Bananas are one of the most versatile foods. They can be eaten anytime and anywhere. This widespread prevalence may have been a factor in overlooking their health benefits, but a single piece of banana is enough to pack a healthy punch. There are many varieties of bananas, ranging from large to small and from yellow to green. They are widely available and grown in almost every country.
Bananas have a special place in diets low in fats, cholesterol and salt. To this day, bananas are known for promoting healthy digestion and creating a feeling of youthfulness. It is one of the oldest and best-known fruits of the world, probably because it is delicious and available no matter what the season is!
Banana has a high nutritional value., constituting almost a complete balanced diet in combination with milk. It is a good source of quick energy and an excellent means of recovery from fatigue.
Hypertension
Potassium salt, like beta blockers, can reduce the risk of hypertension and, therefore, heart problems. Bananas, being a rich source of potassium and low in sodium, are beneficial for high blood pressure patients.
Certain compounds in bananas behave like angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. ACE is responsible for a rise in blood pressure, but ACE-inhibiting properties were found in six varieties of banana.
Obesity
Eating half a banana and skimmed milk during breakfast should be considered as an effective means of weight reduction.
Intestinal Disorder
Bananas are a dietary food which fight against intestinal disturbances. Because chronic ulcer patients need to avoid acidic fruits, it is the only fruit they can consume without distress. It neutralizes the hyperacidity of the gastric juice and reduces the irritation of the ulcer. Ripe banana is highly beneficial in treating ulcerative colitis as it is bland, easily digestible and slightly laxative, thus relieving the acute symptoms and promoting the healing process.
Constipation and Diarrhea
Banana helps with both constipation and diarrhea, as it balances the colonic functions in the large intestine. It absorbs a large amount of water, which helps with proper bowel movements.
Dysentery
Mashed banana with a little salt is a valuable remedy for dysentery. According to traditional naturopathy, a combination of ripe banana, tamarind and common salt is most effective in this disease.
Anemia
Being high in iron content, bananas are beneficial in treating anemia, as they stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood.
Allergies
The fruit is very useful for those who are allergic to certain foods and thus suffer from skin rashes, digestive disorders or asthma. Bananas contain compounds that are not allergic, although the fruit does, however, cause allergic reactions in certain sensitive individuals, who should avoid it.
Tuberculosis
Bananas are used in the treatment of tuberculosis. The juice of both the plantain or the ordinary, cooked banana works miracles in treating tuberculosis.
Urinary Disorder
Juice from the banana stem is a well-known remedy for urinary disorders. It helps to improve kidney and liver functions, and has also been found to help treat and remove kidney and gallbladder stones.
Menstrual Disorder
Cooked banana flower, eaten with curd, is considered an effective medicine for painful menstruation and excessive bleeding. Banana flower increases the concentration of the progesterone hormone, which reduces the bleeding.
Other Health Benefits
Ripe banana is chiefly eaten in dessert or as a breakfast fruit, while unripe fruits can be cooked. Banana chips made from fully mature, unripe banana are both tasty and healthy. You can make flour out of dried, unripe bananas. It is three times richer in minerals than wheat flour and is more easily digestible than cereal starches, making it an ideal food for infants and medical patients. Banana is also helpful with arthritis.
Precautions
The banana must be thoroughly ripe, otherwise it’s hard to digest. A raw banana contains 20 to 25 percent starch, but during the process of ripening, this starch is fully converted to sugar, which is easily assimilated.
Because of its high potassium content, the fruit should not be consumed by those suffering from renal failure.
