Don't Throw That Banana Peel Away!

DON'T THROW THAT BANANA PEEL AWAY!

Many people eat their banana and then toss the peel into the garbage. However, banana peels can be used for many things that compliment sustainable living and help the environment. There are loads of surprising applications for the humble banana peel ranging from cosmetics to composting. Many banana varieties are grown in over one hundred countries in the world, so there is an abundance of peels to be had.

Rich Fertilizer From Banana Peels

Throwing banana peels on the compost helps your garden grow better because of the potassium. The peels compost quickly and can help a speed up the composting process. A fertiliser for seedlings can be made by drying out the banana peels and then chopping them in a food processor or blender. This is also beneficial for your house plants. To dry banana peels, wait until you are cooking something in the oven anyway and then add a pan of banana peels with the yellow side face down in the pan. Be sure to take the tag off of the peels. Banana skins make a very cheap, rich fertiliser that is natural and safe for indoor and outdoor plants.

Tenderizing a Tough Roast

In many countries food is cooked in banana skins. The Readers Digest's book, titled, “Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things” says, “Banana leaves are commonly used in many Asian countries to wrap meat as it's cooking to make it more tender.” (page 77) Banana skins can also be used to keep skinless, boneless chicken breasts moist while cooking. Just putting a skin on top of the chicken ensures that you will get moist, juicy meat.

Polish It With a Banana Peel!

Banana peels can be used to polish silver and leather shoes! The book, “Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things” comments, “It may sound like a bit like a lark, but using a banana peel is actually a great way to put the shine back into your silverware and leather shoes. First, remove any of the leftover stringy material from the inside of the peel, then just start rubbing the inside of the peel on your shoes or silver. When you're done, buff up the object with a paper towel or soft cloth. You might even want to use this technique to restore your leather furniture. Test it on a small section first before you take on the whole chair.” (p.77) This is just another amazing use of banana peels that you might just have thrown in the garbage without thinking.

Beautiful Skin From Inside the Banana Skin?

Banana skins may help some skin conditions such as psoriasis, warts, poison ivy, mosquito bites, and wrinkles. For psoriasis, just rub the inside of a banana peel on the affected area. At first the skin will initially get red, but with continued use the redness and the psoriasis should clear up. Warts may also be helped by banana skins. With ordinary warts, rub the area for 7 to 10 days. Plantar warts may take rubbing for 15 days. Also, a piece of the banana peel can be taped over the wart to remove it. Splinters in the skin can be worked to the surface by taping a piece of banana peel over the area. Banana peels also work to soothe acne and reduce the itchiness of bug bites and speed up the healing of bruises. Since banana peels have moisturising properties they may help reduce wrinkles with everyday use, but don't wait for a miracle.

Making Charcoal Briquettes From Banana Peels

It has been discovered that in the developing Third World countries where bananas grow, the banana peel can be used to make briquettes, called “ banachakol”, for fuel, thus saving the trees and some money. The process is described below in an interview with Farm Radio International: “Host:How did you adopt the technology of banana peeling briquettes? Guest: I have known the technology of banana peeling briquettes for five years, which has made me a constant user and promoter of the product. I grow bananas and besides using the peelings as animal feed for my goats and for manure, I now use them to make charcoal briquettes. Host: So banana peelings have many different uses. Can you describe for our listeners how to make charcoal briquettes from the banana peels? What materials are needed? Guest: You will need one-half basin full of fresh banana peelings, a quarter basin of charcoal dust, and a quarter basin of fine sand ... First you have to chop the fresh banana peelings into small pieces. Once the banana peelings are chopped, then mix the three ingredients together - the banana peelings, the charcoal dust and the sand.” http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/76-5script_en.asp) The briquette recipe calls for the banana peelings to be 50% of the mixture and the charcoal dust and sand have to be 25% each. The sap in the peelings moisten and glue the briquettes together and everything is put in the hot sun to solidify. These briquettes can then be used for heating or cooking.

Water Purification in a Peel?

Banana peels have been shown to purify water systems that have been polluted with heavy metals.These pollutants make people sick and are a serious problem. However minced banana peels have been found to be the best water purifying agent yet. Paul Ridden comments, “Heavy metals can end up in the waterways of the world as a result of industrial or agricultural processes and have been linked to a variety of health problems, ranging from nausea and vomiting to lung, kidney and brain damage. While there are numerous purification methods are already employed ..., many involve significant cost and can carry their own toxic risks ... Gustavo Castro and colleagues from Brazil's Instituto de Biociências de Botucatu at the Universidade Estadual Paulista have found that minced banana peel could quickly remove lead and copper from river water and is at least as effective, and in some cases even better than, existing methods. The team found that the banana skin water treatment apparatus can be used up to 11 times without losing its cleansing properties. ” (http://www.gizmag.com/banana-peel-finds-use-as-water-purifier/18126/ .) Using banana skins for water filtration is a cheap and safe for Mother Earth.

More Eye Appealing Uses for the Peel?

Macular Degeneration is a major cause of blindness and there is some research that may indicate that banana peels may prove to be helpful. “One intriguing possibility is the use of a banana peel extract in macular degeneration. American researchers have found that lutein, an antioxidant carotenoid, may allow the eyes to filter short-wavelength light and thereby curtail damage to the macula (the centre of the retina). And researchers from Taiwan claim that banana peel is rich in lutein and that in tests an extract has regenerated retinal cells damaged by exposure to strong light.” (http://www.pjonline.com/blog_entry/that_banana_peel_appeal) This research is in its infancy, but it shows that banana peels may have another miraculous use. To obtain the nutrients of the banana peel it may be boiled in water and consumed or it can be juiced.

Conclusion

Banana peels are abundant and cheap. They provide rich fertiliser to feed your worm farm, plants or compost. They also have been known to catch coddling moths and ease bug bites. Apart from home remedies and skin care, banana peels can provide fuel and water filtration very economically. Whether it is polishing your shoes and silver or treating psoriasis, banana peels can be used for many bizarre purposes. So, when you eat your next banana, don't throw that peel away!