Eat Banana, Drink Banana, Shield Banana

History Of Banana

Bananas originated in the Indo-Malaysian region reaching to Northern Australia. They were known only by hearsay in the Mediterranean region in the 3rd Century B.C., and are believed to have been first carried to Europe in the 10th Century A.D. Early in the 16th Century, Portuguese mariners transported the plant from the West African coast to South America.

Banana Leadership

World production is estimated to be 28 million tons—65% from Latin America, 27 % from Southeast Asia, and 7 % from Africa. One-fifth of the crop is exported to Europe, Canada, the United States and Japan as fresh fruit.

India is the leading banana producer in Asia. Brazil is the leading banana grower in South America.

Banana – What do you call?

Bananas are known by similar or very different names in banana-growing areas.

Spanish-speaking people say banana china (Paraguay), banano enano (Costa Rica), cambur or camburi (Colombia, Venezuela), cachaco, colicero, cuatrofilos (Colombia); carapi (Paraguay), curro (Panama), guineo (Costa Rico, Puerto Rico, E1 Salvador); murrapo (Colombia); mampurro (Dominican Republic); patriota (Panama); platano (Mexico); platano de seda (Peru); platano enano (Cuba); suspiro (Dominican Republic); zambo (Honduras).

Portuguese names in Brazil are: banana maca, banana de Sao Tome', banana da Prata.

In French islands or areas, the terms may be bananier nain, bananier de Chine (Guadaloupe), figue, figue banane, figue naine (Haiti).

Where German is spoken, they say: echte banane, feige, or feigenbaum and in the Sudan, baranda.

Energize Yourself

Whatever you call but if you want a quick fix for fading energy levels, there’s no better snack than a banana. Banana containing three natural sugars sucrose, fructose and glucose shared with fibred a banana gives a direct, continual and considerable enhance of energy.

The banana fruit is a chief source of calcium, phosphorus, manganese, vitamins A, B6 and C, pyridoxine, nitrogen, folic acid and many other nutrients and enzymes. These help to maintain the health of the skin, the eye and the mucous membranes, detoxify infectious bacteria, add to the body protein, build resistance to allergy and relieve constipation.

Lack of B6 in a diet can cause weakness, irritability and insomnia. The potassium found in banana helps to regulate blood pressure and may reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. Potassium is also essential for helping muscles to contract properly during exercise and reduces cramping up.

A medium-sized banana provides 400 mg of potassium -11% of daily value- and contains 110 calories and 4 grams of fiber. Bananas also contain plenty of carbohydrates which are the body's main source of energy. They are also easy to digest.

Healthy Banana

Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Banana VS Ulcer
Banana is the only fruit that can be taken without any harmful effects by ulcer patients.

The dietary feed against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. The ripe banana is very beneficial in ulcerative colitis. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the liking. Mash banana with salt cures dysentery.

Banana VS Allergy
It contains only useful amino acids and do not cause any allergic reactions. Its low protein and salt but high content of carbohydrates, it is beneficial in all kinds of kidney disorders.

Banana VS Anemia
Anemic persons are also benefited, as augmented by taking banana. It is high in iron so that it can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood.

Banana – Shield against Other Diseases
A drink of mashing banana in a glass of coconut water with either honey or glucose, this is a very nourishing drink for patients suffering from disease like tuberculosis jaundice, typhoid and smallpox. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, and the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Banana contains potassium and magnesium which help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal, it help people trying to give up smoking.

A paste making from mashing banana which applied on burns and wounds is very soothing the affected parts quickly even for the insects bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin I find it amazingly successful in reducing swelling and irritation. The tender leaves of the plant have a cool and soothing effect on burns and inflammations.

According to survey by MIND, people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. Because banana contain trypotophan, by which body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and make you feel happier. And when I stressed it can be re-balances with the help of a high-potassium banana. If you take banana as a cooling fruit then that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers.

Students at Western University were helped through their exams by eating bananas at breakfast and lunch in bid to boost their brainpower. Because research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Banana Dishes

Green tipped bananas should be selected for cooking or ripening, yellow ones should be selected for eating and brown-specked ones should be selected for baking breads, muffins and cookies. As the bananas ripen, they will taste sweeter because the starch in the fruit will turn to sugar. Ripe banana can be served in fruit cups and salads, sandwiches, custards and gelatins; being mashed and incorporated into ice cream, bread, muffins, and cream pies. Banana Sabzi, Banana Milk Shake, Banana Salad, Banana Cake and Banana Blueberry Muffins are few favorites banana dishes.

So, Go For Banana!!

Further Readings

A Banana A Day Keeps The Doctor Away - T.Rajkumar
Banana and Its Uses-U.C.Sethi
Hort.purdue.edu
International Banana Association (IBA)