What are those weird strings on the inside of your peeled banana?

Those annoying weird strings on the inside of your banana are called "phloem bundles". Why do they insist on hanging around, making our banana eating experience less than perfect? We pick them off our banana and can't seem to flick them off our fingers fast enough. It turns out they're not just decorative. If you can get past the name, you'll find that they're really good for you. Phloem is complex tissue that are much like our veins that transport oxygen through our body. They provide the banana with sufficient minerals, water, food, and nutrients as the fruit grows and ripens.

So if you are someone who's never even noticed that bananas have strings, carry on, but if you're still grossed out by them, suck it up and know that they serve a real and healthy purpose. Or just put them in a smoothie and your taste buds will be none the wiser.