Medicinal Uses of Bananas

Banana (Musa sapientum L.) one of the major tropical fruits, is commercially important in world trade. Banana is the cheapest as well as one of the most nutritious fruits. The banana bas become a very popular fruit in modern westernized diets for its flavour, texture and for its convenience value being easy to peel off and eat. Banana can make an useful contribution to the Vitamin A, C and B6 content of the diet and is an important and immediate source of energy. It is often eaten by sportsmen and women during competition. A medium sized banana contains 280 kilojoules, which is more than that of deciduous or citrus fruits. The energy and nutritional status of banana and plantam are higher than to other common tropical and subtropical fruits.

Banana and plantain which encompass a wide range of dessert and cooking varieties have their origins in Asia and the Pacific. The crop has spread throughout the tropical world, carried by traders and other travellers to Africa, South and Central America and the Caribbean islands. Now bananas are of major global importance in terms of food and income security to millions of small farmers throughout the developing countries of the tropics.

The medicinal values are higher than the other common tropical and sub tropical fruits.

The Medicinal Uses of Bananas are Stated Below :

Anaemia :

High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and so help in cases of anaemia.

Blood Pressure:

The unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the prefect food for helping to contain blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power:

200 students at an English school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation:

High in fibre, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel function helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Depression:

According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin-known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

Hangovers:

One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to 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 rehydrates your system.

Heartburn:

Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body so if you suffer from heart-burn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness :

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

Mosquito Bites :

Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves :

Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at Works :

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-such as bananas-every two hours to keep levels steady.

PMS :

Forget the pills-eat a banana. The Vitamin B6 it contain regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) :

Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer, trypotophan.

Smoking :

Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking as the high levels of vitamin C, A1, B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress :

Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalise 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 re-balanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes :

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 per cent.

Temperature Control :

Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Ulcers :

The banana 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-chronic ulcer cases. It also neutralized over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Warts :

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.

Submitted By
Krishibid Omar Ibn-I-Hasan