The banana is one of the world’s most popular fruits. They are used in all sorts of dishes such as the famous banana split as well as in drinks such as smoothies.

Bananas are very healthy for you and are rich in the mineral potassium which our body needs. They can help lower blood pressure, protect against heart attacks, and strokes. Bananas are great for digestion and can help with digestive issues such as constipation and heartburn.

It’s clear to see that bananas are a wonderful fruit that you should be eating, but did you know that bananas have a lot of other uses that you may not even know about? Here are some unique ways that you can use bananas.

Below are 14 banana hacks you never knew.

1. They Help You Learn

The potassium in a banana can help you feel more alert for a big test you need to do or just when you have to pay attention in school. They can help you study at home when you need to cover a lot of material and need to be alert. They are better for you than an energy drink too.

2. Reduce Anxiety

Bananas calm your blood pressure due to potassium. When you get enough potassium this also helps to reduce your stress levels and you have more mental clarity as well. Bananas and their potassium help to regulate the stress hormone cortisol in your body. If you want to reduce stress before a big meeting for example, a banana can help you perform your best.

3. Banana Have Probiotics

Bananas can help you with the health of your digestive tract because they contain probiotics. When you have an overgrowth on unhealthy bacteria in the gut, you can have health problems. Probiotics help to balance out the bacteria in the gut so you have less issues with inflammation and the healthy bacteria have a chance to flourish.

 4. Meat Tenderizer

The leaves of bananas can be used as a tenderizer for meats. Simply wrap the meat in banana leaves while cooking. Many countries in the tropics where bananas are grown do this. You can also use the fruit of a banana to tenderize meat. Simply cook unripened bananas with your meat and it will tenderize the meat.

5. Bananas Help You Sleep

If you can’t get to sleep, try eating a banana. They have tryptophan an amino acid which helps to product serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a natural sedative so if you eat a banana about an hour before you go to bed you should fall asleep easier.

6. Wart Removal

Take a piece of banana and place it over a wart and tape it in place. Leave it there for a day and then remove it. The wart should be smaller or gone. You can repeat the process a few times until you no longer have a wart.

7. Bananas Help with Weight Loss

If you’re looking to lose weight a banana is the perfect replacement for a high calorie snack. The natural sugar found in bananas can cut your cravings for sugar. A banana can also boost your metabolism because they have chromium which enables the body to burn more calories.

8. Great Looking Hair

If you’re concerned about the health of your hair and don’t want to use all the store bought products which have a lot of chemicals, then a banana hair mask is just what you’re looking for great looking hair. Bananas contain folate and B-vitamins which you need for good looking hair.

9. Great For Dry Skin

If you have dry skin, a banana can help. There are moisturizing properties in bananas. You can apply the pulp of a bit of banana to dry skin and it can help ease the condition. It works great in dry cracked heels, for example.

10. Improved Complexion

If you want glowing skin, then bananas can help you. Just take a banana and mash it into the skin and leave this on the skin for 15 minutes before you wash it off. The banana will lighten skin due to the vitamin A and the vitamin E helps protect your skin against free radicals which damage the skin. if you have any spots on your skin, a bit of banana on them can lighten the spots and make your skin look better.

11. They Ease Headaches

If you frequently get bad headaches, especially migraines, a banana may help you. A banana has a lot of magnesium which can treat and prevent a headache. If you don’t feel at your best and have a headache coming on, try eating a banana as they can be a big help.

12. Makes a Good Polish

If you need to shine shoes or a handbag, rub the inside of a banana peel of the material as the banana can help add shine. Just polish dry with a clean cloth and you’ll see a big difference.

13. Great Workout Food

When you exercise you need vitamin C and energy to get through the workout. If you want a boost in energy to finish your workout, a banana is the perfect workout snack. You can also have one before your workout for more energy and stamina for your training session.

14. Ease Smoking Withdrawals

The high levels of B vitamins and potassium in a banana can help you quit smoking as these ease withdrawal symptoms from nicotine. If you feel like a cigarette, don’t reach for nicotine gum, just reach for a banana.