Going Bananas

 Taken from Google.

A few days ago, I stumbled on a blog on how she was fascinated with bananas. Back home in San Pedro, my mom always buys banana as a dessert after our meal or a snack. She believed that a banana packs a lot of nutrients that is beneficial to our health. 

I googled on banana and I got several links. One link that really got my attention was this.

I'll share to you some facts about bananas XD. 

Health Benefits of Bananas

Bananas consist mainly of sugars (glucose, fructose and sucrose) and fiber, which makes them ideal for an immediate and slightly prolonged source of energy

Reducing Depression

Bananas contain tryptophan, an aminoacid that can be converted to serotonin, leading to improved mood

Anemia

Bananas are relatively high in iron, which helps the body's hemoglobin function

 

Constipation and Diarrhea

Due to their content in fiber, they help restore a normal bowel function. In addition, diarrhea usually depletes your body of important electrolytes (of which the most important is potassium, contained in high amounts in bananas). They also contain pectin, a soluble fiber (hydrocolloid) that can help normalize movement through the digestive tract.

 

Eyesight Protection

Research published in the Archives of Ophthalmology has proven that adults consuming at least 3 servings of fruit per day have a reduced risk (by 36%) of developing age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in older adults, compared to persons who consume less than 1.5 servings of fruit daily.

 

Healthy Bones

Bananas are an exceptionally rich source of fructooligosaccharide, a compound that nourishes probiotic (friendly) bacteria in the colon. These beneficial bacteria produce enzymes that increase our digestive ability and protect us from unhealthy bacteria infections. Thanks to fructooligosaccharides, probiotic bacteria can increase both in number and functionality, increasing our body's ability to absorb calcium.  

In addition, green bananas contain indigestible short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that are very nutrient to the cells that make up the mucosa of the stomach. These cells, when healthy, absorb calcium much more efficiently

 

Healthy Kidney

About 190,000 cases of kidney cancer are diagnosed each year. Research published in the International Journal of Cancer has shown that daily consumption of whole fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, is highly protective to kidney health. The results show that, over a long timeframe (13.4 years), women eating more than 2.5 servings of fruits and vegetable per day cut their risk of kidney cancer by 40%. Among the fruits, bananas were especially protective. Women eating bananas four to six times a week halved their risk of developing the disease compared to those who did not eat this fruit. The conclusion of the study is that frequent consumption of fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, cabbage and root vegetables, may reduce risk of kidney cancer. This is because bananas and many root vegetables contain especially high amounts of antioxidant phenolic compounds, while cabbage is rich in sulfur, necessary for effective detoxification of potential carcinogens.

 

Blood Pressure

Bananas are extremely high in potassium (about 4673mg), yet very low in sodium (1mg), thus having a perfect ratio for preventing high 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.

 

Heartburn

Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

 

Morning Sickness

Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood-sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

 

Smoking

Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. They contain vitamins B6 and B12 they contain, as well as potassium and magnesium: these substances help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

 

Ulcers

This is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicle cases. It also helps reduce acidity and reduces irritation. Bananas stimulate the cells on the internal stomach lining to produce a thicker mucus (which protects against acid). Additionally, bananas contain protease inhibitors that help eliminate bacteria in the stomach that have been pinpointed as a primary cause of ulcers.

 

Nerves

Bananas are high in B vitamins that have been shows to improve nerve function

 

Mosquito Bites

Many people report that rubbing the inside of a banana peel on a mosquito bite is very effective in reducing itching and swelling

 

Stress Relief

Bananas are high in potassium, which helps normalize the hearthbeat and regulate the body's water balance. During periods of high stress, our body's potassium levels tend to be rapidly depleted: eating bananas is a healthy way to rebalance them without using drugs

 

Stroke Risk

According to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can reduce the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%

Bananas Nutrition Facts

Refuse: 36% (Skin)
Scientific Name:  Musa X paradisiaca
NDB No: 09040 (Nutrient values and weights are for edible portion)

Nutrient	Units	Value per 100 grams	Number of Data Points	Std. Error
Proximates
Water	g	74.91	20	0.286
Energy	kcal	89	0
Energy	kj	371	0
Protein	g	1.09	12	0.022
Total lipid (fat)	g	0.33	19	0.067
Ash	g	0.82	12	0.03
Carbohydrate, by difference	g	22.84	0
Fiber, total dietary	g	2.6	13	0.129
Sugars, total	g	12.23	8	1.034
Sucrose	g	2.39	8	0.546
Glucose (dextrose)	g	4.98	8	0.806
Fructose	g	4.85	8	0.658
Lactose	g	0.00	8	0
Maltose	g	0.01	8	0.014
Galactose	g	0.00	8	0
Starch	g	5.38	8	0.564
Minerals
Calcium, Ca	mg	5	45	0.047
Iron, Fe	mg	0.26	42	0.001
Magnesium, Mg	mg	27	45	0.475
Phosphorus, P	mg	22	45	0.171
Potassium, K	mg	358	45	1.911
Sodium, Na	mg	1	45	0.395
Zinc, Zn	mg	0.15	45	0.001
Copper, Cu	mg	0.078	45	0.011
Manganese, Mn	mg	0.270	45	0.007
Fluoride, F	mcg	2.2	1
Selenium, Se	mcg	1.0	31	0.289
Vitamins
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	mg	8.7	8	0.434
Thiamin	mg	0.031	12	0.006
Riboflavin	mg	0.073	12	0.008
Niacin	mg	0.665	12	0.002
Pantothenic acid	mg	0.334	12	0.01
Vitamin B-6	mg	0.367	12	0.01
Folate, total	mcg	20	11	0.472
Folic acid	mcg	0	0
Folate, food	mcg	20	11	0.472
Folate, DFE	mcg_DFE	20	0
Choline, total	mg	9.8	0
Betaine	mg	0.1	1
Vitamin B-12	mcg	0.00	0
Vitamin B-12, added	mcg	0.00	0
Vitamin A, IU	IU	64	0
Vitamin A, RAE	mcg_RAE	3	0
Retinol	mcg	0	0
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)	mg	0.10	15	0.054
Vitamin E, added	mg	0.00	0
Tocopherol, beta	mg	0.00	15	0
Tocopherol, gamma	mg	0.02	15	0.015
Tocopherol, delta	mg	0.01	15	0.01
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	mcg	0.5	6	0.075
Lipids
Fatty acids, total saturated	g	0.112	0
4:0	g	0.000	0
6:0	g	0.000	0
8:0	g	0.000	0
10:0	g	0.001	4
12:0	g	0.002	4
14:0	g	0.002	4
16:0	g	0.102	5
18:0	g	0.005	5
Fatty acids, total monounsaturated	g	0.032	0
16:1 undifferentiated	g	0.010	5
18:1 undifferentiated	g	0.022	5
20:1	g	0.000	0
22:1 undifferentiated	g	0.000	0
Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated	g	0.073	0
18:2 undifferentiated	g	0.046	5
18:3 undifferentiated	g	0.027	5
18:4	g	0.000	0
20:4 undifferentiated	g	0.000	0
20:5 n-3	g	0.000	0
22:5 n-3	g	0.000	0
22:6 n-3	g	0.000	0
Cholesterol	mg	0	0
Phytosterols	mg	16	0
Amino acids
Tryptophan	g	0.009	0
Threonine	g	0.028	0
Isoleucine	g	0.028	0
Leucine	g	0.068	0
Lysine	g	0.050	0
Methionine	g	0.008	0
Cystine	g	0.009	0
Phenylalanine	g	0.049	0
Tyrosine	g	0.009	0
Valine	g	0.047	0
Arginine	g	0.049	0
Histidine	g	0.077	0
Alanine	g	0.040	0
Aspartic acid	g	0.124	0
Glutamic acid	g	0.152	0
Glycine	g	0.038	0
Proline	g	0.028	0
Serine	g	0.040	0
Other
Alcohol, ethyl	g	0.0	0
Caffeine	mg	0	0
Theobromine	mg	0	0
Carotene, beta	mcg	26	10	2.167
Carotene, alpha	mcg	25	8	4.438
Cryptoxanthin, beta	mcg	0	6	0
Lycopene	mcg	0	6	0
Lutein + zeaxanthin	mcg	22	6	2.52

If you want to know more, just click on the link above. XD