The riper a banana the better it is for you. In fact sugar content in a banana is at its peak when the skin has turned completely black. This is the point at which all the starches in a banana have been converted to sugars. Also, contrary to popular opinion, bananas can and should be refrigerated to extend their edible life.

Dietary Supplement: Because bananas are so high in vitamins B6 and B12 and so low in sodium they are a perfect dietary supplement. They also contain magnesium and potassium along with the sugars sucrose, fructose and glucose.

Nicotine Withdrawal: It is said that the two B vitamins and minerals help with nicotine addiction withdrawal.

Sugar Fix: The sugars fructose and glucose are known to enter the bloodstream rapidly which is a good thing if you are experiencing low blood sugar. This makes them a good food choice for hypoglycemics and diabetics.

Diet Aid: A typical medium banana has less than 100 calories and, with a glass of water, can be very filling. The effect of one banana on blood sugar and protein levels is good for up to two hours. This makes it a near perfect dietary snack.

Digestion Aid: They are also the "B" in the Banana, rice, applesauce, and toast (BRAT) diet, a food regimen recommended for children recovering from gastric upset. Note that the BRAT diet is not recommended for extended periods as it lacks protein.

Ingredient List: A medium banana contains a gram of protein, three (3g) grams of fiber, twenty-seven (27g) grams of of carbohydrates, twenty-four (24g) grams of sugars, forty-three (43mg) milligrams of magnesium, and perhaps most importantly of all, four hundred sixty (460mg) milligrams of potassium.

Sports Tonic: The potassium and magnesium makes in a near perfect sports food for those lactic acid related cramps. I have personally found that a banana, after a particularly grueling run or bike outing, will relieve muscle cramps within fifteen minutes.

Other Uses: Once you've finished eating the banana don't throw the peel away; put it to good use. Because the banana peel is also loaded with potassium it can be used to reduce wrinkles around the eyes. Rubbing a fresh banana peel, yellow side out, under and around the eyes can reduce worry lines and bags. A banana peel can also reduce the itching and swelling from an insect bite. Again just rub the peel on the bite or for extended relief tape some peel to the bite.There's a strange rumor going around that the Gabor sisters (Zaza and Eva) would line their bras with bananas for perkier body effects.

Gardening: Rose bushes thrive on potassium so try scattering a few peels around the base of these bushes. In a pinch I even used a banana peel to shine my shoes.

So, a banana is not just good to eat, its peel is also good for your skin and good for certain plants.