5 Bizarre Uses For Banana Skins

Post

Subscribe

Banana skins have always had two traditional uses. The first, of course, is to be nature's natural packaging and to house the delicious flesh of the banana. The second, and far more humorous usage is as a perennial slapstick comedy prop, used to make bad guys and good guys slip over, sometimes sliding, sometimes falling – and always hilarity ensues. But why stop at just two uses for banana skins? Here are five bizarre uses for the common banana peel.

1. Assist in healing insect bites and bruises
Banana peel is chock full of antioxidant goodies, so are a natural remedy for many ailments. If you're short on stingoes, you can rub banana peel on the site of a sting and it will soothe skin and help to reduce the itching sensation. Similarly, due to its restorative properties, a banana peel rubbed onto a bruise will speed up the healing process, reducing the bruise.

2. Getting rid of splinters
It might sound bizarre, but next time you have a splinter you just can't get out, try taping a small piece (2 cm square) of banana skin over the splinter (pulp side against your skin) and leaving it overnight. The enzymes in the banana will dislodge the splinter, and when you removed the tape you will find that the splinter has risen to the top of the skin, and may even come out of its own accord and stick to the peel. If the splinter is very deep, reapplication may be necessary. The banana peel also assists by starting the healing process as well!

3. Free fertilizer
Forget wasting money on fertilizer – why not make your own with your discarded banana skins? Banana skins are full of potassium to promote plant vigour, phosphorous to aid with fruiting and flowering, and calcium that helps with root development. With so many minerals, banana skins make excellent fertilizer. Simply add the banana peel to a large jar or bucket, cover with water, and leave it to soak for a few days. Use the banana peel liquid in your watering can. This is especially great for plants like staghorns and elkhorns (who get their nutrients from the air) and fruiting plants. You can even chop up the remaining skin and add it to your compost or worm farm.

4. Getting rid of pimples
If you've tried everything else to reduce your acne, why not give banana peel a go? With its healing properties, banana skins can aid in soothing inflammation, and reducing the irritation caused by acne. All you have to do is rub the pulpy side of the peel over the acne in the evenings, and you should see some improvement within a few days.

5. Whiten your teeth
I've already said that banana skins contain a number of super-dooper minerals and vitamins, but they also contain manganese, potassium and magnesium, minerals that can actually whiten the enamel of your teeth. All you need to do is rub the pulpy side of your banana peel against your teeth for two minutes after brushing each day, and after a few weeks you should see results. A great natural alternative to chemical whiteners, and far cheaper!

So there's five uses for banana skins! The next time you're eating a banana, think about saving the skin. It has so many great uses!

#health_beauty
#home_improvement
#humour
#lists
%wneverywhere