Savvy Secrets – Bananas

by Two Chums on June 12, 2014

You don’t want to miss these savvy secrets!

Who would have guessed that the humble banana could have so may helpful and healthful uses!

1. Whiten your teeth – Rub a banana peel on your teeth every time you brush and in no time your teeth will be pearly white

2. Condition your hair – Puree a really ripe banana in the blender until perfectly smooth. You can add a couple tablespoons of water if you want or even a couple teaspoons of olive or coconut oil if your hair is especially dry. Work it into your hair and leave on for 15 minutes then rinse and shampoo. Your hair will be silky, soft and shiny.

3. Fight wrinkles – No need for expensive face masks with ingredients you’ve never heard of and can’t pronounce. Simply mix a ripe banana and a ripe avocado along with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt in a food processor. Spread mixture over your face and throat and leave on for 15 -20 minutes. (Maybe while you soak in a warm tub and relax.) Wash off and you will have “fed” your skin from the outside in.

4. Slough away dead skin cells – Make a wonderful scrub by mixing a ripe banana, mashed, with 1/2 cup oatmeal, and enough coconut milk to make a paste. The oatmeal is much less harsh and abrasive than sugar. In the shower, use this “scrub” to slough away dead skin cells and leave your skin silky smooth.

5. Keeps your blood pressure in check – Research indicates that potassium keeps blood pressure under control. Additionally, consumption of calcium, potassium and magnesium can also help decrease high blood pressure. Bananas are rich in potassium, calcium & magnesium, so it is a healthy option for keeping blood pressure in check.

6. A natural antacid – The next time you eat something you shouldn’t have and end up with heartburn, try eating a banana to combat the problem. Turns out that the antacid substance in banana gives immense relief from heartburn.

7. Helps you sleep – Bananas have a lot of tryptophan in them. This causes you to produce melatonin which is a sleep hormone. So eating a banana an hour or so before bedtime can help you have a sound and restful night’s sleep. Alternatively, according to Dr. Oz, the banana peel is extremely useful in aiding sleep. He suggests you cut off the ends of an unpeeled banana and then pour boiling water over it allowing it to steep a couple of minutes. Drain off the water into a cup, add a dash of cinnamon and you have a delicious and very healthy “tea” that will aid you in falling and staying asleep.

8. Shine the leaves of your orchid – Before you toss that banana peel in the trash, wipe it over the leaves of your orchid ( or any houseplant with broad leaves) to give them a beautiful polish and shine.

9. Polish shoes and silver – If you are in a hurry and your shoes could use a quick shine, rub them with the inside of a banana peel. Likewise if you have dull or spotted silverware you can use a banana peel to remove spots and polish your silverware.

10. And here is a trick for keeping bananas fresher longer – Wrap your favorite plastic wrap around the ends of the stems. It turns out this is where the bananas emit ethylene gas which causes ripening. By wrapping the stems in plastic wrap it slows down the process which means your bananas stay fresh 3-5 days longer.

11. Bonus – Our favorite use for bananas is to eat them! By themselves, sliced on cereal, mixed into smoothies, used to make Banana Pudding