Banana peel offers protective effects to your heart [READ HERE]

It is a well-known fact that bananas are exceptionally nutritious and offer several health promoting benefits. A common practice while eating banana is to eat the flesh of the banana and throw its peel away, but do you know that banana skin provides you with numerous nutrients which protect your heart and overall health?

Banana peel contains many vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, which makes it excellent for health and beauty purposes. Although it can be eaten raw, it is best when consumed after cooking. So the next time you have a banana, instead of discarding the peel, try to make use of its amazing benefits.

Just as bananas are packed with nutrients, their peels are also fortified nutritionally. Experts say banana peel actually contains more fibre (soluble and insoluble) and potassium than the flesh of banana. It also contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid that increases the levels of the hormone serotonin, which is a mood enhancer.

Banana peel is a good source of vitamins like vitamin A, and vitamin B6. In addition to potassium, it also contains minerals like calcium, manganese, magnesium, sodium and sulfur. Banana peel also contains antioxidants including lutein and phytochemicals like polyphenols and carotenoids.

Interestingly, researchers have found that the antioxidant activity of the banana peel extract is stronger than that of the banana pulp extract. In a study published in the Journal of Food Biochemistry, researchers Shinichi Someya and his colleagues said that ‘one the antioxidants found in banana is gallocatechin and the antioxidant activity of banana peel was found to be stronger than that of banana pulp.’

Banana peel protects your heart. Experts believe that the high levels of soluble and insoluble fiber in banana peel are very useful in reducing the levels of bad cholesterol or LDL cholesterol. Also, banana peel is an excellent source of potassium that helps to lower high blood pressure. By keeping the cholesterol and blood pressure levels under check, banana peel offers protective effects to your heart.

Banana skin functions to whiten the teeth. By rubbing the inside of banana peel daily on your teeth, you will get whiter and sparkling teeth. Take the inner white part of the peel and gently rub it all over your teeth for about two minutes. The minerals like potassium, magnesium and manganese in banana peel are absorbed in to your teeth, making them white and stain-free.

The application of banana peel on your skin can improve its appearance and glow. It is a rich source of vitamin C and other antioxidants that promotes increased blood circulation in your skin and also stimulates the production of collagen. Scrubbing your skin with banana peel provides excellent exfoliation and removes the dirt and dead skin cells. This cleanses your skin and makes it looking soft, smooth and young.

The antioxidants in banana peel fights off the free radicals and prevent the oxidation stress on the cells of your body. This helps in slowing the aging process and also in reducing the signs of aging. Moreover, rubbing banana peel on the skin is an excellent remedy to tone and tighten your skin, thus removing wrinkles and fine lines.

If you are suffering from acne breakouts, banana peel can be of great help. Simply rub the peel over the affected area and you will see considerable improvement in the condition. The high potassium content in banana peel destroys the bacteria and helps to heal blemishes at a faster rate. The anti-bacterial properties of banana peel are helpful in treating other kinds of skin infections too.