*
The word banana was derived from the Arab word “banan” which means finger.
*
Wondering why bananas are harvested when still unripe? Well, bananas are harvested when unripe because even after they are harvested they tend to keep ripening.
*
Bananas are different from most other fruits because unlike other fruits that grow on trees, bananas grow on plants. Banana “Trees” as we know them are not actually trees, but are herbaceous plants which belong to the genus ‘Musa’. It is their size and shape that make them look like trees.
*
Bananas are usually cultivated for its fruit, but the banana plant is also used as an ornamental plant in many gardens.
*
Banana flowers can be eaten raw or steamed and cooked in soups and curries.
*
There are generally two types of bananas that are cultivated and used for culinary purposes cultivated in the tropical regions.
*
Banana plants can grow to a height of 15 m, but most of the plants that are cultivated reach heights ranging between 3-9 m. The leaves of a banana plant can grow to about 4 x 1 m.
*
Wild bananas have large seeds, while the bananas cultivated for culinary purposes have seedless fruits.
*
Bananas are high in potassium content and if consumed daily will prevent atherosclerosis by stopping renal calcium loss. Daily consumption of bananas is known to prevent high blood pressure and also has some antacid effects which protect a person against stomach ulcers.
*
Consumption of a banana daily is quite helpful in dealing with diarrhoea, because of the potassium content in the fruit. It also helps in regulating heart functions and fluid flow, fighting constipation through the pectin fibre that helps digestion.
*
Bananas also help in the production of probiotic bacteria in the colon that protects a person against microorganisms and helps the body to absorb more calcium.
*
Studies have shown that eating fruits like bananas might reduce the risk of kidney cancer since it is high in antioxidant
compounds.
*
Bananas when picked unripe are treated with ethylene gas. Ethylene gas accelerates the ripening process which will otherwise take a long time for the fruit to ripen.
*
Bananas are one fruits that can cause certain people to gain weight since they contain a lot of starch. People who tend to gain weight after consuming this fruit should cut down on its consumption.
Like it on Facebook, Tweet it or share this topic on other bookmarking websites.
The banana is one of the few fruits that has actually had a song composed in its honour. Many of us have listened to Harry Belafonte's classic Banana Boat Song some time or the other, but how much do we really know about the banana?
Bananas are originally from Malaysia. They were then brought to India around the 6th century. By 200 A.D., there were banana plantations set up in southern China. Here they were considered to be exotic fruits. It is said that when Alexander the Great visited India during his campaign in 327 A.D., he savoured bananas and took them to the western world.
This fruit comes in yellow, green, and red varieties and has been proven to have a number of medicinal benefits.
A Source of Potassium
Bananas are a natural source of potassium. Potassium is important for the human body as it helps keep the body fluids and electrolyte balance in body cells and helps in regulating blood pressure. Higher levels of potassium in the body can reduce the possibility of a stroke. The fact that bananas are high in potassium and low in salt makes them ideal for people who are suffering from blood pressure problems and have to watch their salt intake.
Research also states that potassium can help in improving a person's alertness. However, it should be noted that excessive quantities of potassium cause decreased heart muscle activity. A medium-size banana contains at least 450 mg of potassium
Vital Vitamins and Minerals
Bananas pack their share of vitamins. Large-size bananas have high amounts of vitamin A in them. Vitamin A is essential for the development of specialised tissue in the eyes. It is also important for the growth of the skin and soft skeletal tissue. Vitamin B is also present in the form of Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, and Folic acid. These help in calming the nervous system. Bananas also have a small amount of Vitamin C in them.
Electrolytes
Bananas have their share of electrolytes too. Electrolytes are elements like magnesium, potassium, and calcium. They are important for maintaining the body's fluid level and preventing dehydration. So, bananas can form an important part of the diet for a person who is suffering from diarrhoea.
Iron
Bananas are also a natural source of iron. The iron found in bananas can help in the creation of haemoglobin, thus making bananas an ideal fruit for people who are suffering from anaemia.
* Bananas are fruits that are high in fibre, making them an ideal remedy for constipation and an alternative to chemical laxatives.
* Bananas contain an amino acid called tryptophan. Tryptophan is converted by the body into serotonin, which relaxes a person and helps in improving one's mood.
* Bananas are considered to be a natural solution to hangovers. A banana milkshake mixed with honey will help to calm the stomach and build up depleted blood sugar levels at the same time.
* Bananas can act as a natural antacid. This gives relief to a person who is suffering from heartburn.
* The inside of the banana skin when rubbed on a mosquito bite is found to reduce the swelling and irritation.
* Bananas are an ideal diet for people who are trying to quit smoking. This is because of the combination of Vitamin C, A1, B6, and B12 that helps the body to recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
* Due to the high level of potassium in them, bananas are considered to be an excellent snack when a person is highly stressed or is working late at the office. This is because potassium helps to normalise the heartbeat sending oxygen to the brain. Increased metabolic rates during stress reduce our potassium levels. Bananas help to replenish them.
* Research conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine states that a regular intake of bananas in your diet can help reduce the possibility of stroke by up to 40 percent.
* Bananas are an ideal fruit to be eaten when a person is suffering from ulcers. This is due to the soft texture of the fruit which makes it easily digestible, combined with its ability to neutralise acidity.
Storing Bananas
Bananas need to be treated with care as they bruise easily. The ideal way to store bananas is to keep them at room temperature. In order to ripen bananas, you can either wrap them in a newspaper or keep them in a brown paper bag. If you store a banana in a fridge it will turn black. However it will still be edible.
Neetu thanks for excellent information on bananas! It is recommended that in order to get the maximum of daily required nutrients, eat at least two bananas daily!
"I am free of all prejudice. I hate everyone equally." - W. C. Fields :)
Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet and the medical benefits of some fruit are great, especially bananas!
Partly because they aid in the body's retention of calcium, nitrogen, and phosphorus, which all work to build sound and regenerated tissues, the medical benefits of bananas are many. The following paragraphs will discuss some of the medical benefits of bananas.
One of the medical benefits of bananas is they can be used to fight against intestinal disorders, including ulcers. Bananas are one of the only fruits that can be safely consumed by ulcer patients. Bananas neutralize the acidity of gastric juices, thus reducing ulcer irritation by coating the lining of the stomach. Not only can bananas relieve painful systems of ulcers, and other intestinal disorders, but they can also promote healing.
Another of the many medical benefits of bananas includes using them as a treatment for burns and wounds. By beating a ripe banana into a pasty substance, and spreading it over a burn or wound, it can give immediate pain relief! The banana paste should be covered by a cloth bandage for best results. Even the leaves of a banana tree can be used as a cool compress for burns or wounds.
Other medical benefits of bananas include aiding in:
* constipation and diarrhea relief
* treatment of arthritis
* treatment of anemia
With so many medical benefits, bananas are quickly becoming the most popular fruit in America. Like no other fruit, bananas contain no fat, sodium, or cholesterol. On top of being a healthy part of any daily diet, there are many medical benefits of bananas.
Banana fruit is rich in calories, but very low in fats. The fruit contains good amounts of health benefiting anti-oxidants, minerals and vitamins.
*
Banana pulp is composed of soft, easily digestible flesh with simple sugars like fructose and sucrose that when eaten replenishes energy and revitalizes the body instantly; thus, for these qualities, bananas are being used by athletes to get instant energy and as supplement food in the treatment plan for underweight children.
*
The fruit contains good amount of soluble dietary fiber (7% of DRA per 100 g) that helps normal bowel movements; thereby reducing constipation problems.
*
It contains many health promoting flavonoid poly-phenolic antioxidants such as lutein, zeaxanthin, beta and alpha carotenes in small amounts. These compounds help act as protective scavengers against oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that play a role in aging and various disease processes.
*
It is also a very good source of vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine), provides about 28% of daily recommended allowance. Pyridoxine is an important B-complex vitamin that has beneficial role in treatment of neuritis, anemia and decreasing homocystine (one of the causative factor for coronary artery disease (CHD) and stroke episodes) levels in the body.
*
The fruit is also good source of vitamin-C (about 8.7 mg per 100g). Consumption of foods rich in vitamin-C helps body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen free radicals.
*
Fresh bananas provide adequate levels of minerals like copper, magnesium and manganese. Magnesium is essential for bone strengthening and has cardiac-protective role as well. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase. Copper is required in the production of red blood cells.
*
Fresh banana is a very rich source of potassium. Provides 358 mg per 100 g of fruit. Potassium in an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure, countering bad effects of sodium.
