BANANA is one of the few tropical fruits, which is always available in the market; whether it is spring, summer, or fall. Its reasonable price makes it affordable to most households. However, because it is so easily available and inexpensive, people tend to ignore it and therefore are less likely to appreciate its medicinal value. That is why today I chose to explore this unvalued exotic fruit.
Banana, Musa sapientum, mainly grows in India, Southeast Asia, Africa, and other tropical parts of the world. This easy-to-eat, filling fruit not only nourishes but also offers healing, fortifying, energizing, and medicinal powers to treat various disorders. It is rich in natural sugars, fiber, vitamins A, B6, and B12, iron, potassium, magnesium, protein and tryptophan.
Bananas are known to give long-lasting energy to athletes and sportive people. Tennis players eat them in between sets to give them stamina and potassium to prevent muscle cramps and weakness. Bananas’ natural sugars (sucrose, fructose, glucose) give sustainable energy to atheletes. Potassium-rich banana balances sodium and along with magnesium regulates blood pressure and heart beat, preventing stroke and heart disorders. According to a medical research, a daily banana can reduce stroke incidents up to 40 percent. Potassium also counteracts the effects of stress by regulating heartbeat and reducing water retention and hypertension, thus allowing more oxygen to circulate in the bloodstream, heart and brain.
Banana is a brain nourishing fruit, which is ideal for schoolchildren for problem solving, tests, and other brain functions. Research found it helpful to enhance cognitive skills, memory, attentiveness, and alertness in students, when taken with breakfast or snacks, especially when combined with milk, yogurt, whole grains, or nuts to give sustainable energy. It prevents sugar cravings and physical and mental energy depletion.
Banana is recommended for assisting the digestion in different aspects. Banana’s high digestibility eases digestive complications such as diarrhea. Steamed bananas, with skin for fiber, are recommended for hemorrhoids and constipation. Banana’s smooth texture coats the stomach in order to neutralize acidic conditions and protect against heartburn and stomach ulcers. The following recipe soothes such conditions. Take a banana first thing in the morning. Dip it in powdered mistaka gum (found in the spice market). The combination coats the stomach lining, relieving heartburn and protecting it from ulcers.
Banana is recommended mashed for the elderly and children with digestive weaknesses, unless they are able to chew it thoroughly. Morning sickness can also be relieved with the fruit by stabilizing blood sugar levels and nausea.
Because banana is rich in iron and B12, it enriches blood by assisting in building red blood cells (hemoglobin), thus preventing anemia and weakness.
Many mental conditions and depression can be helped by the dietary intake of banana. The fruit and the inside of its skin contain a protein called tryptophan, which converts to serotonin in the body, a relaxant and mood and sleep regulator. Serotonin eases depressive conditions, hangovers, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Along with banana’s vitamin B content, it calms the nerves and irritability; relieves mental confusion; and regulates neurotransmitters in the brain.
In the body, serotonin converts into melatonin, an important hormone and antioxidant, which protects the immune system, stimulates hormone production, and suppresses cancer growth. Most importantly with the fall of darkness, melatonin regulates sleep patterns, bowel movement, and appetite and adjusts the body’s biological clock, making it an effective supplement to overcome jetlag. Banana’s tryptophan — serotonin and melatonin — and B6 relieve PMS mood and control sugar fluctuations.
Even banana peel is useful and healing. Tape a piece of the skin on top of a wart to eliminate it. Rub the inside of the peel on insect bites to soothe itching and swelling. It also subsides acne and boils.
Monkeys are active, happy creatures. Could banana be the reason behind their playful and mischievous attitude? Who knows? No harm in giving banana a try!
N.B. — Individuals with medical conditions or on medication should consult their physicians when they decide to introduce anything new in their diet even if it is natural.
