About Banana Fruits
Banana is the fruit of the genus Musa (Musaceae family), which is mainly cultivated for food and secondarily for the production of fibers used in the textile industry and also for cosmetic purposes. Almost parthenocarpic bananas consumed today come from two wild species – Musa acuminataMusa balbisiana.
The scientific name of the banana plant is Musa acuminata, Musa balbisiana or a hybrid of Musa acuminata and balbisiana, depending on their genetic structure. Banana plants grow well on monocotyledonous herbaceous plants. The banana tree is not a tree but a tall herb that can reach 15 meters in height.
Cultivars vary in plant and fruit size, plant morphology, fruit quality, and disease and insect resistance. Most bananas taste sweet when they are ripe. the exception to this is cooking bananas and plantains. Plantains are hybrid bananas in which the axis of the male growth is damaged, missing, or has the decoration of the male flower.
Plantains are always cooked before eating and are higher in starch than bananas. Two groups of plantains, French and Horn, produce fewer fruits per plant than sweet bananas. Different groups depend on whether the male part of the inflorescence is present or absent.
Physical description
The banana plant is a large herbaceous plant that grows from an underground plant, or rhizome, to form a false trunk that is 3 to 6 meters (10 to 20 feet). The stem is the basal part of the leaf sheath and is crowned with a rosette of 10 to 20 oblong and elliptical leaves that sometimes reach a length of 3 to 3.5 meters (10 to 11.5 ft) and a width of 65 cm (26) . inches).
A tall flowering plant, with many yellow flowers protected by large red bracts, emerges from the top of the false trunk and descends into a cluster of 50 to 150 fruits, or finger. Each fruit, or banana, is collected in clusters, or hands, of 10 to 20. As soon as the tree has produced fruit, it is cut to the ground, because each trunk produces only one bunch of fruit.
Dead grass is replaced by others in the form of suckers, or shoots, which sprout from the rhizome in about six months. As a result, the life of a single rhizome continues for many years, and the weaker ones that grow from the ground are cut, while the stronger ones are left to grow into trees. bearing fruit.
Health benefits of Banana
It Can improve blood sugar
Bananas contain soluble fiber. During digestion, soluble fiber dissolves in water to form a gel. It is also what gives bananas their variety.
Unripe bananas also contain resistant starch, which your body doesn’t digest. Together, these two types of fiber can keep your blood sugar levels healthy after a meal. In addition, they can help regulate your appetite by slowing down your digestion.
This means that despite their high carbohydrate content, bananas will not raise blood sugar levels in humans. However, although people with diabetes can benefit from bananas, it is not recommended to eat large portions in one sitting.
May support heart health
Bananas are full of useful micronutrients, especially potassium, which is one of the most important electrolytes in the body. Potassium helps regulate heart function and fluid balance which is a key factor in controlling blood pressure.
The effectiveness of potassium-rich foods like bananas in lowering blood pressure and protecting against heart disease and stroke is well accepted and supported by a large body of scientific evidence.
Banana is an energy booster
Because they are low in water, bananas tend to have a higher calorie and sugar content than other fruits. They contain sugar in the form of sucrose, fructose, and glucose combined with fiber, allowing them to provide an immediate and long-lasting energy boost.
Being rich in potassium, they promote muscle contraction during exercise and can reduce the risk of cramps. As such, bananas are a useful input both before and during long-term exercise.
Bananas improve immunity.
In these critical times, a strong immune system can mean the difference between life and death. Banana is a prebiotic food, which means that it promotes the formation of good bacteria of the intestine, which affects the body’s ability to fight disease.
Researchers say that adequate protein, fatty acids, and at least 11 vitamins and minerals work together to strengthen the immune system.
A half banana contains 2% of the recommended daily intake of five of the eleven nutrients: iron, zinc, vitamin A, selenium and protein. It also provides four other nutrients that are essential for a normal immune response.
One banana can provide up to 11% of your daily requirement of vitamin C, which is essential for the production of white blood cells, a key component in building the immune system. Red bananas contain more vitamin C than yellow ones.
But the main reason bananas support the immune system is because of their high vitamin B6 content. Vitamin B6 is essential for the production of proteins responsible for the body’s immune response. A medium banana contains 30% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin B6. To boost your attack, choose a ripe banana.
According to a study published in 2009 in Food Science and Technology Research, ripe bananas are eight times better at increasing white blood cells than raw bananas.
Ensure good health by keeping your bowels clean
In Ayurveda, a clean gut is considered the most important factor for overall health. Including bananas in your daily diet will keep your bowel movements regular due to its high fiber content. This article from Harvard University explains how regular bowel movements are a sign of a healthy digestive system and prevent the discomfort of diarrhea and constipation.
Studies have also shown how exercise at any time can have a negative effect on mental health. The benefits of keeping the colon clean are clear, but it’s an even bigger challenge in today’s processed food world.
A half banana contains 12% of the daily fiber requirement and can help relieve constipation. Green bananas are great for this because they are full of resistant starch that acts as insoluble fiber and can help keep your bowels healthy.
