Eat Banana: An amazing fruit

(Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa, and is also the name given to the fruit of these plants. They are native to the tropical region of Southeast Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Australia. Today, they are cultivated throughout the Tropics. Banana plants are of the family Musaceae. They are cultivated primarily for their fruit, and to a lesser extent for the production of fibre and as ornamental plants. Because of their size and structure, banana plants are often mistaken for trees. The main or upright growth is called a pseudostem, which for some species can obtain a height of up to 2–8 m, with leaves of up to 3.5 m in length. Each pseudostem produces a single bunch of bananas, before dying and being replaced by a new pseudostem.The banana fruit grow in hanging clusters, with up to 20 fruit to a tier (called a hand), and 3-20 tiers to a bunch. The total of the hanging clusters is known as a bunch, or commercially as a "banana stem", and can weigh from 30–50 kg. The fruit averages 125 g, of which approximately 75% is water and 25% dry matter content. Each individual fruit (known as a banana or 'finger') has a protective outer layer (a peel or skin) with a fleshy edible inner portion. Typically the fruit has numerous strings (called 'phloem bundles') which run between the skin and the edible portion of the banana, and which are commonly removed individually after the skin is removed. Bananas are a valuable source of Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C and potassium.Bananas are grown in 132 countries worldwide, more than any other fruit crop In popular culture and commerce, "banana" usually refers to soft, sweet "dessert" bananas that are usually eaten raw. The bananas from a group of cultivars with firmer, starchier fruit are generally used in cooking rather than eaten raw. Bananas may also be dried and ground into banana flour. Although the wild species have fruits with numerous large, hard seeds, virtually all culinary bananas have seedless fruits. Bananas are classified either as dessert bananas (meaning they are yellow and fully ripe when eaten) or as green cooking bananas. Almost all export bananas are of the dessert types; however, only about 10-15% of all production is for export, with the U.S. and EU being the dominant buyers.

"A banana a day keeps the doctor away!

"Eat Banana: An amazing fruit

I have received an email from my sister in Canada 3 days. I was very excited to open it. But so disappointing it was a chain email. I ignored it. Tonight, checking my mails I've noticed the email again. I don't have the choice but to click and open it. First paragraphs says :

"Useful piece of information. Never, put your banana in the refrigerator! This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again." Quit interesting.

So I continued reading the message and found out that it was informative and useful not only for me but also worthwhile to share with. Although this had been circulating and posted in most sites but still not all have read and by posting it here, it may impart and help readers in some ways.

Banana is found to be a natural remedy for many illness, vitamins and mineral deficiencies. Comparing the nutrients of banana with apple it has 4x times more protein, 2x in carbohydrate, 3x the phosphorus, 5x times the vitamin A and iron, and 2x the other vitamins and minerals. It is one the best valued food found around us that is very rich in potassium content.

Banana contains 3 natural sugar, they are the sucrose, fructose and glucose which is combined with high fiber. It is considered as the world's leading fruit for athletes. There has been a research which proven that 2 pieces of bananas can give an instant, substantial and sustainable boosting energy even for a strenuous 90-minute work. It is not only an energy booster but also the dietary substantial nutrients that if gives our body to keep as fit and prevent a number of illnesses and health supplemental conditions.

Bananas contain nutrient called tryptophan. This is a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin which known to make us relax, improve mood and generally make us feel lively. The recent survey undertaken by MIND showed that people suffering from depression felt much better by eating bananas. Banana is good for those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) it contain the natural mood enhancer, the tryptophan.

Banana has also Vitamin B6 that is essential to regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia is not a problem anymore because banana has high Iron content that can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood.

Banana is a tropical fruit that is extremely containing high potassium but low in salt which helps regulates our Blood Pressure. The US Food and Drug Administration had approved the capacity of the banana fruit to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke cases as officially being claim by the banana industry. According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Not only that because of the characteristics of this potassium-packed fruit (banana) recent survey proved that is helps the students / pupils boost their Brain Power making them more alert and learning more susceptible.

Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Banana has high in fiber content which is important in our diet which can help restore normal bowel movement, helping us overcome the problem of Constipation without resorting to laxatives.

Having hangovers? Not a problem anymore. Make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Banana has also a natural antacid effect in the body. If you are suffering from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Eating banana helps in keeping our blood sugar levels normal. Having it in our snacks and breakfast will avoid morning sickness.

It is also effective first aid for insect and mosquito bites. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation. Try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin for relief before reaching for the insect bite cream.

Bananas help calm the nervous system because of its high content of B vitamins. Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers problems, you don't have to worry about. Banana also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases.

Banana has also cooling properties. Many other cultures see bananas as a "temperature cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. For example, in Thailand, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Smoking & Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

Want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. "Amazing fruit"