Health Benefits Of Banana
What Is Banana?
Bananas have been an important fruit for many countries, although the genus of bananas, Musa, is native to South and Southeast Asia. The scientific name of bananas is Musa acuminata. The fruit of the banana tree is eaten directly when ripe or is included in fruit salads, juice, and shakes. Unripe bananas can cause severe indigestion and should be eaten only in a cooked form. Also, bananas are good toppings for breakfast cereals or as a snack for a quick burst of energy. Bananas are now grown in more than 100 countries around the world and can also be used to make fiber, banana wine, and are included in ornamental decorations.
A banana tree is the largest flowering herbaceous plant in the world, and although different varieties exist, all are elongated, slightly curved fruits with a fleshy outer peel that can be easily removed to expose the white to yellow flesh. They grow in clusters near the top of the fruiting plant, and come in a range of colors, including green, red, yellow, and brown (when ripe). The main distinction is between bananas and plantains and while there are not many differences, plantains are smaller with starchier, denser fruits and are traditionally eaten in Asia and other tropical countries. Bananas are more commonly found in Europe and America and are soft, desert fruits.
Nutritional Value Of Banana
The medicinal benefits of bananas are attributed to their rich vitamin, mineral, and organic compound content. Bananas have been considered one of the healthiest options for fruit consumption for many years due to their impressive nutritional content, which includes vitamins like vitamin C, vitamin B6, riboflavin, folate, pantothenic acid, and niacin, as well as trace amounts of other vitamins. In terms of minerals, bananas deliver a significant amount of potassium, manganese, magnesium, and copper. Bananas are also good sources of dietary fiber and protein.
Health Benefits Of Banana
Banana has many amazing health benefits, these include the following:
Weight Loss
Bananas are useful for weight loss as one banana only has approximately 90 calories. They contain a lot of fiber as well and are easy to digest. Furthermore, they do not contain any fats. Therefore, an overweight person does not have to eat too many calories if their diet contains bananas because they are very filling. The roughage will also not make the person feel hungry by inhibiting the release of the hunger hormone, ghrelin. This will reduce overeating, keeping the person healthy, and also helping them lose weight naturally.
Strengthens Bones
Bananas are one of the best fruits for guaranteeing strong, healthy bones throughout life. One of the best reasons for this is the presence of fructooligosaccharide, which is a prebiotic and is a beneficial bacteria in our digestive tract that boosts the intake of minerals and nutrients by the body. Specifically, bananas are linked to increased absorption of calcium. Some bananas also possess short-chain fatty acids, which humans cannot absorb, but the organisms that live in our stomach lining can consume these fatty acids, thereby increasing our ability to absorb minerals like calcium. Calcium is the most important element in the production and regrowth of bone matter in the body. It reduces our chances of getting affected by osteoporosis and natural weakness.
Anti-inflammatory Properties
The compounds inside bananas are anti-inflammatory in nature, meaning that they can reduce swelling, inflammation, and irritation from conditions like arthritis and gout. These conditions are very common as people age or if they have a poor or unhealthy diet. Therefore, adding a banana a day to your dietary regimen can keep you free of pain for many years.
Promotes Weight Gain
At the same time as helping people lose weight, bananas can also be useful for weight gain. When consumed with milk, bananas help to increase a person’s weight rapidly. Milk provides the necessary proteins and bananas provide the sugars. Furthermore, since bananas are easily digested, an underweight person can gulp 5-6 bananas in a day apart from the regular meals without facing indigestion. This leads to an additional 500-600 calories, which is quite necessary for weight gain. Since bananas have the ability to provide instant energy, sportsmen eat bananas during the breaks in between games for an extra surge of energy.
Treats Piles
Piles are characterized by having a difficulty in passing stools that may lead to bleeding. It is believed that bananas help in treating piles. Some people also consider bananas to cause negative effects on the bowels during piles as they add a lot of bulk, adding additional pressure on the bowels. However, the primary problem with piles is excretion, and bananas definitely stimulate that process. Bananas also have anti-inflammatory properties, which help treat piles by reducing the inflammation and associated pain that often leads to itching and a worsening of the condition.
Reduces Constipation
Bananas contain significant amounts of dietary fiber and therefore help in smooth bowel movements. They are said to push out stubborn stools and relieve a person from constipation. They also help in treating other intestinal disorders. Fiber is able to bulk up the stool and help stimulate the body’s peristaltic motion, which facilitates bowel movements through the intestinal tract. This can help reduce unhealthy digestive conditions, as well as colorectal cancer!
Treats Ulcers
For years, bananas have been used as an antacid food to soothe upset stomachs. They actually do far more than that and can also suppress acid secretion. The organic compounds in bananas stimulate the activity of the cells in our stomach lining in order to build up a protective barrier against acids. They also contain protease inhibitors, which eliminate the harmful bacteria that have been linked to the development of stomach ulcers.
Prevents Kidney Disorders
Potassium, in bananas, helps regulate the fluid balance in the body and can ease the strain on the kidneys and encourage urination. This can help keep toxins from accumulating in the body and speeding up their release through increased frequency and volume of urination. Furthermore, there are antioxidant compounds in bananas that positively impact kidney function and the accumulation of toxins, while also stimulating proper functioning of the kidneys.
Improves Vision
Bananas, like many other fruits, are packed with antioxidant compounds and carotenoids, as well as a proper mix of minerals that can seriously boost the health of your eyes. Macular degeneration, cataracts, night blindness, and glaucoma have all been shown to decrease with normal intake of bananas and other similar fruits.3
Cardiovascular Protection
Bananas are rich sources of potassium, so they reduce blood pressure. By relaxing the tension on arteries and veins, blood can flow smoothly through the body and oxygenate various organs to increase their function. This can help eliminate atherosclerosis and the subsequent strokes and heart attacks that are so commonly associated with it. The fiber in bananas also scrapes excess cholesterol from the arteries and blood vessels and further reduces stress on the cardiovascular system.
Treats Anemia
Bananas contain high iron content and therefore aid in treating anemia since iron is an essential part of red blood cells. Bananas also have a significant content of copper, which is an important element in the creation of red blood cells. By increasing red blood cell count, not only do you prevent anemia, but you can increase circulation to all parts of the body, thereby oxygenating them and optimizing their functionality.
Relieves Menstrual problems
Cooked banana flowers help in providing relief from painful and excessive bleeding during the menstrual cycle and can relieve other menstrual disorders as well.
Regards;
Citi Lab and Research Centre
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