They are traditionally tossed aside, consigned to
the rubbish and long forgotten. But, rather than deserve their reputation as a
slippery hazard, the butt of cartoon jokes, banana skins are, in fact, good for
us.
Whether you're partial to a green, yellow or
browning fruit, the peel is packed with nutrients that can prove beneficial to
the body. While it may strike you as an alien concept to use
banana skin in your daily diet, in many parts of the world, notably India
and the Caribbean, the peel is used to add flavour and
substance to dishes.
And, there is now a growing consensus, which
suggests the nutrients, compounds and minerals hidden away within the skin
could help aid weight loss, and boost your mood.
Banana skins are packed with various nutrients and
vitamins that can boost your health, aid weight-loss and improve your mood, nutritionists
say.
Nutritionist Ella Allred says while 'at first the peel may seem like an odd choice of food, when you investigate
further you will realize there are nutritional benefits'.
She says: "The extra fibre in banana skins will
certainly help with bowel regularity. The nutrition profile of magnesium, potassium,
vitamin C and B6 is not something to be sniffed at." Laura Flores, a San Diego-based nutritionist
agrees.
She told LiveScience: "It contains high amounts of vitamin B6 and B12, as well as magnesium and
potassium, and some fibre and protein."
Furthermore, according to an article in the
journal of Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, banana peels also contain
'various bioactive compounds like polyphenols, carotenoids and others'.
The skins are packed with vitamin A, which aids in
healthy teeth, bones and soft tissue.
While B6 aids the body's immune system, promoting
brain and heart health. It also regulates blood sugar levels, and so can help
boost your mood.
And B12, also helps the brain and nervous system.
Furthermore, B vitamins and the antioxidants lurking in the skin help stoke the
metabolism and can therefore prove useful for those trying to lose weight.
And when it comes to being diet friendly, the peel
adds no calories to your daily diet, only extra sustenance.
Adding the peel of your banana to a smoothie is a
good way to enjoy its benefits, adding fibre to the drink
and helping you feel
fuller for longer
Vitamin C aids the body in healing, growing new
tissue and ligaments, while fibre can help you feel fuller for longer, making
the skin diet-friendly.
The peel is also high in the mood-boosting hormone
serotonin - a neurotransmitter derived from tryptophan.
As well as helping to give you a life, tryptophan,
an essential amino acid, is often prescribed to help treat sleep problems.
Past research has found fibre helps to lower
cholesterol, in turn protecting against heart disease, heart attacks and
stroke.
High levels of lutein contained within the peel can
help protect your night vision.
The compound has also been found to play a role in
preventing cataracts and macular degeneration - one of the leading causes of
blindness.
