Ever have problems sleeping, like waking up suddenly, waking up tired, or simply not being able to fall asleep? Well, here’s the solution for you: banana peel tea.

With several banana varieties available in our country, the fruit consistently makes an appearance in our everyday meals. Aside from being a delicious and nutritious snack, dessert, or even an added ingredient to certain dishes, there’s more to the banana than we initially thought.

It may come as a surprise that the widely available banana fruit has the ability to induce a good night’s sleep. Who would ever think that a banana peel, when made into tea, can do wonders as a sleeping aid?

The Benefits of Banana Peel Tea

The nutrients in banana peel, such as potassium, magnesium, and tryptophan, contribute to this tea’s sleep-boosting potential. This is because both magnesium and potassium are known for their muscle-relaxing properties, aside from being beneficial for our heart health. Tryptophan, on the other hand, is an amino acid that helps in the production of serotonin and melatonin, which are key to our sleep-wake cycle.

In its article, WebMD also states that banana peels can help regulate our digestive system, which can be especially beneficial for those with Crohn's disease or irritable bowel syndrome. In particular, underripe, green bananas may be more effective in addressing digestive issues. This is due to the fact that banana peels are rich in fiber, so they can ease both constipation and diarrhea.

On the other hand, bananas that are riper and have a more blackened appearance were shown to be effective in helping white blood cells fight off disease and infection. In addition, the article reports that the B6 in banana peels can help relieve some symptoms of depression and other mood disorders.

Banana Peel Tea and Sleep Studies

In a study of elderly subjects, it was found that dietary magnesium supplementation was able to help increase the participants’ sleep time and sleep efficiency. Likewise, a 2014 study showed how an increased tryptophan intake at breakfast combined with daytime light exposure improves melatonin secretion and sleep quality.

That said, it should be noted that there are no clinical studies yet that scientifically support the notion that banana peel tea will be loaded with these three nutrients—enough to show its effectiveness as a sleeping aid. Nonetheless, it still remains a good replacement for sugary beverages, and with a good number of health and wellness blogs reporting its benefits, it should still be worth a try.

How to Make Banana Peel Tea

To make banana peel tea, make sure to wash the banana peels thoroughly with water before brewing. Boil water, then add the banana peels and let it steep for 10 minutes. Nutrition experts say that you can increase the concentration of nutrients in your tea through longer steeping times. Once done, remove it from the heat, strain it and enjoy. As an option, you may also add honey or cinnamon.

Other recipes suggest boiling the whole banana and just removing it after the water has boiled and simmered for about 15 minutes. If you would like to avoid wasting the fruit, you can use the leftovers to make banana bread, smoothies, or oatmeal.