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It is a well-known advice to eat more fruits to improve the appearance of your skin. Banana is one such fruit that has many health benefits and is also good for your skin.
While ripe yellow-skinned bananas are most widely consumed, raw green-skinned bananas are also eaten in many parts of the world. So, which is better for the skin?
Both ripe and unripe bananas offer some benefits for skin health and can be consumed based on ease and availability.
Read on to take a deep dive into their benefits.
Nutritional Value of Bananas
The marked difference in the appearance of ripe and unripe bananas also extends to their nutritional values.
One medium unripe banana contains 451 mg of potassium and provides 27% of the daily requirement of vitamin B6, 12% of the daily requirement of vitamin C, and 11% of the daily requirement of copper. (1)
One medium ripe banana contains 375 mg of potassium and provides 14% of the daily requirement of vitamin B6, 16% of the daily requirement of vitamin C, and 13% of the daily requirement each for copper and manganese. (2)
Benefits of Ripe Banana for Skin
Here are some beauty benefits of ripe bananas for the skin:
1. Stimulates collagen
Bananas can stimulate the production of collagen in the body. Collagen is a natural protein that is responsible for giving skin its plump and supple appearance. As you age, your body’s ability to create new collagen cells goes down, giving rise to wrinkles and fine lines.
Vitamin C is greatly involved in the production of collagen and can also protect the skin against damage from UV rays. This ability can also prevent the appearance of pigmented dark spots and can protect the skin from turning cancerous. (3)
Since vitamin C is heat sensitive, the cooking process of unripe bananas will greatly affect the levels of vitamin C available to the body. Moreover, ripe banana has a 4% higher vitamin C content than its unripe counterpart. So, pick a ripe banana for that glowing skin.
2. Offers antiaging benefits
The nutrients in ripe banana including potassium, vitamin C, and copper all work together to improve how the skin looks and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. (4)
Ripe banana is your friend for antiaging benefits since you are more likely able to consume it on a daily basis.
Benefits of Unripe Banana for Skin
Here’s how unripe bananas can benefit your skin health.
1. Can prevent dermatitis
Vitamin B6 is responsible for developing and maintaining skin health. Its deficiency is also linked to the development of dermatitis, an inflammatory skin condition. (5) Since both ripe and unripe bananas are rich in vitamin B6, they can both help improve skin health and generate new skin.
However, unripe banana is higher in vitamin B6 and can be a better choice than a ripe banana if you are looking to manage dermatitis.
2. Nourishes the skin
The potassium in banana can help nourish and moisturize the skin from within by balancing fluid levels in the body. Along with sodium, it helps the topmost layer of the skin hold water and regulates the body’s temperature. (6)
A well-moisturized skin appears supple and healthy, giving you a positive appearance. And since unripe banana has a much richer potassium content, you can opt to include it in your daily diet to combat dry, dull skin.
Which Is Better: Ripe or Unripe Banana?
At this point, you’re probably wondering which banana is better.
Since unripe banana goes through a cooking process, there is a chance its nutritional profile may reduce (such as vitamin C, which is heat sensitive, and potassium, which can leach out in the water). However, if you have an inflammatory skin condition, unripe banana is a better choice since it benefits dermatitis.
If you seek to improve the appearance of your skin, increase hydration levels, and boast healthy skin, pick ripe banana. It is more likely to be consumed daily and has a higher vitamin C and copper content (which boosts collagen production).
Overall, ripe and unripe bananas are both good for the skin and either one could be chosen based on the fruit’s availability and your specific skin concern.
How to Consume
Ripe banana is easy to consume just by itself or included in smoothies and topped on cereals or pancakes.
Unripe banana, on the other hand, can only be eaten after cooking. Steaming or boiling them makes it easy to peel them. It can be sliced and eaten as chips (after frying or baking) or cubed and eaten roasted.
Most-Asked Questions
Can banana peel be applied to the skin?
You can also benefit from banana’s nutrients by rubbing the peel on the skin or by mashing a ripe banana and using it in a facemask.
Can banana peels lighten skin tone?
The vitamin C in bananas can offer some skin-brightening benefits and its copper content can stimulate the production of new cells that may improve the appearance of skin.
Final Word
Ripe and unripe bananas contain nutrients beneficial for the skin. Rich in vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium, and copper, bananas can increase the production of new cells, improve collagen production, and prevent skin damage due to UV exposure.
Unripe banana is not as convenient to consume as ripe banana, and you can easily eat 1 fruit each day to reap its benefits.
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