BANANA

The word "BANANA" is a general term embracing a number of species or hybrids in the genus Musa of
the family Musaceae. Some species such as M. Basjoo Sieb. & Zucc. of Japan and M. ornata Roxb., native
from Pakistan to Burma, are grown only as ornamental plants or for fiber. M. textilis Nee of the
Philippines is grown only for its fiber, prized for strong ropes and also for tissue-thin tea bags. The so-
called Abyssinian banana, Ensete ventricosum Cheesman, formerly E. edule Horan, Musa ensete Gmel.,
is cultivated in Ethiopia for fiber and for the staple foods derived from the young shoot, the base of the
stem, and the corm.

Most edible-fruited bananas, usually seedless, belong to the species M. acuminata Colla (M. cavendishii
Lamb. ex Paxt., M. chinensis Sweet, M. nana Auth. NOT Lour., M. zebrina Van Houtee ex Planch.), or to
the hybrid M. X paradisiaca L. (M. X sapientum L.; M. acumianta X M. balbisiana Colla).

BANANA PEEL

Chemical Composition of Musa sapientum (Banana) Peels

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, rubidium, 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.

Health Benefits Of Banana Peel

Ever heard of the saying, "Do not include banana in your diet if you are planning to loose weight as it
contains a lot of calories"? Well , think again because banana has some secret health benefits which
might help you after all in keeping you fit and trim.

It is said that a banana has a lot of minerals and proteins and the best part of the fruit is the peel. The
banana peel has the most amount of benefits when it comes to your healthy lifestyle.

Here below are some health benefits of banana peel, so do not throw it away the next time you plop a
banana in your mouth.

1. Skin Treatments- The banana peel is good in treating the skin if you are allergic to any sort of food. All
you have to do is rub the skin on the affected part of the body and wash it off when it is slightly dry.
Using it in the night is more appropriate. The health benefits of banana peel can also be used to get rid
of acne.

2. Psoriasis – This is a most common skin ailment. The health benefits of banana peel is that when the
peel is rubbed on the skin, it gets healed naturally. You will notice your skin turning red when you first
apply the peel but gradually on regular use you will find the difference.

3. Warts- It is said that to get rid of these nasty marks on the skin, applying banana peel will help get rid
of warts in about 10 days.
4. Wounds - The next time your child falls down and gets his/ her knees injured all you have to do is to
rub the banana peel over the area. The benefits of banana peel helps the wound to get dry faster with
the scab formation. It also prevents the wound from leaving a mark.

5. Headaches- Surprisingly, if you have a headache, the health benefits of banana peel comes in use. The
banana peel has to be mashed properly and applied to the forehead to cure aching headaches. To also
get rid of wrinkles, apply the same mash to the area where there is wrinkles.

6. Mosquitoes- There are some people who when bitten by a mosquito gets a small wound on the area.
This is commonly found in new born babies for they tend to scratch as it itches. The best benefits of
banana peel is to apply it on the bite and you will see in a short while that it no longer itches.

These are some health benefits of banana peel. So, the next time you eat a banana store the peel as it
provides great use for you.