Most households consume bananas on a daily basis but throw away the peels. However, what they do not realize is that banana peel benefits. So, this article discovers the twelve banana peel uses. Banana peels are also rich in nutrients and can be put to good use. Additionally, banana peels have a plethora of nutrients that can be helpful in our daily lives. Here, we have compiled twelve amazing benefits and uses of banana peel.
Uses of Banana Peels
1. Clean up houseplants
You can use the soft side of banana peels to rub the leaves of your houseplants. The peels will clean off the dust from the plants and will leave a healthy shine. This can be a beneficial technique for cleaning indoor plants with waxy leaves like Calatheas, Crotons, and Ficus trees. You can also use banana peel for your shoe polishing.
2. Fight acne
You can also use Banana peels for skincare treatment. Banana peels are rich in vitamins and minerals. They contain Vitamin C, Vitamin E, iron, potassium, and zinc. These nutrients fight acne and reduce skin inflammation. They also help in restoring the skin’s natural glow.
To use this banana peel benefit; just use the banana peel on the affected skin and leave for 5-10 minutes. Then rinse with water. Repeat daily to observe the best results. It is important to note that these home remedies for skin acne take time and gradually show results. One cannot expect to witness change overnight.
3. Reduce wrinkles
Wrinkles form on your face when your skin loses its elasticity and firmness, but no need to worry as you can use banana peel for wrinkles reduction. As banana peels are rich in antioxidants and Vitamin C, they can help reduce facial wrinkles.
You can use it by rubbing the peel on your face and leaving it on for around 30 minutes. Then wash your face and moisturize. It is recommended to repeat this procedure 2-3 times a week. Visible results can be witnessed after some time.
4. Polish your silver
The next time you notice your silver jewelry or crockery becoming dull and tarnished, try using a banana peel. The banana peel contains potassium which can help clean metal objects.
Just blend the banana peels with water to make a paste. Rub your silver with this paste for a couple of minutes. You will notice that your silver has regained its luster and shine.
5. Remove splinters
The peel of a banana is not only rich in nutrients but also in enzymes. Some of these enzymes have a pulling action in the body tissue. That is, if there is a splinter stuck inside in your skin, the enzymes will help in bringing it to the surface. Then the splinter can be quickly pulled out by a pair of tweezers.
All you have to do is place a ripe banana peel on the affected area for around 15-20 minutes. Then remove the peel and gently pull out the splinter.
6. Whiten your teeth
Uses of banana peel for teeth whitening as a home remedy is very well known. When you consume beverages such as tea and coffee, your teeth may get marked with yellow stains. Banana peels are rich in potassium which may help in reducing such stains.
The procedure is very simple. After brushing and rinsing your teeth, rub the inside of a banana peel on your teeth. Do this for around 2-3 minutes and then rinse your mouth again. Repeat this every day to ensure the best results.
7. Treat skin irritations
You can rub banana peels on skin irritations such as insect bites and stings. The acids and minerals present in the peel will help alleviate the pain and soothe the itching.
Moreover, the fatty acids present in the banana peels will also reduce redness, swelling, and scarring. Many people also use banana peel as the home remedy for skin whitening.
8. Treat headaches
The use of banana peels not only limited to skincare, but it has other health use too. Be it a simple headache or a recurring migraine, using banana peels is a natural way to treat them. This is because the peels contain the mineral potassium.
Simply place some banana peels in the refrigerator for about an hour. Then place one peel on your forehead and one on your back neck. Leave the peels till they become warm. Repeat the process if required.
9. Tenderize meat
Before cooking meat, place some ripe banana peels at the bottom of the pan. This helps the meat stay moist and tender while cooking. The peels ensure that the meat cooks properly while the moisture from it does not vaporize.
10. Make juice from the peels
There are many banana peel recipes out there, but you can use banana peels for making a healthy juice. Banana peels are rich in various vitamins and minerals. So why not extract these nutrients from the peels and use them?
Simply place the peels in boiling water for around ten minutes and then remove them. Your banana peel juice is ready. You can add this nutritious juice to your drinks and smoothies. Imagine getting all the nutrients at once.
11. Compost
You can add banana peels to your compost piles to increase the content of calcium, phosphates, and magnesium. All these nutrients are vital for healthy plant growth. However, as banana peels are considered green material, use them in the right proportion so that soil composition does not become imbalanced.
Even if you do not have a compost pile at home, you can still use banana peels to fertilize your plants as banana peel has many benefits for plants. Put a few banana peels in a bucket of water and let it remain for a few days.
This will form compost ‘tea’ which will be rich in minerals. You can mix this with water in a ratio of 1:5 and feed to your plants once a month. The calcium and potassium in this mixture will help in healthy plant growth.
12. Livestock feed
Dry banana peels and grounds them to add to livestock feed. This will provide essential nutrients to the animals. All the banana peel nutrients we discussed in the above paragraph will prove to be beneficial for the animals.
So, the next time you eat a banana, save the peel instead of disposing of it. Make the most out of the nutrients present in the fruit as well as its the peel. All these benefits of banana and its peel can save you a serious amount of money while making you more beautiful and healthy.
