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| - Last Updated on January 27, 2025 by Neelam Singh
Quick Take
A social media post claims that drinking banana peel tea with honey will help your sleep peacefully. We did the fact check and termed this claim as mostly false.
The Claim
A post on Threads says that drinking a concoction made from boiled banana peel and honey is said to promote better sleep by providing essential nutrients that supposedly enhance relaxation and sleep quality.
Fact Check
What role do serotonin and tryptophan play in the sleep cycle?
Serotonin plays a key role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle by promoting relaxation and preparing the body for sleep. It helps to stabilize mood and is involved in transitioning from wakefulness to sleep. Tryptophan, an amino acid found in food, is a precursor to serotonin. Once consumed, tryptophan is converted into serotonin, which then helps produce melatonin, the hormone responsible for regulating sleep. Adequate serotonin levels are essential for maintaining healthy sleep patterns, and imbalances can lead to sleep disturbances or difficulty falling asleep.
Dr Pubali Chaudhuri, MBBS, MD (Psychiatry), Consultant Neuro-Psychiatrist in Kolkata, West Bengal, explained, “Serotonin and melatonin are natural neurochemicals produced in the body from the amino acid tryptophan. Melatonin plays a crucial role in promoting healthy, restful sleep, particularly in enhancing sleep quality and depth. On the other hand, serotonin contributes to sleep by inducing a sense of calm, often referred to as the ‘happiness hormone’. The role of serotonin in sleep becomes even more significant in conditions like anxiety disorders and depression, where low serotonin levels are linked to poor sleep.”
Does banana peel really have sleep-Inducing properties?
No, there’s no strong scientific evidence to back up the claim that banana peels promote sleep. Banana peels contain small amounts of nutrients like potassium and magnesium, which are known to have a role in muscle relaxation and nerve function. However, while both magnesium and potassium are essential for overall health, their direct link to improved sleep quality is still debated among scientists. The sleep benefits of banana peels may be overstated. Although potassium is important for heart and muscle function, it’s not a magic ingredient that will automatically make you feel sleepy.
Some studies suggest that magnesium might help with sleep, but these benefits typically arise from more substantial sources of magnesium, like nuts, seeds, or leafy greens—not banana peels. Simply boiling a banana peel in water doesn’t provide a sufficient concentration of these nutrients to have any significant impact on sleep.
Does banana peel contain tryptophan?
Yes, banana peels do contain tryptophan, which can help the body produce serotonin—a chemical that affects our digestive system and can influence stool consistency. However, it’s not clear how banana peel extract specifically impacts serotonin levels.
In a 2019 study, researchers tested how banana peel extract affected serotonin in male Wistar rats. They used 25 rats, divided into five groups: one control group, one group given 5-HTP (a serotonin precursor), and three groups given different doses of banana peel extract (4 mg/kg, 8 mg/kg, and 16 mg/kg).
The study found that the highest dose of banana peel extract (16 mg/kg) significantly increased serotonin levels in the rats compared to the control group.
Does honey actually help with sleep?
Yes, honey can support better sleep, but not in the way you might think. Honey is often linked to sleep improvement due to its ability to slightly raise insulin levels. This mild increase helps the brain absorb tryptophan, an amino acid that the body converts into serotonin and then melatonin—the hormones that regulate sleep. However, the amount of honey needed for this effect is quite small. While honey can certainly be part of a balanced, healthy diet, relying on it as a sleep aid by itself might not yield noticeable benefits.
The sleep-promoting effects of honey are more likely to be a secondary benefit when consumed as part of an overall healthy diet rather than a miracle cure for insomnia.
Does drinking a banana peel and honey drink before bed help you sleep?
Not really! It might work for some and might not work for others. As Aditi Prabhu, Clinical & Sports Dietitian-Nutritionist and Founder of NutroDynamix, explains, “Banana peels are rich in potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, and phosphorus, with small amounts of iron, manganese, zinc, and copper. They also contain some tryptophan, which can help with sleep. Potassium and magnesium help with relaxation, while tryptophan can boost serotonin and melatonin levels to aid sleep.
However, the actual benefits of banana peel tea depend on factors like the quality of the banana (since some are artificially ripened or sprayed with pesticides), its ripeness, the brewing method, and how much peel you use. While there’s some research on banana peels as functional foods, there isn’t enough evidence to confirm strong sleep benefits.
Adding honey might promote relaxation due to its nutrients, but this also depends on the quality and quantity of honey. There’s limited research to suggest that honey enhances the absorption of tryptophan or improves sleep when added to banana peel tea.”
Dr. Swati Dave, PhD in Food and Nutrition, Mumbai, pointed out that while some believe banana peel tea may help with insomnia, there is little scientific evidence to back this claim. She suggests consuming whole bananas instead, as they are rich in potassium, magnesium, and tryptophan—nutrients that promote relaxation and improve sleep. She also advises against eating banana peels due to the risk of pesticide and fertilizer contamination, recommending composting the peels or using them as animal feed instead.
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