Table of Contents
Health Benefits of Banana
1. Source of Potassium:
They are very important source of Potassium. Potassium is very important for the proper function of heart and to maintain blood pressure. So bananas are indirectly regulating blood pressure by providing potassium. Eating bananas regularly reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. It also helps our body to transport nutrient into cell.
2. Source of Fiber:
Bananas are very good source of fiber. A normal banana contains about 3.1 g of fiber. It helps to overcome diseases like constipation, dehydration. About 30% of the fiber in banana is water soluble which is about 1 gm of the total fiber. This fiber decreases the risk of heart attack as described above. Banana is having good amount of soluble fiber in the form of pectin. Banana is a good constipation home remedy. It is a part of BRAT Diet which is useful in diarrhea where as it tries to restore electrolytes.
3. Source of Vitamin B6:
These gems are very good source of vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 is one of the most important nutrients in our body. In 100 g of banana contain about 0.4 mg of vitamin B6. It is a water soluble vitamin. It takes part in various chemical reactions in the body. It helps to form haemoglobin in red blood cells. It also lowers the risk of dental cavities. Eating banana also improves our brain function it also imports to our nerve health by providing vitamin B6. Consuming banana also boosts our immune system by producing certain antibodies in the body. Banana also helps to maintain blood sugar level
4. Digestion Improvement:
They improve over digestion as it is a good source of fiber. Fiber helps to pass the food smoothly through the digestive tract. Bowl moment can also be improved by eating banana daily. Bananas are rich in Fructo-Oligosaccharides (FOS). FOS lives in our digestive tract and helps to absorb nutrient more efficiently.
5. Cure for Heartburn and Ulcers:
It also maintains pH of the stomach. In this way banana reduces heart burn. It also enhances the protective mucus layer of the stomach. Stomach ulcers can be cured by eating banana daily by eliminating the bacteria in the stomach. It does so because it contains protease inhibitors. The International Journal of Cancer has published a study which shows that eating prevents kidney cancer, in fact it is good for the proper functioning of renal.
6. Source of Other Vitamins and Minerals:
In addition to vitamin B6 and potassium banana also contains many other important minerals and vitamins like Vitamin C, magnesium and manganese. It also contains small amounts of iron, zinc selenium and zinc. It makes our bones very strong. The content of potassium, magnesium, vitamin B and vitamin C are responsible for maintaining our bones strong.
7. Improves Mood and Reduces Stress:
The presence of serotonin makes banana a mood elevator. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter which is helpful for mood regulation. When serotonin is released our mood improves and we feel happy. The stimulation of nerve cells caused by banana also enhance our mood. Eating banana relieves from stress due the presence of magnesium in it.
8. Improves Skin Condition:
Banana is full of antioxidants has a revitalizing effect on our skin. It can be used to cure skin conditions like psoriasis and acne. Rub the freshly peeled banana over the affected skin, doing it regularly improves the skin. Bananas outer skin contains fatty acids which gives relief to our skin. It also gives moisturizing effect to our skin. The fatty acid in banana treats many skin diseases such as rashes, redness of the skin and infection. Pimple can also be treated by rubbing peel of the banana.
9. Other Health Benefits:
The use of banana in meals makes one less prone night blindness as it contains Vitamin A. Eating a banana at night cures morning sickness. Eating banana also helps to reduce weight loss. Banana is also good for healthy hairs as has potassium, vitamins, and natural oils.
Banana is a tropical, curved shaped yellow fruit with soft sweet flesh. Botanically Banana is a berry. It is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Musa family. They are of two types: (a) cooking Banana (b) desert banana. Cooking bananas are hard and cannot be eaten when raw while desert bananas can be eaten raw. Banana does not grow from its seed, in fact it grows from its bulb or rhizome. Its plantation and harvesting time ranges from eight to twelve months. Banana is originated from southeast Asia and Australia. Banana is first harvested in southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea. Some varieties of banana are currently under a great threat from the disease sigatoka. Southeast Asia is the primary region where it was cultivated and second is Africa.
Being a popular fruit in tropics it remains unknown in the US and other countries till 1800. It was considered as a “Luxury fruit” and sold in tin foil. Since 1800 AD it is widely exported and imported by countries due its huge health benefits. Banana is first carried by sailors from one continent to other and thus it became a popular fruit. Today it is one of the most popular fruits around the world. Banana flour and powder are the most important product made from it. It is used to make flakes, figs and pastes. It is used in many sauces. But in processing, it loses much of its flavor. Various confections also made from it such as Rasayanam, known in India.
Banana coffee and banana chips are also made from it. Banana coffee is made by dehydrating peeled, sliced fruit in a two stage dehydrator. Some other products like banana Cocoa and banana Chocolate are also made from it.
