 |
Banana
|
The most important species of the large group of edible plants belonging to the genus Musa can be limited to Musa paradisiaca and Musa nana, although almost 30 species are known. The Banana tree and its fruits, bananas, have been known since ancient times, even before the beginning of the cultivation of rice. Their place of origin is thought to be in east Asia and Oceania, from where they spread throughout the world. In Africa they were undoubtedly introduced by the Arabs. The Spanish and Portuguese brought this valued plant to America, first to the Antilles, then Santo Domingo, later to the Guianas and Brazil. A flourishing industry has now developed around the banana which is one of the most profitable agricultural resources of many countries situated along the tropical belt. Four South American countries export the largest tonnage of bananas: Honduras, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Panama. To grow well, the banana needs a constantly warm climate. Some thousands of years ago, before man came to appreciate this plant, it produced almost tasteless fruits with black and bitter seeds. Through cultivation and genetic improvement it has now reached its remarkable flavor and fragrance. The banana is almost as rich as tomatoes and oranges in vitamins B and C, and so has antiscorbutic qualities. It also contains iron, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium, but it is mostly for its high content (almost 20%) of easily assimilable sugars that it is considered so nutritious. The considerable amount of vitamin A also promotes the secretion of gastric juices, helping the digestion. Bananas can be eaten fresh, or flambéed with brown sugar, brandy or rum, or served with dates. American and Canary bananas are the most abundant, the former being larger, but the latter having more flavor and fragrance. There is a Hindu legend that the banana was the forbidden fruit in the earthly paradise, and that it was the leaves of this plant with which the first man and woman covered their nakedness. The Indians grow two species of banana which they call Paradise banana and Adam's fig-tree which gives credence to this story. The Cherimoya (Annona cherimola of the custard-apple or Annonaceae) is a species typical of the Colombian and Peruvian Andes where it grows up to altitudes of 6,000 feet. It is also cultivated largely in the Antilles, Venezuela, and the Guianas. After discarding the outer greenish part, the fruit is eaten raw without sugar. The pulp is digestible and can be eaten by everybody. In its native countries, it is considered one of the most delicate tropical fruits. Its flavor, between the pineapple and the strawberry, is, however, a little unusual for European palates, which may be why it is not very popular in Europe. Also, to develop all its most valued qualities, the fruit must reach perfect ripeness, which can only take place while it is still on the plant, or very soon afterward. [Bianchini, Francesco, Corbetta, Francesco, Pistoia, Marilena, The Complete Book of Fruits and Vegetables, United States Translation: Crown Publishers, New York, 1976; Originally published in Italy as I Frutti della Terra, Arnoldo Mondadori Publisher, Italy, 1973]
Importance of Bananas: If you want a quick fix for flagging energy levels there’s no better snack than a banana. Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose - combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proved that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes. But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions making it a must to add to your daily diet. Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemo- globin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia. Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect food for helping to beat 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 a Twickenham (Middlesex) 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 fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, 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 trypotophan, 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 re-hydrates your system. Heart-burn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body so if you suffer from heart-burn, try eating a banana for soothing relief. 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. 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- chroniculcer cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach. 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, and 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 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. 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%! 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! Finale: So you see a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A Banana a day keeps the doctor away ." [Sent in an E-Mail]