Banana Peel: Properties and Uses
Banana peel is usually thrown away because few people know that it can be used. In fact, there are a lot of options for its use, and this is not only gardening, but also cosmetology, the preparation of tinctures for health.
Useful properties and harm
The banana peel has the same composition as the pulp, but there are substances in it that can be harmful. First of all, it is a high content of manganese and potassium. Moderate consumption of these trace elements by a person has a beneficial effect on overall health. However, it is undesirable to get them from the peel in its raw form, since in addition to being beneficial to humans, it can also be harmful due to the presence of harmful components.
Speaking specifically about the benefits, the peel of the fruit consists of coarse fibers, and they, in turn, can help remove bad cholesterol. As a result of eating it, the risk of atherosclerosis and other diseases of the heart and blood vessels is reduced.
Scientists have long studied the beneficial properties of the peel and came to the conclusion that the antioxidants in its composition are the main defenders of blood cells that prevent their destruction. The rough shell contains a lot of fiber, iron and potassium. It can be consumed boiled or mashed with honey.This is an excellent helper for depression and bad mood, since some of the components in its composition have a positive effect on the emotional background.
Tryptophan is a natural sedative and hypnotic, a small amount of the peel before bedtime relieves insomnia. In addition, it contains anti-mutagenic agents, and they, in turn, are the best fighters against cancer cells. Polyphenols and carotenoids improve immunity, help the body fight viruses and microbes.
Banana peel has a positive effect on sprains, severe bruises. You just need to put it on a sore spot and after half an hour you can feel relief. Vegetable oil enhances the effect, it must be applied to the pulp of the shell and applied to the skin in this form.
Patients with psoriasis during the period of exacerbation of the disease are very tormented by itching and flaking of the skin. These places can be rubbed with a peel. At first, there will be a slight burning sensation and even redness may be observed, but the result exceeds all expectations, since it is a natural antiseptic that successfully replaces many expensive drugs.
Parents regularly have to deal with abrasions and scratches in a child. The shell of the fruit will also help improve healing, since it contains tannins. They remarkably stop the blood and contribute to the rapid appearance of a crust.
The peel will also help against migraines if you rub it on your temples or make a puree and apply it to your forehead with a compress. With a small use of the banana shell, you can restore normal bowel function, restore metabolic processes, and get rid of constipation.
You can remove the itch from an insect bite with a peel. After rubbing, the itching disappears almost instantly.It is recommended to use the shell of the fruit and from allergic rashes.
Despite the large number of advantages, the product also has disadvantages. Saponins, which are in the composition, are dangerous for humans and animals, because they have a foaming property. When consumed in uncontrolled amounts, they cause paralysis.
Medicinal use
Banana peel is great for bruising on the body and under the eyes. It must be applied with the soft side to the skin area. Numerous positive reviews testify to the effectiveness of this natural remedy. For cosmetic purposes, it is also indispensable, as it can help to cope with warts, which, according to scientists, appear due to a lack of potassium in the body. The problem area must be rubbed with a soft side or stick a piece on the formation and secure with a plaster. After ten days, the skin will be clear.
You can pull out a splinter that sits deep and does not want to rip the skin. At night, a small piece of peel is applied to the sore spot and in the morning the problem will be solved by itself. The splinter will be on the surface and can be gently pry with tweezers. Good for removing skin and redness of the eyes. To do this, it is applied to the eyelids as a relaxing compress. It only takes a few minutes for the irritation to subside.
You can recommend this folk remedy for those who smoke a lot, as it helps to whiten teeth. Every morning you need to rub the enamel with a fruit shell in order to return it to its former whiteness after a few procedures. This teeth whitening is completely safe and painless.
From ripe yellow bananas, you need to use waste infused with vodka. The remedy is infused for up to six weeks, but not less than three.You need to rub sore spots every day before going to bed for three weeks. It helps to relieve pain in muscles and joints. You can use a banana peel to get rid of scars if you rub the problem area periodically. The components included in the composition have a beneficial effect on the skin, whiten it and help cell regeneration.
Does it help with weight loss?
The banana shell is not as high in calories as the pulp. It contains a lot of vitamin B and other microelements, so many people want to know how to make medicine from it so that it will benefit when losing weight. If we talk about the benefits of this product for a person as part of taking care of their body, then banana peel:
- helps improve skin condition;
- fills cells with potassium;
- improves metabolic processes and stimulates the digestive system.
Nutritionists were the first to take the initiative to use the "wrap" of the fruit as a weight loss aid. This is because its active ingredients are able to support intestinal motility. This is exactly what fiber does. Accordingly, the better the stomach works, the less fat deposits appear. Eating the peel reduces the feeling of hunger, after it there is no desire to eat something else. At the same time, metabolism improves, metabolic processes proceed differently, although this product cannot be called a powerful catalyst.
Often the problem of excess weight is due to a violation of the intestinal microflora. Banana peel consumption solves this problem thanks to probiotics. There is no need for a person to spend additional funds on the purchase of expensive drugs. Precisely because the consumption of the peel leads to the stabilization of the nervous system, there is no more desire to seize stress.
Of course, it is not enough just to introduce the described product into your diet, a person must eat right and be active.
How can it be used in home cosmetology?
You can use banana waste in home cosmetics, as it is an excellent facial remedy for wrinkles and acne. A useful composition helps the girl maintain the beauty of her hair, improves the condition of the skin at any age, and preserves youth. Ascorbic acid is an excellent antioxidant, and vitamins A and B help prevent early skin aging. Vitamin A has another beneficial effect - it protects against cancer. Vitamin E provides elasticity and good regeneration of skin cells. To use all these trace elements, it is necessary to make masks and scrubs from the peel.
If there is a problem with acne, then there is simply no better remedy. Immediately, as soon as the peel is removed from the banana, it is cut into small strips and applied to the inflamed areas, rubbed into the skin with light movements, as if massaging. You do not need to immediately go and wash your face, it is worth a little patience until the active components begin their action.
The mask contains alcohol, so it perfectly cleans any wounds. Starch removes inflammation, which is why it is an excellent remedy not only for acne, but also for warts.
You can prepare the following remedy:
- ground banana peel;
- three powdered activated charcoal tablets;
- some olive oil.
All these ingredients are mixed together and applied to the face for fifteen minutes. Any of the components is easy to get, but the result that the girl receives can be compared with high-quality peeling.Improvement in skin condition is immediately visible, but in order to fully restore it, it is better to do the procedure ten times. The interval between masks is at least two days.
Girls who have already been able to appreciate the quality of such a mask repeat the procedure several times a year and thus maintain their youth and beauty. For those who have individual intolerance to one of the components, it is better to refuse the remedy.
You can prepare a mask for rejuvenation. For her, you will need one washed and dried banana peel, which must be crushed. A serving is equal to one tablespoon. Raw yolk, a spoonful of sour cream or cream are added to the ingredient. You need to make the composition in non-metallic dishes, it is best to beat it with a blender. The gruel is applied to the face, avoiding the area around the eyes.
Keep the product on the skin for at least twenty minutes. Then the mask is simply washed off with running water. No need to use additional cleansers or creams.
If you want to smooth wrinkles a little, you should definitely use the following composition: starch, peel pulp. Both corn starch and potato starch will work. All components are mixed and applied to the face for fifteen minutes. Additionally, you can add cream, then the mask will not only smooth out wrinkles, but also perfectly cleanse your face.
What can be done from the peel?
From a banana peel, you can make not only medicinal infusions and face masks. It can also be an excellent polish for leather shoes. It is not required to process it in any special way - just rub the shoes with the soft side, and then wipe it with a soft, dry cloth.
If the house has a lot of indoor plants with broad foliage, you can not only clean it with a peel, but also give it a healthy sheen.Among other things, it is an ideal tool for polishing furniture. Wood products acquire a beautiful gloss after rubbing with banana peel.
If the child gets their hands dirty in ink and they can’t be washed in any way, then it’s worth taking banana waste and the situation will be corrected in a matter of seconds. You can also easily remove scratches from discs.
From the peel, you can prepare a remedy for midges. It is enough to put it in the package and open it. In half an hour they will all gather inside, it remains only to carefully close it.
How to cook?
If banana peel is used in food, then you need to know how to use it correctly. In its raw form, it will need to be washed and soaked well. The time spent in the water is twenty minutes. You can cook it a little, make a puree, and to make it more palatable, you can add honey.
Compotes and peel teas are popular. For cooking, you will need water and a peel, which is placed in a container and boiled for fifteen minutes. They do not drink it immediately, but three hours after the brew is infused. You can use the ingredient as an additive to compote. It is simply put in a jar with an already brewed drink and canned. It is very important not to use sugar, because then all the beneficial properties disappear.
A smoothie is also good, for the preparation of which you can use a whole banana. If desired, yogurt or kefir is added to it. This dish is not only tasty, but also healthy, and is ideal for a snack.
You can make vinegar, which is then used to improve the taste of some dishes. The skin must be finely chopped and poured with simple vinegar, it is advisable to take a 9% concentrate. The mixture is infused for more than a week. It is filtered before use.
Tips for use in gardening
Banana peels are also used in horticulture, especially in the fight against pests such as aphids. In order not to use chemicals, waste is placed around the plants in the recesses. Since they have a lot of potassium, which insects do not like, they will soon leave the culture.
But this is not the only use, as the peel can be an excellent fertilizer. It is laid out in the holes where the root system of the plant will develop. Suitable for tomatoes and cucumbers. The peel decomposes quickly, and the substances are absorbed by the roots at a high speed.
An infusion will help improve the soil, for the preparation of which you need to take three peels for three liters of water. Water the beds with this liquid after a few days of infusion.
To learn more about the banana peel, watch the next episode of Live Healthy!