NUTRIENTS IN BANANA PEELS

Banana peels are also rich sources of potassium and contain much more soluble
and insoluble fiber than their flesh. Dietary fiber promotes digestion and bowel
movements and can reduce blood cholesterol levels. Banana peels also contain
tryptophan, which increases serotonin levels in the body and affects mood, much like the
drug Prozac does.
According to "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," researchers in Taiwan
discovered banana peel extract can ease depression because of its effect on serotonin,
which is a neurotransmitter in the brain responsible for balancing mood and emotions.
Others found that eating two banana skins a day for three days increased blood serotonin
levels by 16 percent.
Further, banana skin contains lutein, a powerful antioxidant that protects the eye
from free radicals and harmful frequencies of UV radiation from the sun. Lutein has been
proven to reduce the risks of cataracts and macular degeneration, as cited in
"Biochemical, Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition."

Eating Banana Peels

Banana peels can be eaten raw, although they are purported to be ropey and have
an unpleasant taste. Waiting for the fruit to ripen makes the skin much thinner, a little
sweeter and easier to chew, according to "Contemporary Nutrition." Some people prefer
to boil the peel for 10 minutes or so before eating it, putting it through a juicer or
blending it with other fruits.
In Asian countries, banana peels are cooked with their flesh or fried on their own.
Cleaning commercially grown bananas before you eat the skins is essential due to all the
spraying that bananas are subjected to.

Other Health Uses

In addition to eating banana peels, they can be used to rub on your skin to stop
itching, reduce inflammation, remove warts, smooth out wrinkles, get rid of acne, control
psoriasis, and improve skin tone and texture. These are anecdotal claims, of course, but
it's worth a try and certainly economical.

Peels and Pesticides

Most banana peels contain some pesticide residue. Pesticides are chemicals
farmers and growers use to kill insects and other pests. However, the United States
Department of Agriculture sets pesticide limits for safety and most fruits do not exceed
these limits. Touching a banana peel that contains pesticide residue does not put you in
harm. If you do not like the idea of pesticides on your fruit and vegetables, you can buy
organic. Organic farmers use far fewer pesticides, and some organic farmers do not use
pesticides at all.

Eating the Peels

In the American diet, banana peels are generally considered inedible, but that is
because of taste and consistency, not because the peels are actually toxic. In some
cultures, people cook the peels or grate the peels to use as ingredient in recipes, similar to
how people grate orange and lemon peels for extra flavoring zest, especially in baked
goods and frostings. Often, farmers feed pigs banana peels, and a 1999 study on
Sustainable Technology Development in Animal Agriculture presented at Deutscher
Tropentag in Berlin cited that banana peels can make good feed for pigs because the peels
have a high energy content, but are low in protein and amino acid composition.

Mineral Contents
Mineral content in a banana peel is primarily consistent of potassium
(78.10mg/g) and manganese (76.20mg/g). Other minerals present are sodium, calcium
and iron at 24.30, 19.20 and 0.61 mg/g respectively. The peel's high potassium content, if
taken orally, aids in maintaining normal blood pressure.

About 91.50 percent of a banana peel is organic nutrient matter consisting of

lipids, proteins, crude fiber and carbohydrates. About 31.70 percent of total mass is fiber
with carbohydrates accounting for 59 percent and protein and lipids accounting for 0.9
and 1.7 percents respectively. The high fiber content is useful as a natural laxative.

Phytates

Phytate (myo-inositol hexaphosphate) content of a banana peel is 0.28mg/g, lower

than in most whole grains. The only risk associated with phytate and dietary consumption
comes from a lack of it. Low phytate consumption increases risk for osteoporosis and
adding it to the diet increases bone density.

Saponins

Saponins are known for their foaming property and are another potentially
dangerous constituent of a banana peel. The levels are high in banana at 24 percent,
greatly exceeding the 3.00 percent level marked safe for consumption by animals.
Saponins consumption at high levels can paralyze the sensory system and are known to
increase cholesterol production in the body.
Oxalates

Oxalates are organic acids associated with kidney disease and are known to
decrease the absorption of minerals, such as calcium, in the body by binding with them
decreasing their availability. Eighty percent of all kidney stones occurring in adults in the
United States are calcium oxalate stones. The oxalate level in a banana peel is 0.51mg/g,
which is low and relatively non-threatening.
Hydrogen Cyanides
Of the anti-nutritive constituents the most poisonous is hydrogen cyanide. It is present in
the peel at 1.33mg/g. The chemical can cause immediate death if taken in high dosages
and in small dosages may cause stiffening of the throat and chest, heart palpitations and
weak muscles. Amounts in a peel fall into the 0.5 to 3.5mg/g safe range.

ABSTRACT:
Musa sapientum peels were analysed for minerals, nutritional and anti-nutritional contents
. The result of mineral content indicate the concentrations (mg g 1) of potassium, calcium,
sodium, iron, manganese, bromine, rubium, strontium, zirconium and niobium to be 78.10,
19.20, 24.30, 0.61, 76.20, 0.04, 0.21, 0.03, 0.02 and 0.02,
respectively. The percentage concentrations of protein, crude lipid, carbohydrate and
crude fibre were 0.90, 1.70, 59.00 and 31.70, respectively. The results indicate that
if the peels are properly exploited and process, they could be a high-quality and
cheap source of carbohydrates and minerals for livestock.