Banana is a great snack food provided by nature. The scientific names for most bananas cultivated are Musa Balbisiana and Musa Acuminata.
The following are health benefits of banana -
1. Banana contains the
following vitamins and minerals, namely, Potassium, Manganese, Protein, Folate, Magnesium, Niacin, Iron, Zinc, Selenium, Iodine, Riboflavin, Dietary Fiber, Vitamins A, B, B6, and C.
2. Potassium -
Banana is a very good source of potassium, a mineral essential for maintaining proper heart function, that also regulates blood pressure.
This can offset the effect of sodium or salt in raising blood pressure. Thus the risk of heart attack and stroke can be reduced (for stroke up to 20%), when you eat sufficiently banana, coupled of cause with a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Potassium maintains levels of fluid in the body, and regulates movement of nutrients and waste products in and also out of cells. It also benefits the bones.
And as people advance in age, it reduces the risk of kidney stones. Healthy kidneys sustain the right amount of potassium in the body.
3. Increases Energy -
Professional athletes snack on banana, before and even in between games, as it is a healthy source of energy.
Banana is good for weight loss, as a small banana contains about 100 calories. It is very filling. However, if you are serious about losing weight, you need to replace junk foods and candy bars with banana.
4. Improves Digestion -
When you eat a few bananas, it assists to digest your food, and also to move the bowels easily.
Banana is a rich source of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS). FOS feeds friendly and important bacteria in the digestive tract, and the bacteria in return, assist you to absorb more efficiently nutrients.
5. Cures Heartburn and Ulcer -
Banana cures heartburn. The fibre content helps food move faster through the digestive tract, thus preventing reflux.
And when you eat banana regularly, over a reasonable period of time, it may protect you against stomach ulcers. The protective mucus barrier in the stomach thickens, thus damage from hydrochloric acid is prevented.
Protease inhibitors in banana also assist to eliminate stomach bacteria responsible for stomach ulcers.
6. Vitamin B6 -
Banana is very high in Vitamin B6 for creating hemoglobin for healthy blood. Vitamin B6 also maintains proper sugar levels, and assists to build the immune system.
7. Treatment for Skin Conditions
Henceforth please do not discard banana skin as it is very effective for treating acne and psoriasis.
Method -
The freshly peeled inside of banana skin should be rubbed gently over the affected area, and leave the residue to be absorbed.
The fatty acid content of the banana skin relieves a number of skin conditions. It also has a strong moisturising effect.
Treatment should continue for several weeks, but you will eventually see result.
Treatment for Wart - You rub a little piece of banana peeling over the Wart, tape it in place tightly, leave overnight. Repeat process for 1 week, or continously until the Wart disappears.
8. Fights Cancer -
A fully ripe banana with dark spots contains a compound known as TNF-a, a cytokine which is believed to have potential to increase white blood cell count.
This combats cancerous cell changes and enhances immunity.
Banana also reduces the risk of asthma.
9. Stress Reduction and Mood Improvement -
Banana is a great source of the amino acid tryptophan, and this the body converts to serotonin.
Reasonable levels of serotonin reduces stress, improves mood, and enhances general outlook and happiness levels. Sleep pattern is also regulated by it.
10. Hangover Cure -
When you blend banana with coconut, or cow's milk, berries, and ice, this gives you good recovery drink from hangover.
Caution -
Certain beta-blockers, medications used for heart disease, hypertension, can increase potassium levels in the blood when you eat banana excessively.
Therefore it will be fatal for those whose kidneys are not functioning properly to eat banana excessively, because the kidneys will not be able to remove excess potassium from the blood.
In view of the highlights above, eat banana sufficiently, and daily, and enjoy its many health benefits, except for those who have been advised to eat less.
It is sweet and delicious so do eat with care.
Stay Healthy Always And Remain Blessed. Love You All.
