Banana is an evergreen, palm-like perennials growing to 30 ft (9 m) having large, shiny green leaves, hanging flowering stems, and bunches of elongated green fruit that turn yellow on ripening, native to India and Southeast Asia, but extensively cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions.
• The aggregate fruit of the banana-plant.
Similarities between Banana and Plantain
1) Both are hybrid Fruits from two ancestor Banana species (Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana).
2) Both are essentially the same Fruit species (Musa paradisiaca).
3) Both can be eaten raw when ripe and cooked at any ripening stage.
4) Both are green when unripe and most will be yellow at some point in the ripening process.
6) Both are harvested while green and continue to ripen afterwards, given enough time.
7) Both contain Starch which is converted into sugar as they ripen.
Differences between between Banana and Plantain
1) Bananas have a higher sugar content giving them a sweeter taste and are eaten raw, while Plantains have more Starch and less sugar which gives them a less sweet taste and are eaten cooked.
2) The Fruits are usually eaten ripe while Plantains are often eaten unripe, but always cooked.
3) The Fruits are preferred ripe because the ripening process converts the Starch into sugar and makes them sweeter and softer in texture, while Plantains are preferred unripe because they have the most Starch content and Starch is what makes them suitable for cooking.
4) Desert Bananas are regarded as a culinary Fruit, while Plantains are regarded as a culinary Vegetable. Plantains are cooking Bananas, while Bananas are desert Bananas.
5) Plantains changes colour from green when unripe to yellow when ripe, then black when overripe, while Bananas are green when unripe and golden yellow when ripe, sometimes with brown speckles or spots when overripe.
6) Plantains have a thicker Skin that is difficult to peel by hand when still unripe, while Bananas have a thinner peel that can be pulled apart by hand at any ripening stage.
7) Plantains are generally bigger than Bananas.
8) Unripe Plantains have a tough texture and taste Starchy and bland like Potatoes when raw and like cooked Potatoes when cooked. Unripe Bananas have a Firm texture, but you can easily bite into them and taste somewhat bland, with mild Banana and green flavors and a faint Banana smell.
9) Ripe Plantains are sweet, but somewhat Starchy, with a Firm texture, while ripe and very ripe Bananas are Raw honey-sweet, with a Firm and soft pulp and a strong Banana smell to them.
10) Plantains are 65% Water, while Bananas are 75% Water, hence the difference in texture.
Plant Description
History
Types & Varieties
Mechanism of Action
Additional Information
Key Actions
Directions of Preparation
Recommended Dosage
• The Fruit contains Flavonoids and is rich in B-complex vitamins, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E, Potassium, serotonin, and norAdrenaline.
• The Fruits are definitely a healthy food, famed by its Potassium and Fiber content (3-4g of Fiber and 422mg of Potassium per Banana).
• Banana is very good in Sugars, Dietary Fiber, Potassium, .
• Banana has average trace of Energy, Carbohydrate, Magnesium, Vitamin C, , , .
• The Fruit is a good source of Pectin, Potassium, Vitamin C, and , and contains serotonin and 2-pentanone.
* Unripe Bananas are made up primarily of Starch, but as it ripens the Starch converts to sugar such as sacchaRose, glucose and fructose with only 1% of Starch remaining.
* The inner Banana peel (white) is rich in nutrients, so you can scrape and eat.
Health Benefits of Banana
Alcoholism
• The Fruits are known to calm stomach upset and help rehydrate the body given that its rich in the important electrolytes (Magnesium and Potassium), which are severely depleted during heavy Alcoholic drinking. Banana (mixed with the Raw Honey) helps builds up the depleted blood sugar levels, thus providing some Energy (Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Vol.1, Issue 3).
• The Fruits peels can be used to combat Alcohol addiction. A boiled mixture of Banana peels (3), tabasco, Coconut Water/Milk and brown sugar (for taste) is ferment for three (3) days and a snifter of liquor is added, then drunk in a small glass for nine (9) days.
• Drink Banana Milk shake (mixed with Raw Honey) to get rid of hangover.
Foods & Alcoholism
Anti-Aging
• A woman who wants to remain youthful for life should eat one Banana every day (Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa, Author Food as Medicine).
Foods & Bones
Bones
• The Fruits contain Potassium which may prevent the Calcium loss in urine caused by high salt diets and promote Bone Health.
Foods & Bones
Cancer & Tumor Prevention
• The Fruit consumption reduces the risk for Colorectal Cancer.
• Regular consumption of specific foods (e.g. Bananas, root Vegetables like Carrots and Beets, salad greens, and Cabbage) is linked to a 50-65% decrease in risk for Kidney Cancer (the International Journal of Cancer).
Foods & Cancer
Cardiovascular System
• The Fruits consumption in diet helps to lower High Blood Pressure.
• The Fruit contains two (2) vasoconstrictors (norePinephrine [a chemical used to raise blood pressure] and dopamine), where norePinephrine is tonic for a weak heart.
• The Fruits are routinely recommended to patients to maintain or restore blood Potassium levels because one large supplies approximately 500mg of Potassium.
• Potassium helps to maintain cell integrity, Fluid and electrolyte balance and most important, a steady heartbeat! (Low Potassium is often connected to Muscle Cramps).
• The Fruits are ideal for coronary diseases as it has a good composition of heart healthy nutrients such as Potassium (highest Potassium/Sodium quotient), significant amounts of , abundant Vegetable Fiber, serotonin, etc.
Foods & Cardiovascular System
Circulatory System
• The Fruit is useful in preventing/treating Anemia and stimulates hemoglobin production.
• The Fruit high Iron content can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood, hence very good for Anemia.
• The Fruits are very good for those with Anemia or blood related problems as its Vitamin C increases Iron absorption and blood formation, and helps to rebuild the Immune System (Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Vol.1, Issue 3).
Foods & Circulatory System
Detoxification
• The Fruits high Potassium content suppresses Calcium excretion in the urine and minimizes the risk of Kidney Stones, thus promotes the overall improvement kidneys health and its functional efficiency.
Foods & Detoxification
Diabetes
• Mature green Fruits have anti-oxidant and HypoLipidaemic properties, therefore may be used for treating Diabetes mellitus.
• Bananas have a low glycemic index.
Foods & Diabetes
Digestive System
• The Fruits have antacid effects that protect against stomach ulcers and ulcer damage. Banana contains protease inhibitors (help eliminate bacteria causing The Stomach ulcers) and leucocyanidin (a Flavonoid) that significantly increase the thickness of The Stomach mucous membrane layer (Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Vol.1, Issue 3). A mixture of Banana and Milk may also decrease acid secretion as it allows a thicker mucus barrier against stomach acids and
• Since the Fruits have antacid effects (help to neutralize acidity), they are great for getting rid of Heartburn. A simple mixture of Banana and Milk significantly suppress acid secretion.
• Consuming a Banana after every meal helps in reducing the Heartburn and can be used to help treat acid Reflux and GERD.
Foods & Digestive System
Hair
• The Fruits Vitamins helps in repairing dry and sun-damaged Hair, and also strengthens and increase Hair. Its B-Vitamin helps in the prevention of split ends.
Foods & Hair
Immune System
• Ripe Fruit pulp and Skins have appreciable anti-bacterial activity, while green unripe Banana‘s peel display high Anti-Microbial and anti-oxidant activity, since both (unripe and ripe) contain Alkaloids, aldehydes, ketones, Alkaloids, terpenes and Phenols which have anti-bacterial effects, Anti-Microbial activity.
Foods & Immune System
Infections
• Rubbing Banana peel inside out is the best remedy for mosquito bites.
• MAshed ripe Banana in a cup of Milk is useful for treating Skin Allergies if drunk at least 2-3 times a day.
Foods & Infections
Intestine
• The ripe Fruits soft texture and smoothness is useful as the dietary food against intestinal disorders and a gently Laxative. Roasted unripe Banana Fruit is good for Diarrhea, while eating ripe Banana‘s can prevent Constipation, Colitis, and Heartburn.
• Unripe Fruits contain leucocyanidin (an active anti-ulcerogenic compound) which has a protective anti-ulcer and anti-diarrhoreal effects against aspirin-induced erosions (Journal of Medical Science & Technology, May, 2015). Eat three (3) Banana‘s a day will help to prevent ulcers, soothe Stomach and reduce ulcer pain.
Foods & Intestine
Men Health
• For sterility and Men Health, Bananas, Cucumber and Zucchini target the size and strength of the male sexual organ. They look like the male sexual organ (penis) in structure.
Foods & Men Health
Metabolism
• The Fruits peel extracts can regulate Thyroid function and glucose Metabolism, thus its consumption reduces plasma oxidative Stress and enhances the resistance to oxidative modification of bad (LDL) Cholesterol (Journal of Medical Science & Technology, May, 2015).
• Traditionally recommended for Diarrhea management as part of the pediatric BRAT (Bananas–Rice–applesauce–toast) diet.
* It’s effective for those suffering from Celiac Disease (poor intestinal absorption accompanied by Diarrhea and undernourishment produced by Allergies to gluten).
• The Fruits alkalize the blood, which helps neutralize and eliminate the excess uric acid that causes Arthritis and Gout.
• For low Sodium diets, Bananas are ideal.
• The Fruits are a great source of fructoogliosaccharides (food for the good bacteria in your gut called lactobacillus).
Foods & Metabolism
Musculoskeletal System
• peeled and sliced unripe Banana Fruit is placed on the forehead to relieve Headaches heat. Its leaves are also tied onto the forehead to relieve a Headaches.
• The Fruit is also rich in Vitamin A and its unripe Fruit sap contains serothine, which has a positive action on the long muscles.
• The Fruits Potassium is also essential for helping muscles to contract properly during exercise and reduces cramping up.
Foods & Musculoskeletal System
Pregnancy
• Eating Bananas before going to bed can help pregnant women to avoid leg cramps.
Foods & Pregnancy
Skin Health
• The Fruits peel (inside out) can be used for treatment of warts. Cover the wart with the peel and once the peel turns black remove and continue the process for some weeks to get relief from wart.
• The Fruits peel can also be used for treating Poison Ivy rashes. Rub the peel (inside out) over the rashes (or gently apply Banana peel paste to the affected portions of Skin) to help reduce the irritation and inflammation, to soothe the Skin and provide a cooling effect.
Foods & Skin Health
Smoking
• The Fruits high levels of Potassium, Magnesium, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, , and vitamin B12 content is helpful to Smoking to give-up Smoking and help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal symptoms (Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Vol.1, Issue 3).
Foods & Smoking
The Brain & Nervous System
• The Fruits are a good source of B-complex Vitamins (may help to remedy sleeplessness, mood swings, and irritability), Vitamin C, Magnesium and Potassium (which make them a great electrolyte replenisher, particularly after exercising or on a hot day) and they’re fairly high in natural sugars.
• The Fruits contain a small amount of serotonin (a substance derived from the Amino Acids Tryptophan) that performs various functions within the Nervous System such as arterial vasodilation, inhibition of pain in the Spinal cord and sedation of the nerves.
• Its peel and pulp also contain neurotransmitters (norePinephrine, serotonin and dopamine).
• Its Fruit‘s serotonin content, help treat Migraines and Depression and taking three (3) Bananas a day is recommend.
• The Fruits Phenolic Phytochemicals prevents cells neurotoxicity on the neuron cells and its high B-complex Vitamins help calm the Nervous System (Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Vol.1, Issue 3).
• Fresh Banana‘s (or apples,Orange) in our daily diet may protect neuron cells against oxidative stress-induced neurotoxicity and play an important role in protecting neuronal cells from the risk of oxidative Stress induced neurotoxicity, thus reduces neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s Diseases disease) (Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Vol.1, Issue 3).
• The Fruits contain Tryptophan (an essential Amino Acids or Protein that the body converts into serotonin) which is helpful to people suffering from Depression as it relaxes and improves mood. It has natural mood enhancers and Tryptophan which can help SAD (seasonal affective disorder) sufferers (Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Vol.1, Issue 3).
• The Fruits helps avoid Morning Sickness by keeping blood sugar levels up when taken between meals.
Foods & Nervous System
Women Health
• The Fruits Vitamin B6 content regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect mood, thus helps with pre-menstrual symptoms (PMS).
Foods & Women Health
The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of Banana
The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA)
(per 100g) of
Banana
