Good day you all hive users. I hope you are all exploring and enjoying the platform. I have great news from Banana republic. Banana is a popular fruit that is enjoyed by many and among major fruits used in fruit juice. Banana posses great benefits to our health because of its contents though some people don't know it, all they know is that it's a sweet fruit. Let's dive into brief history of Banana. Banana is believe to be originally found in South East Asian, mainly present day India around 327 BC and moved from Asia minor to Africa before it's worldwide cultivation started. Banana is an edible fruit, very sweet and botanically known as a Berry. It belongs to the Genus Musa with different species/varieties, variable sizes, colour and firmness. It is unique for it's enlongated nature and usually curved with soft fleshy endocarp covered with rind which maybe green, yellow, red or brown when ripe.
There is Banana and there is plantain and some normally ask the difference between two of them. Basically there is no distinctive between them and both belong to the same Genus Musa, though there is difference in there size and taste with many saying Banana taste more sweet than plantain. The difference I noticed personally is that plantain can be boiled, fried or roasted unlike banana and I enjoy plantain more when fried.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF BANANA
Let's talk about the health benefits of Banana and how it helps the body system. Banana just like any other edible fruits has great health benefits apart from its sweet taste. Most people go for banana because of its sweet taste without knowing it's great health benefits. I eat banana slot especially with roasted groundnuts and this combination is a mad combo (it is a popular combo in Nigeria). Banana contains some essential minerals and vitamins and this contents are responsible for it's beneficial nature. These essential nutrients, minerals and vitamins includes Iron, Vitamins C, Magnesium, carbohydrate, Protein, Manganese among others.
VITAMIN C
Banana contain moderate to high amount of Vitamin C. Vitamin C one of essential Vitamins which the body cannot produce but requires regular intake into the body. Vitamin C is a water soluble Vitamin and known as a powerful Antioxidant which plays protective role in the body system. It does this work by removing free radicals from the body. Free radicals when they accumulate in the body are dangerous because they promote oxidative stress and oxidative stress causes destruction of cells leading to disease. The antioxidant role of Vitamin C helps to protect the body.
IRON
The first essential mineral I know that banana contain is iron and I got to know it from people around me who talks about it's high iron content. Banana contain moderate amount of iron and this shows it's a good source of iron. Iron is an essential mineral that plays critical role in the body. Iron is an important component of haemoglobin, a part of Red Blood Cells that is responsible for the red colour of Red Blood Cells and transportation of Oxygen, Carbon dioxide and essential nutrients in the body. Iron is very important in Red Blood Cells production and deficiency of it leads to Anaemia.
Anaemia is an insufficient Red Blood Cells to meet the body's physiological needs. There are different types of Anaemia and the one caused by deficiency of Anaemia is known as Iron Deficiency Anaemia and can only be remedied by adequate intake of Iron. Banana is usually recommended to pregnant women because they need enough iron for themselves and the growing fetus. Iron also helps improve the cognitive function on growing children.
MAGNESIUM
Banana also contain moderate amount of Magnesium and magnesium is an essential mineral that plays vital role in enzyme system of the body that regulate diverse biochemical reactions. Magnesium also plays important role in bone development and health though most researches on bone health focused on Calcium. Greater percentage of Magnesium is stored in skeletal system and muscles and this help muscle health and nerve functions of which cardiac muscle is part of thereby maintaining cardiovascular health and regulating blood pressure. It also play a role in glucose control and insulin metabolism thereby reducing the occurrence of diabetes.
PROTEIN AND CARBOHYDRATE
Banana contain high amount of carbohydrate, sugars and moderate amount of protein. Carbohydrate is a major source of Energy the body requires. For any action or reaction to take place in the body requires energy and that's were Carbohydrate comes into play, providing the needed energy.
Protein is a body builder. It is required for growth and maintenance of body.
With contents of Banana and their health benefits, it is advisable to take banana regularly and not only banana but other fruits. Have you started taking fruits regularly?. If not start now because they are good for our health. Thanks for passing by. See you again in my next post.