Bananas are the bright yellow fruits that you can find in
your grocery store any time of the year.
A banana is an excellent source of potassium,
which your body needs to maintain proper fluid balance and for normal nerve and
muscle function. A medium banana (about seven to eight inches in
length) has over 400 milligrams potassium. It also has about three grams of
fiber, provides some magnesium, B-complex vitamins, and vitamin C and has about
100 calories
Health benefits of banana
1. Bananas are a caloric dense fruit. Consumption of just one banana anytime through the
day makes one feel
energetic.
2. Banana is a food most appropriate when
small but nutrient dense food has to be given in situations of extreme weight loss or
extreme fever where the body
becomes weak and there is food aversion.
3. They are a good source of potassium
and magnesium which maintaining normal blood pressure and are
heart protective.
4. The high
potassium content promotes bone health too.
5. Banana help counteract the urinary
calcium loss caused due to increase ion potassium levels in the
urine.
6. Bananas have an antacid effect and are said to protect against stomach ulcers.
7. Bananas are also known to stimulate cell proliferation which
thickens the stomach mucosa and
is a barrier against stomach acids.
8. Conditions like diarrhea can easily
dehydrate the body and deplete the electrolytes.. Consumption of banana helps
to restore the lost potassium and helps maintain heart function.
9. Bananas are rich in the soluble fibre
pectin. Thereby it assists healthy digestion
and eases out constipation.
10. They are a rich source of fructooligosaccharides which
act as a prebiotic and stimulate the
growth of friendly bacteria in the intestine. They protect us from
harmful bacteria that cause gastric disturbances.
.
11. They are a good source of carotenoids which are antioxidants and have a protective effect against chronic disease
condition. They also have a high content of antioxidant phenolic compounds.
12. Banana is known to render a soothing
effect. It has a compound called as tryptophan
which on getting converted to serotonin improves mood.
13. It is one of the ideal foods to be
eaten immediately after a strenuous workout too. The simple sugars present in
them quickly provide energy and normalize the blood sugar levels.
Bananas can be eaten whole, as a part of a
salad, as a healthy beverage or as an ingredient of a vegetable. It is a fruit
made by god for one and all and for every age group.
