Banana is a herbaceous plant (not a palm tree, as many people think) up to 9 meters high. Mature fruits are yellow, elongated and cylindrical, resembling a crescent. Covered with dense skin, slightly oily texture. The pulp has a soft milky color.
In this article, you will know all about the benefits and harms of banana.
History of bananas
The birthplace of the banana is Southeast Asia (Malay Archipelago), bananas have appeared here since the 11th century BC. They were eaten, flour was made from them and bread was prepared. True, bananas did not look like modern crescents. There were seeds inside the fruits. Such fruits (although according to botanical characteristics a banana is a berry) were imported and brought people the main income.
America is considered the second homeland of the banana, where the priest Thomas de Berlanca brought a shoot of this crop for the first time many years ago. California even has a banana museum. It has more than 17 thousand exhibits - fruits made of metals, ceramics, plastic and so on. The museum got into the Guinness Book of Records in the nomination - the largest collection in the world, which was dedicated to one fruit.
Benefits of Bananas
Banana is not only tasty, but also a healthy treat for children and adults. Its pulp contains many useful trace elements that have a beneficial effect on the body.
The group of vitamins B (B1, B2, B6), vitamin C and PP are responsible for nourishing the body so that a person is energetic and efficient. Beta-carotene, calcium, potassium, iron, fluorine, phosphorus affect the functioning of the whole organism. They reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol, normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract and the cardiac system.
Bananas are a great helper in the fight against stress, seasonal depression and bad mood. Biogenic amines - serotonin, tyramine and dopamine - affect the central nervous system. They help to calm down after a nervous day or breakdown.
The composition and calorie content of bananas
The pulp of bananas contains many useful trace elements that have a beneficial effect on the body.
The Harm of Bananas
Bananas are slowly digested, so overweight people should not abuse them. It is also not recommended to eat them before a direct lunch or dinner. There may be a feeling of heaviness and bloating.
Immediately after a fruit snack, you should not drink water, juice or eat a banana on an empty stomach. The best option is to eat a banana an hour after a meal - as a brunch or afternoon snack.
Bananas should not be carried away by people who have problems with blood clots or blood vessels. Because they thicken the blood and increase its viscosity. This can cause thrombosis of veins and arteries. On this basis, in men, bananas can provoke problems with potency, as they slow down blood flow in the cavernous body of the penis.
The use of Bananas in Medicine
Banana is rich in potassium, which is why it is recommended for athletes due to its ability to relieve muscle spasms during physical exertion. It relieves pain and relieves spasms and cramps that appear in the body due to a lack of potassium.
Bananas contain a natural hormone, melatonin, which affects the wake and sleep cycles. Therefore, for a good rest, a few hours before bedtime, you can eat a banana.
Banana removes fluid from the body and lowers blood pressure, it is useful for anemia, as it contains the necessary amount of iron, potassium and magnesium. These trace elements normalize the level of hemoglobin in the blood.
Due to the high content of potassium, bananas remove fluid from the body, help control blood pressure. May be recommended for people with atherosclerosis. Bananas help with frequent heartburn, have an enveloping effect, they reduce acidity in gastritis.
Protect the mucosa from the aggressive action of hydrochloric acid of gastric juice. But with inflammatory processes in the stomach, bananas can increase painful manifestations, since they can cause flatulence. Those who are very cautious about pH of banana, should always keep this in their mind that banana is great for acidity.
Due to the content of soluble fiber, the fruit helps to remove toxins from the body, promotes gentle bowel cleansing. May be useful for women with PMS. By stimulating the production of pleasure hormones, banana improves mood.
Bananas are useful for children as a first feeding, as they are hypoallergenic and suitable for any age, dietitian, candidate of medical sciences Elena Solomatina.
How to Choose and Store Bananas
Go to the market to buy bananas. The best bananas come from India. When choosing, focus on the color of the fruit and its smell. There should be no dark spots on the fruits, the yellow color should be even and uniform.
Ideally, the tail of the fruit should be slightly green. This indicates the freshness of the product and that in a few days the banana will become ripe.
In order for the fruit to ripen, you need to keep it in a room in a dark place. You cannot put it in the open sun, otherwise it will turn black.
Do not store ripe fruits in the refrigerator. The ideal temperature is 15 degrees.
