The problem is, there`s scant, if any, science to back up the claims.
"People are always looking for a magical food," says David Levitsky, a professor of nutrition and psychology at Cornell University. "This carries with it the idea that the root of all happiness lies in food. Food is essential, but it`s not the magic answer to any problem."
Nutrition experts say that while there are many interesting nutrients in the banana peel, the amounts are small and, more importantly, there aren`t any studies showing that our bodies can actually absorb them.
"Just because a nutrient is in there doesn`t mean you can use it," Levtisky explains.
And then there`s the issue of flavor. Banana peels just don`t taste good, says Leslie Bonci, a nutrition consultant and owner of Active Eating Advice. "They`re bitter and they`re very chewy." Beyond that, there is the problem of the toughness of the peel. You`re not going to be able to puree them for a smoothie unless you have a super high-powered blender, Bonci says.
As for claims that people in other parts of the world eat the whole fruit, peel and all, banana expert Dan Koeppel disagrees.
"I`ve studied bananas for close to 15 years and traveled to every continent where bananas are grown and I have never seen anyone eat a peel," says Koeppel, author of "Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World."
"Go ahead and google `monkey eating a banana,` and you`ll see that even most monkeys are peeling the banana before eating it. If monkeys are smart enough to figure this out, we should be, too," says Koeppel.
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