YOUR LOCAL FRUITS: SERIES 5 – BANANA
Banana and Its Nutritional Benefits
Banana is one of the best tropical fruits that are very essential to our health that provides us with high nutrients, vitamins, fiber, potassium and natural sugars like fructose and sucrose.
Therefore eating two bananas in a day does wonder for our health which helps to keep you away from visiting the hospital.
15 Incredible Health Benefits of Tropical Banana
1. Rich in Fibre
Bananas are the type of nutritious fruits that are rich in fiber, a lot of nutrients and antioxidants that help in preventing the body from contracting several diseases.
Bananas are a good source of other kinds of fiber known as pectin and resistant starch. Both the pectin and resistant starch helps in controlling the rise of blood sugar after each meal.
2. Controls Blood Sugar Levels
The nutrients present in banana such as grams of carbohydrates, sugar and vitamin B-6 that helps to moderate the blood sugar levels after meals. Pectin and resistant starch help in control of blood sugar levels after each meal.
3. Helps in Digestion
Banana is a great source of dietary fiber, low in calories and high nutrients and fiber that help in proper digestion of food in the body and serves as a laxative in the body for treating constipation.
Regular eating of banana also aids in the treatment of other intestinal disorders.
4. Promotes a Healthy Heart
Banana contains important vitamins and several antioxidants that reduce the risk of heart diseases and other diseases with deteriorative progressions. The high potassium and low sodium contained in banana help in protecting the cardiovascular system
Bananas are good for the heart because it’s rich in potassium which is required the heart beating, thereby maintaining a regular heartbeat.
5. Boosts Potassium level
It helps in protecting low potassium levels in the body and at the same time prevention of muscle cramps during athletics due to its content of a high level of potassium.
Potassium is known to be an important mineral that maintains the heart function and controls blood pressure. Regular intake of banana boots your potassium level, thereby suppressing calcium excreta in the urine and prevention and kidney stones.
6. Promotes Healthy Skin
Banana nourishes the skin and treats skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis; it is best peeled and rubbed on the skin rather than consumption in this case.
The vitamin A found in bananas aids in removing dark spots and scars on the skin. The peel can be rubbed on the areas of the affected face.
Banana can be mixed with yogurt and turmeric that can be applied to the face to prevent acne and also brighten your complexion.
7. Treats Ulcers
Bananas contain protease inhibitors that help to eliminate stomach bacteria that causes ulcer completely, balance stomach pH, relief pains and boost the protective mucus layer.
Therefore, regular consumption of banana treats stomach ulcers and heartburns. Bananas contain protease inhibitors that help in removing harmful bacteria that cause the development of stomach ulcers.
8. Helps in Weight Loss
They are also a good source of weight loss that helps in boosting the amount of energy in the body due to the presence of natural sugar that balanced with soluble fiber to produce energy.
High fiber intake which can be gotten from consuming ripped banana is said to reduce the body weight.
It helps greatly in promoting weight loss; because it is known to be the best source of resistant starch that has low calories than regular starch. Eating a banana is good for increasing stamina and endurance, thereby promoting weight loss.
9. Reduces Blood Pressure
Eating of banana helps to reduce blood pressure and lower the risk of cancer and asthma but it contains amino acid which is the end product of protein and when this amino acid is taken in a large amount, it produces toxicities.
Foods in high potassium like banana serve as a remedy to aid lower blood pressure.
10. Good For Pregnant Women
Banana is a great food for pregnant women due to its rich in folic acid. Folic acid adds extra blood to the body during pregnancy.
Bananas contained a high content of iron that aids in preventing anemia. Eating banana regularly helps in preventing any bad effects during pregnancy.
It also contains a high fiber content that helps to fight against constipation. Banana, when eaten in between meals, helps in regulating blood sugar levels.
11. Reduces Menstrual Problems
Cooked banana flowers help in reducing painful and excessive bleeding during the menstrual cycle and other menstrual issues because it’s rich in vitamin B6.
So avoid taking pills to reduce your menstrual pain rather than take banana instead.
12. Helps in Haircare
Banana is an excellent food for hair moisturizing and care. It contained high moisture content for nourishing the hair.
Bananas are used in making conditioners, shampoos, and other hair products because it contains great nutrients. It helps in hair follicles strengthening and improves scalp.
13. Good for Men
Banana is an excellent fruit for men because it can help in improving their fertility due to its rich in potassium and low in salt.
Eating a banana is beneficial to men as it increases the number of male sperm and also makes the sperm more fertile.
It also helps in controlling blood pressure levels. Regular intake of banana can go a long way in solving infertility problems in men.
14. Helps in Reducing Stress
Banana contains an amino acid known as tryptophan that is converted to serotonin in your body; which helps in improving moods, reducing stress and promoting your general outlook.
Eating banana aids in fighting depression and also manages your sleep patterns. Consuming banana regularly is the easiest way you can improve your mood and relieve stress after a long day at work.
15. Prevents Kidney Stone
The Potassium in banana helps in reducing the risk of kidney stones.
Consuming banana aids in preventing the deposit of calcium in your kidney and urinary tract, and it goes along in helping those suffering from kidney stones.
People suffering from kidney stones are likely to suffer from kidney disease, therefore it is important to note that high potassium foods are not good for people with kidney diseases.
Avoid bananas if you are been affected by kidney diseases.
Nutritional Values of Banana
| Nutrients | Amount |
| Calorie | 89 |
| Water | 75% |
| Protein | 1.1 g |
| Carbs | 22.8 g |
| Sugar | 12.2 g |
| Dietary Fibre | 2.6 g |
| Fat | 0.3 g |
| Saturated | 0.11 g |
| Monounsaturated | 0.03 g |
| Polyunsaturated | 0.07 g |
| Omega-3 | 0.03 g |
| Omega-6 | 0.05 g |
| Potassium | 450 mg |
| Total fat | 0 g |
Conclusion
Bananas are known to be the best source of potassium which is an important mineral needed in our body that helps in maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function.
Eating a banana every day is good for your health since the average banana contains 467 mg of potassium and 1mg of sodium which helps greatly in preventing high blood pressure and protects you against atherosclerosis.
Therefore adding bananas to your everyday meal is good for your health.
Bananas indeed have loads of great things to offer to your body, providing you with the energy your body needs to thrive. They are easy to consume and also very affordable in most places.
Banana is a sweetened perennial crop that is mainly cultivated in the Caribbean, South America and the western part of Africa in which Nigeria is the major African countries that cultivate banana. Banana grows effectively in the tropical region because they are considered as tropical plants with many health benefits and high nutritional value.
