I want to write about something that has been a staple in many people's diets and yet because it is so common and simple it has been looked over and under appreciated!
This food is called the Banana! I crave bananas a lot and decided to share what I read about the benefits of bananas and maybe a little bit of history too?! hahaSo, let's dive into where bananas came from.....
Originate
Around 4,000 years ago, it is believed that bananas began in Malaysia. And from there Bananas traveled throughout the Philippines and India.
* Supposedly in 327 B.C. Alexander The Great's army had recordings of growing bananas.
Bananas were also introduced into Africa! Arabian traders introduced it there, and after that introduction, the Portuguese explorers discovered bananas there and took them to the Americas!
Did you know that bananas were not brought to the United States for sale until the late 1800s! The only type of people who would purchase bananas lived in sea coast towns because banana schooners docked there. Fruit was too fragile to transport over land, meaning fruit was unable to be transported far.
Types Of Bananas...
There are over 1,000 wild bananas in the world.
But 95% of banana exports come from a single cultivated variety called the Cavendish.
The Cavendish are clones of bananas. They are genetically identical plants! Because of this alteration Cavendish bananas have no seeds. This can be dangerous because if one plant is at risk then they all become at risk. * Other types of bananas include plantains, Apple Bananas, Lady Finger, Red Bananas, and more.
On The Bright Side...
Bananas are also good for us to consume!
Bananas have awesome nutrients such as potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, fiber, even some antioxidants like dopamine and catechin! And bananas are a great source of carbohydrates.
The health benefits from bananas are improved heart health, improved digestive health, and has essential vitamins and minerals for cell health!
How To Select, Store, And Eat!
Bananas are picked when they are green, because they can be transported without ripening too soon before arriving to grocery stores. When selecting and ingesting bananas here are a few tips to follow:
* Bananas should be firm, but not too hard.
* Bright in appearance and have the least bruises
* Sizes vary, so choose the best size that meets your needs
* Research studies have shown that choosing organic produce with the USDA organic logo sticker is safer and better. Your likelihood of exposure to toxic contaminates, pesticides, and other agriculture chemical sprays can be greatly reduced when purchasing organic.
* Always eat bananas when they are ripe! The banana has to be spotted and darker in color before consumption for maximum bodily absorption of minerals, fiber, vitamins, and carbohydrates!
I hope this helps you understand a little bit more about bananas and their origin! I am a big fan of bananas and just had to share this with all of you! Let me know if you learned something new in the comments below and share this with someone you love who loves bananas!
I appreciate you, and love you! Thank you for the support!
Sources:
https://www.economist.com/feast-and-famine/2014/02/27/we-have-no-bananas-today
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/bananas#section5
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=7#healthbenefits