frying, baking, or even boiling can make the banana peels soften their texture and make them easier to eat.
- Even make a banana peel tea to enjoy the taste and nutritious benefits.
- Cooked banana peels can be added to sandwiches, fries, and curries to help boost the food’s nutritional value.
There are numerous recipes for banana peels on the internet that can be used to minimize food waste and make a delicious dish to eat. Cooked banana peels taste much better than eating them raw. You can either search for the recipe for a banana peel or can ask your family. But to simplify your research I have mentioned a video on how to eat banana peels and make them into tasty food.
Why You Should Eat Banana Peels
Banana peels are mostly thrown than eaten or keeping them for different uses. The main reason why you should be eating banana peels is the number of additional nutrients they contain. But other reasons simplify this query and those are:
- Banana peels can make your dish delicious, so to enjoy eating a portion of delicious food, consider adding them.
- Banana peels are a budget-friendly meat substitute as they can be cooked in such a way as to make them taste like meat.
- Banana peels save the environment as it prevents food waste.
- To soothe away all kinds of inflammations, you should be eating banana peels as they are good anti-inflammatory agents.
Do Banana Peels Taste Good?
It’s a usual thought that banana peels would taste like bananas but it’s not true. Banana peels don’t taste good, they don’t even taste like bananas but they do have a chewy slightly meaty texture when cooked.
A nutrition consultant and owner of active eating advice, Leslie Bonci says that banana peels have a bitter and very chewy taste when eaten raw. They will feel tough to eat if not cooked. While the inner skin of a peel is soft and sweet, to make them easier to chew and digest, you need to cook them. The heat applied while cooking will loosen up that the texture of the banana peel.
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Why Does Banana Peel Taste Bad?
Most people who have tried eating them raw wonder why banana peels taste bad. Well, the reason behind that is they contain a high concentration of a type of chemical compound called tannins, which is highly astringent and bitter. That’s why banana peels taste so bad.
But as you’ve seen eating banana peels in different cuisines has been made a new trend. Many cultures around the world have discovered different recipes that can convert the bitter taste of banana peels into a delicious one. To take an advantage of banana peel’s nutritions, add them to your diet. They won’t taste bad if cooked in such recipes.
Health Benefits Of Eating Banana Peels
It might sound strange but it isn’t, banana peels have many benefits for human health. It is edible because of some reason and the reasons are these benefits. Eating banana peels provides such benefits to your health because it contains loaded vitamins like B6 and B12, potassium and magnesium, and carbohydrates.
The following health benefits of eating banana peels are provided because of these nutrients.
1. Banana peels relieve depression
Do you know banana peels are packed with a high level of tryptophan which turns into serotonin, a chemical that can help improve your mood? This chemical is combined with vitamin B6 in banana skins, which helps in improving sleep. A study by Taiwan researchers has proven that consuming banana peel can ease depression and protect the retina.
2. Helps improve vision
Bananas and banana peels contain Vitamin A and lutein (a type of vitamin related to beta-carotene and vitamin A), which contribute to eye health and prevent muscular degeneration and cataracts. You can even reduce your under-eye dark circles by applying banana peel to them.
3. Banana peels may lower the risk of cancer
Eating green, unripe banana peels can reduce the risk of cancer by increasing your antioxidant levels. Banana skin contains those antioxidants such as polyphenols and carotenoids that can fight cancer-causing free radicals in the human body. Research on the anti-cancer properties of banana skin was done in test tubes but not on humans, further research can come up with the final result on this topic.
4. Helps promote digestive health
People with irritable bowel syndrome, and Crohn’s disease can try eating banana peels under their doctor’s prescription. Because banana peels can help regulate your digestive system and help in easing both constipation and diarrhea. They are an excellent source of probiotics and create good bacteria, thus promoting digestive health and improving the immune system as well.
5. Helps in weight loss
Bananas and banana peels are packed with fiber which is a good nutrient that helps lose weight. A dietitian says that eating banana peels can help you lose weight as they are rich in vitamin C and B6. so try eating banana peels and see the result yourself.
6. Help in better sleep
As mentioned above, banana peels are packed with nutrients that can help in improving sleep. The tryptophan in banana skins is known for inducing more relaxed sleep. Not only banana peel but a whole banana is good for better sleep. The magnesium and potassium in banana peels can give you sleep quality. You can add banana skin to your tea if you don’t wish to eat one.
7. Helps lower cholesterol level
The research was conducted on a group of people having a high level of bad cholesterol as these people consumed banana peels every day and the result proved that their bad cholesterol levels dropdown. The reason behind this is these peels contain soluble and insoluble fiber, which helps in lowering cholesterol levels and also prevents cardiovascular diseases.
8. Eating banana peel can help the environment
If you eat banana peel instead of throwing it, you’ll be helping the environment. Because it takes two years for a banana skin to biodegrade. By eating them you can lessen the amount of food that goes to landfills. So try helping your body with those extra nutrients and also help the environment.
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Nutritional Value Of Banana Peel
You’ve read the health benefits of eating banana peels, now you need to know the nutritional value that banana skin contains. It is one of the important aspects to know if you’ve decided to eat the skin of a banana.
Banana peels are eaten in many parts of the world because it is packed with such a nutrient that is beneficial for human health. A medium-sized banana and its skin can fulfill your body’s requirements.
- It contains the amount of fiber that is required for your body. This 12 percent fiber can help in digestion and lower the risk of diabetes.
- The amount of vitamin C a medium-sized banana peel contains can improve your immune system and give you glowing skin.
- It has 20 percent of vitamin B6 which can fulfill your body’s requirement and helps your body to convert food into energy.
- potassium helps in the growth and development of your cells, tissues, and other organs of your body.
- Your body requires 8 percent of magnesium, and bananas and their peel can fulfill it and help in regulating glucose and blood pressure levels in your body.
Are Banana Skins Good For Your Skin?
Yes, banana skins are good for your skin when you apply the inner part of a banana peel onto your skin. If you rub the skin of a banana onto your face, it has a gentle exfoliating effect, and as it dries, it draws out dirt and grease. Also, the vitamins in banana peel nourish and hydrate your skin, leaving you with fresh-looking skin. You can just rub the banana peel onto your skin for 5 minutes every day and see the noticeable results. You can know more here about how you can use the banana peel on your skin for your desired results.
Is The Banana Peel Healthier Than The Banana?
Bananas have nutritious properties and banana peels have some additional ones. Bananas are known for a high amount of potassium content which is 422 milligrams, vitamin B6 and B12, and magnesium as well and the peel contains some additional amount of potassium (78 milligrams) along with plenty of filling of fiber.
However, it’s not necessary to eat the skin of a banana, if you wish to try eating that, make sure you wash and cook it properly and take all the proper precautions before eating the banana peel.
The above health benefits of banana peel prove that the skin of a banana can be eaten and it is beneficial for health. If you’re having a banana every day it is not necessary to eat the peel also unless you want to. Because no doubt, banana peels have additional nutrients than the banana itself. A whole banana can cover up your nutritional value. You can cook the banana peel and add it to your food to enjoy the taste. Although banana peel is beneficial, still if you’re having health problems such as high cholesterol, or digestive issues, do consider consulting your doctor before eating the banana peel.
Conclusion
Eating banana peel is good for your body as well as the environment. Along with its nutritious value, as it serves human health, it decreases environmental waste. Banana peels add an interesting twist to food dishes and can be eaten with a good taste.
It is not bad to eat banana peel, it is one of the popular fruit providing numerous health benefits. Eating banana peels, especially the green unripe ones, can increase antioxidant levels and helps to reduce the risk of cancer. Whether you’re eating raw banana peel or adding them to your food, make sure to wash them thoroughly.
We hope that this post would help you with all your queries relating to is banana peel edible? and Health Benefits Of Banana Peel.