In our country, bananas are used as a dessert product, and in many countries of South Asia and Africa, they form the basis of the diet of local residents and are the main food product. The taste of a banana depends on the variety, but each fruit is rich in nutrients and a lot of vitamins.
What is a banana?
Banana is a herbaceous plant with a powerful root system, which, despite its impressive size, does not have a solid trunk. Bananas have one soft stem, which is wrapped in many adjacent large leaves. Flowers develop on it, and then - fleshy fruits. Because of these features, botanists attribute the fruits of this plant not to fruits, but to berries.
The islands of the Malay Archipelago are considered the homeland of the banana, and the first information about them dates back to the 17th century BC - it is not for nothing that they are mentioned as the most ancient cultivated plants.
Each year, only one crop ripens on the stem, after which the old stem dies, and a new one grows from the rhizome, on which the fruits ripen. Some types of bananas can bear fruit in this way for up to 100 years. The height of a banana stem can vary from 2 to 10 meters, which is why bananas are considered the largest herb.
Useful properties of bananas
Bananas are considered one of the healthiest foods due to their chemical composition and nutritional value. The fruits contain a large amount of carbohydrates, few proteins and fats. They are rich in B vitamins, vitamins C and E, which are essential for maintaining immunity and skin tone. And the nicotinic acid contained in bananas helps to normalize metabolic processes in the body.
The energy value of bananas is 90 kcal per 100 g.
Bananas are rich in phosphorus and potassium, so the daily consumption of 3 fruits can replenish the body's daily intake of these substances. Thanks to this amount of potassium, which is necessary for the normal functioning of the heart muscle, it is possible to normalize blood pressure, reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack. Bananas also contain iron, calcium, magnesium and sodium.
These berries help cleanse blood vessels of cholesterol plaques, reducing the likelihood of developing atherosclerosis. Bananas also have a beneficial effect on the health of the liver, kidneys and biliary tract, so it is useful to include them in the diet for those who suffer from edema. Eating banana pulp is considered a good prevention of stomach and duodenal ulcers, as well as gastritis. However, during an exacerbation of these diseases, it is better not to eat bananas.
And, of course, bananas are considered the best antidepressants in the world for a reason. It is useful to introduce them into the diet in case of a bad mood, despondency, depression and even nervous disorders.
