13 Extra Uses for the Banana
Bananas are known as 'energy bombs' with very high nutritional values.
Possessing a multitude of vitamins, including vitamin A, vitamin C, many of the vitamin B family, potassium and three natural sugars - Sucrose, Fructose and Glucose.
If you thought that nutrition is where the role of the banana ends, you may want to think again .....
Here are some other unconventional uses of this wonder fruit and its skin.
1. Shining Shoes
If you happen to be out of shoe polish, don't worry. After you have finished eating the banana, use the peel. Remove the remnants of the banana from within and then rub the inside of the peel on your shoe. To finish use tissue paper or better a paper towel.
2. Overcoming your smoking habit
The banana can help people stop smoking. The vitamins B12, B6 and the minerals potassium and magnesium found in bananas, held the body overcome the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
3. Soothing stings and bites
The sugars in the banana peel will sooth an itchy and annoying mosquito bite, as well as the redness that accompanies it.
4. Eases heartburn
The banana has natural anti-oxidants, that may relieve your heartburn. Eat a banana to cool down.
5. Tenderising meat
If you want to tenderise meat while thawing it, wrap it in banana leaves. This also works for fish. While cooking, add a ripe banana to help them soften, and add a sweet flavour while you're at it.
6. Relieving PMS
The B vitamins found in the banana regulate the levels of sugar in the blood, which directly affects the general feeling and mood. The potassium in the fruit neutralises the swelling and the liquid build up.
7. Getting over a hangover
Boil a cup of water and put two banana peels in it. Wait for it to cool and then drink.
8. Treating piles (bloody hemorrhoids)
Steam 2 bananas with the peel, until they soften. Eat on an empt stomach, morning and evening, until relief is achieved.
9. Improving quality of sleep
Bananas come with a great vitamin B6 boost, that helps maintain a normal and functional sleep/wake mechanism. Eat a banana preferably each morning to get quality sleep.
10. Substitute for vitamin D
Lack of vitamin D is a big contributor to depression. Modern lifestyles and winter can reduce a person's exposure to sunlight, which is the main source of vitamin D can be compensated by dietary means. Other than milk, and fish, banana is a great source for vitamin D
13. Return moisture to a tired face
To moisturise your dry skin, use a banana paste to relax the skin.
Here is a simple recipe:
2 spoons of almond oil
1 ripe banana
1 Egg yolk
Mash the banana with a fork and remove the thick pieces. Add egg yolk and almond oil and mix well. Wash your face and dry with a clean towel. Then put the mix on your face and leave for 20 minutes. Wash your face with cold water and dry well.
11. Helps fight anemia
The vitamin B family found in bananas encourage the creation of hemoglobin and help prevent and treat anemia.
12. Whitening teeth
Despite their yellow color, bananas can actually help whiten your teeth. Research shows that the minerals in the banana peel, such as potassium and bromine, help whiten the teeth naturally without leaving damage.
Cut the peel into little pieces, rub the inner part of the banana in circular motions on the teeth for 2-3 minutes and then don't touch for 15 minutes (don't eat, drink or rinse). Then rinse well. In a few weeks of this daily treatment, you will see great results.
13. Treating Bunions
Vinegar and cosmetic creams can dry painful and ugly bunions, but when these aren't available or too expensive, a banana will also do the trick. Squish the banana and rub it on the affected area. You can use the peel to rub it on the skin, while some wrap the inner side of the peel around the bunion and leave it for the night.
Bananas are known as 'energy bombs' with very high nutritional values.
Possessing a multitude of vitamins, including vitamin A, vitamin C, many of the vitamin B family, potassium and three natural sugars - Sucrose, Fructose and Glucose.
If you thought that nutrition is where the role of the banana ends, you may want to think again .....
Here are some other unconventional uses of this wonder fruit and its skin.
1. Shining Shoes
If you happen to be out of shoe polish, don't worry. After you have finished eating the banana, use the peel. Remove the remnants of the banana from within and then rub the inside of the peel on your shoe. To finish use tissue paper or better a paper towel.
2. Overcoming your smoking habit
The banana can help people stop smoking. The vitamins B12, B6 and the minerals potassium and magnesium found in bananas, held the body overcome the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
3. Soothing stings and bites
The sugars in the banana peel will sooth an itchy and annoying mosquito bite, as well as the redness that accompanies it.
4. Eases heartburn
The banana has natural anti-oxidants, that may relieve your heartburn. Eat a banana to cool down.
5. Tenderising meat
If you want to tenderise meat while thawing it, wrap it in banana leaves. This also works for fish. While cooking, add a ripe banana to help them soften, and add a sweet flavour while you're at it.
6. Relieving PMS
The B vitamins found in the banana regulate the levels of sugar in the blood, which directly affects the general feeling and mood. The potassium in the fruit neutralises the swelling and the liquid build up.
7. Getting over a hangover
Boil a cup of water and put two banana peels in it. Wait for it to cool and then drink.
8. Treating piles (bloody hemorrhoids)
Steam 2 bananas with the peel, until they soften. Eat on an empt stomach, morning and evening, until relief is achieved.
9. Improving quality of sleep
Bananas come with a great vitamin B6 boost, that helps maintain a normal and functional sleep/wake mechanism. Eat a banana preferably each morning to get quality sleep.
10. Substitute for vitamin D
Lack of vitamin D is a big contributor to depression. Modern lifestyles and winter can reduce a person's exposure to sunlight, which is the main source of vitamin D can be compensated by dietary means. Other than milk, and fish, banana is a great source for vitamin D
13. Return moisture to a tired face
To moisturise your dry skin, use a banana paste to relax the skin.
Here is a simple recipe:
2 spoons of almond oil
1 ripe banana
1 Egg yolk
Mash the banana with a fork and remove the thick pieces. Add egg yolk and almond oil and mix well. Wash your face and dry with a clean towel. Then put the mix on your face and leave for 20 minutes. Wash your face with cold water and dry well.
11. Helps fight anemia
The vitamin B family found in bananas encourage the creation of hemoglobin and help prevent and treat anemia.
12. Whitening teeth
Despite their yellow color, bananas can actually help whiten your teeth. Research shows that the minerals in the banana peel, such as potassium and bromine, help whiten the teeth naturally without leaving damage.
Cut the peel into little pieces, rub the inner part of the banana in circular motions on the teeth for 2-3 minutes and then don't touch for 15 minutes (don't eat, drink or rinse). Then rinse well. In a few weeks of this daily treatment, you will see great results.
13. Treating Bunions
Vinegar and cosmetic creams can dry painful and ugly bunions, but when these aren't available or too expensive, a banana will also do the trick. Squish the banana and rub it on the affected area. You can use the peel to rub it on the skin, while some wrap the inner side of the peel around the bunion and leave it for the night.
