I’m sure some of you might be quite surprised to have read the title of this article. Banana Peel water, water made of peels that are usually discarded? Yes, you read that right. It’s a real thing! Bananas are a go-to fruit and immediate energy booster after a tiring workout or to satiate your hunger pangs, as it has fast-acting carbohydrates. Well, just as useful as its fruit, so is the peel!

BANANA PEEL WATER

Read on to find out the benefits of banana peel tea:

1. Beneficial for those who have sleep issues:

Find it difficult to fall asleep at night? Well, banana peel tea can work as the remedy for you. Banana peels contain L-Tryptophan (an amino acid in the body, which gets converted into a brain chemical called serotonin, which is a hormone responsible for mood, sleep and digestion), which is used in the production of two sleep-inducing hormones called serotonin and melatonin (the hormone which controls the body’s sleep cycle). Banana peels also contain the minerals magnesium and high level of potassium that can help one’s muscles to relax before bed time, in turn preparing the body for sleep. So for those who find it hard to sleep or suffer from insomnia, banana tea can be beneficial to you, as it has a vasorelaxant (reduction of tension in the walls of the blood vessels) effect in the body.

2. Can be beneficial for your heart:

Banana peel contains the minerals magnesium and potassium. These minerals can be helpful in reducing blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart diseases and stroke. Banana peel contains a bioactive compound called catechin, which is a substance that can help protect the cells from free radical damage (a type of unstable molecules that buildup in cells and can cause damage to other molecules).

3. Can help build immunity:

Banana peels contain vitamin B6, also known as Pyridoxine, which is very important for the body and its overall health. It can also help regulate red blood cell (cells that carry oxygen to all parts of the body) development, in turn boosting immunity.

4. Rich in antioxidants:

The banana peel represents around 40% of the weight of the banana and is rich in bioactive and antioxidant compounds, which can help fight chronic heart diseases. Antioxidants are substances that can prevent slow damage to the cells which is caused by free radicals. They are also known as ‘free-radical scavengers’. Research states that the banana peel  has shown to have even more antioxidants than its flesh, so adding the peels to your tea can increase the intake of these antioxidant molecules.

5 .Banana peel plant fertilizer – Banana peel water contains rich amounts of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus. It has the highest organic sources of potassium making it a perfect natural plant fertilizer. READ MORE – ONION PEEL FOR FASTER HAIR GROWTH

6. Other benefits:

  • Enhances skin health: As banana peels have high antioxidant and anti-microbial properties, it can fight the free radicals which are the main reason behind aging skin inflammation and other common skin-related problems.
  • Helps prevent bloating: As the banana peels have high levels of potassium, a mineral which can regulate the blood pressure, muscle contractions and the fluid balance (which can help the body’s metabolic process function smoothly) of the body and can therefore help counter balance bloating.
BANANA PEEL WATER

Here’s how you can make banana peel tea at home:

Ingredients:

  • 1 glass of water
  • ½ tsp cinnamon powder (optional)
  • Honey or sugar to taste (optional)

Method:

Wash the banana properly and slice off both the ends before peeling it and chop the peels into two halves and set aside. Heat up the glass of water in a vessel, on the stove and drop in the banana peels and let it boil, until the water colour begins to change into a slightly brownish shade. Then turn off the flame and remove the peels from the water and throw them away. Strain the liquid into a cup and then you can add the cinnamon powder and honey which is optional. It is ready to consume.

You can also use the banana as it is, to make the tea. Instead of removing the peel, slice the whole banana horizontally into three to four parts and boil it in the water, following the same method as above. READ MORE – CUCUMBER WATER for glowing skin and weight loss

Banana peel water plant fertilizer –

Add banana peels to the jar. Fill the jar to the top with water, close the lid and and allow it to rest for a week. After a week, remove the banana peel and dilute the banana peel with water before you use it on your plants.