Whether it’s due to bad sleeping practices, anxiety, a poor diet, or full-blown insomnia, it seems that more and more people these days aren’t getting the shut-eye they need. And because insufficient rest sometimes affects even the heaviest of sleepers, we thought that it would be a good idea to share a recipe that has completely changed the way we think about bedtime.

In today’s video, the host over at the YouTube channel MamaMittens shows us that the secret to staying in the “land of nod” is actually found in our favorite yellow fruit.

Believe it or not, halving an organic banana, throwing it in some boiling water, and adding a couple of healthy sweeteners makes a tea that not only tastes amazing, but also helps you hit the hay fast—the natural way.

After completing this special cooking process, our host even recommends eating the sliced, boiled banana. At first, the idea of noshing on a hot, mushy banana sounded strange to us, but the heat really enhances the sweetness of the fruit. Who knew?!

Now, we know that some of you may be rolling your eyes at this one; we have to admit that we, too, were at first skeptical about the supposed merits of banana tea, but once we did our research, we knew we had to make a pot for ourselves.

 

The power of the peel

As the more nutrition-conscious may already know, bananas are chock-full of magnesium and potassium. While consuming them the normal way (i.e. not in tea form) is certainly a healthy choice, it turns out that the highest levels of magnesium and potassium are found in the part that we automatically throw in the trash—the peel.

That’s right, we’ve been missing out on the most beneficial part of this fruit all along. If you’re mentally kicking yourself right now, don’t feel bad—even monkeys are known for doing the “peel and toss”, too!

So, are you ready to hear what magnesium can do for you?

The super mineral has been shown to lower blood pressure, regulate cholesterol, and can even prevent stroke or heart attack. In fact, if you have been diagnosed with heart disease, we are sure that your doc has asked you to up your magnesium intake.

The mineral is great for bedtime because it has been proven to alleviate anxiety – which is something that we ALL seem to suffer from nowadays! – as well as headaches and stomachaches.

Studies have shown that another mineral found in the banana peel—potassium—also does a great job of controlling ailments like headaches and anxiety, two things that can really get in the way of a good night’s sleep!

Now that you know all about how this magical, all-natural tea can help you sleep better at night, it’s time for you to learn how to whip up a batch of your very own. Click on the tutorial below for a super simple step-by-step—in just a minute’s time, you’ll be ready to make some for yourself!

What do you think of drinking banana tea? Have you tried out this recipe before? Do you use any natural remedies to help you relax or fall asleep?