Banana is actually one of the largest herb groups in the world. The term banana is commonly used to represent the dessert cultivar while the cooking cultivar is generally referred as plantain. They belong to the family Musaceae and various species of the genus Musa have been cultivated since time immemorial, and used as a source of fiber, foods, and ornaments. Banana is grown in almost every country in the world especially in the tropical and subtropical countries where it has been sustainably cultivated and thus contributed to the country’s economy.
Bananas are hailed as a superfood for lots of reasons: the high level of fiber and heart-healthy fats mean you feel fuller for longer, which is great news if you're on a diet (Chiquita bananas are part of many detox and weight loss plans).
Health benefits of bananas
Vitamin B6 from bananas is easily absorbed by your body and a medium-sized banana can provide about a quarter of your daily vitamin B6 needs.
Vitamin B6 helps your body: produce red blood cells, metabolize carbohydrates and fats, turning them into energy, metabolize amino acids, remove unwanted chemicals from your liver and kidneys, and maintain a healthy nervous system.
2. Bananas are respectable sources of vitamin C.
Vitamin C helps: protect your body against cell and tissue damage, your body absorb iron better, your body produce collagen - the protein which holds your skin, bones and body together, and support brain health by producing serotonin, a hormone that affects our sleep cycle, moods, and experiences of stress and pain.
3. Manganese in bananas is good for your skin
4. Potassium in bananas is good for your heart health and blood pressure
5. Bananas can aid digestion and help beat gastrointestinal issues
6. Bananas give you energy – minus the fats and cholesterol.
Health benefits
Heart health
Bananas are good for your heart. They are packed with potassium, a mineral electrolyte that keeps electricity flowing throughout your body, which is required to keep your heart beating. Bananas' high potassium and low sodium content may also help protect your cardiovascular system against high blood pressure.
A animal study conducted by researchers at the University of Alabama found that the potassium in bananas is also linked to arterial effectiveness; the more potassium you have, the less likely your arteries are to harden. In the study, mice with lower-potassium diet had harder arteries than mice consuming a normal amount of potassium. Arterial stiffness in humans is linked to heart disease.
Depression and mood
Bananas can be helpful in overcoming depression "due to high levels of tryptophan, which the body converts to serotonin, the mood-elevating brain neurotransmitter" . Plus, vitamin B6 can help you sleep well, and magnesium helps to relax muscles. Additionally, the tryptophan in bananas is well known for its sleep-inducing properties.
Digestion and weight loss
Bananas are high in fiber, which can help keep you regular. One banana can provide nearly 10 percent of your daily fiber requirement. Vitamin B6 can also help protect against Type 2 diabetes and aid in weight loss, according to Flores. In general, bananas are a great weight loss food because they taste sweet and are filling, which helps curb cravings.
Bananas are particularly high in resistant starch, a form of dietary fiber in which researchers have recently become interested. A review published in Nutrition Bulletin found that the resistant starch in bananas may support gut health and control blood sugar. Resistant starch increases the production of short chain fatty acids in the gut, which are necessary to gut health.
Exercise
For replenishing energy and electrolytes, bananas can be more effective than sports drinks. A study published looked at male athletes competing in long-distance cycling races. They compared athletes refueling with Gatorade every 15 minutes to athletes refueling with a banana and water. Researchers saw that the athletes' performance times and body physiology were the same in both cases. But the banana's serotonin(manipulates mood, memory etc) and dopamine(neurotransmitter) improved the athletes' antioxidant capacity and helped with oxidative stress, improving performance overall.
Vision
Carrots may get all the glory for helping your eyes, but bananas do their share as well. The fruits contain a small but significant amount of vitamin A, which is essential for protecting your eyes, maintaining normal vision and improving vision at night. Vitamin A contains compounds that preserve the membranes around your eyes and are an element in the proteins that bring light to your corneas. Like other fruits, bananas can help prevent an incurable condition, which blurs central vision.
Bones
Bananas may not be overflowing with calcium, but they are still helpful in keeping bones strong.Bananas contain an abundance of fructooligosaccharides(alternative sweetner). These are nondigestive carbohydrates that encourage digestive-friendly probiotics and enhance the body's ability to absorb calcium.
Cancer
Some evidence suggests that moderate consumption of bananas may be protective against kidney cancer. Eating four to six bananas a week halved their risk of developing kidney cancer.Bananas may be helpful in preventing kidney cancer because of their high levels of antioxidant phenolic compounds.
Pregnancy
While not exactly a health benefit, a study published found that the potassium in bananas is correlated with women giving birth to baby boys. The study looked at 740 women and saw that those who consumed high levels of potassium prior to conception were more likely to have a boy that those who did not.
Bananas may also help prevent gestational diabetes. Lack of sleep during pregnancy can contribute to gestational diabetes, according to a meta-analysis published in Sleep Medicine Reviews. But the magnesium and tryptophan in bananas can help ensure a good night's rest.
Comments
Post a Comment