Banana

Description

      The banana is one of the oldest and best known fruits of the world. It is delicious and seedless and is available in all seasons at a price which is within everybody's reach. It is a very hygienic fruit as it comes in a germ-proof package. Its thick covering provides an excellent protection against bacteria and contamination. The mature fruits vary in sizes and may be greenish, yellow or reddish in color.

Origin and Distribution

      Original home of banana is believed to be India and Malaya. The fruit as well as its plant is considered to be a very auspicious in all the religious and social ceremonies in India. In the mythological ages in Europe it was called the ‘apple of paradise’. The Greek and Arabian writers referred to it a's a wonderful fruit of India. The Malayan soldiers probably toot them to Madagascar about the fifth century AD and from there it spread to east coast and mainland of Africa. Later, it was introduced in Western countries and other parts of the world. In India; there are three important banana-producing areas South India Western India and Eastern India from Bihar to Assam.

Food Value

      The banana is of great nutritional value. It has a rare combination of energy value, tissue-building elements, protein, vitamins and minerals. It is a good source of calories being richer in solids and lower in water content than any other fresh fruit. A large banana supplies more than 100 calories. It contains a large amount of easily assailable sugar, making it a good source of quick energy and an excellent means of recovery from fatigue.

Banana*
Food Value		Mineral and Vitamins
Moisture	70.1%	Calcium	17 mg
Protein	1.2%	Phosphorus	36 mg
Fat	0.3%	Iron	0.9 mg
Minerals	0.8%	Vitamin C	7 mg
Fiber	0.4%	Small amount of
Carbohydrates	27.2%	Vitamin B Complex
	100%
*Value per 100 gms edible portion		Calorific Value – 116

      The banana constitutes almost a complete balanced diet in combination with milk It contains a high grade protein, which includes three of the essential amino acids. Banana and milk supplement each other in an ideal manner and provide all the needed nutrients to the body.

Natural Benefits and Curative Properties

      In the traditional medicine of India and the ancient Persia this golden fruit is regarded as nature's secret of perpetual youth. To this day, banana is known for promoting healthy digestion and creating a feeling of youthfulness. They help promote the retention of calcium. phosphorus and nitrogen-all of which then work 10 build sound and regenerated tissues Banana also contains invert sugar, which is an aid to youthful growth and metabolism.

Intestinal Disorder

      The banana is used as a dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and blandness. It is said to contain an unidentified compound called, perhaps jokingly, ‘vitamin U’ (against ulcer). It is the only raw fruit which can be eaten without distress in chronic ulcer cases It neutralizes the over-acidity of the gastric juices and reduces the irritation of the ulcer by coating the lining of the stomach.

      Ripe bananas are highly beneficial in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, being bland, smooth, easily-digestible and slightly laxative. They relieve acute symptoms and promote the healing process.

Constipation and Diarrhea

      Bananas are of great value both in constipation and diarrhea as they normalize colonic functions in the large intestine to absorb large amounts of water for proper bowel moments. Their usefulness in constipation is due to their richness in pectin, which is water-absorbent and this gives them a bulk producing ability. They also possess the ability to change the bacteria in the intestines-from the harmful type of bacilli to the beneficial acidophilus bacilli.

Dysentery

      Mashed banana together with little salt is a very valuable remedy for dysentery. According to Dr. Kirticar, a combination of ripe plantain, tamarind and common salt is most effective in this disease. He claims to have cured several cases of both acute and chronic dysentery by this treatment. Ripe bananas are also very useful in dysentery of children, but they should be thoroughly mashed and beaten to cream before use in these cases.

Arthritis and Gout

      Bananas are useful in the treatment of arthritis and gout. A diet of bananas only for three or four days is advised in these conditions. The patient can be given to eat eight or nine bananas daily during this period and nothing else.

Anemia

      Being high in iron content, bananas are beneficial in the treatment of anemia. They stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood.

Allergies

      The fruit is very useful for those who are allergic to certain foods and who suffer in consequence from skin rashes or digestive disorders or asthma. Unlike other protein foods, many of which contain an amino-acid which these persons cannot tolerate and which causes allergy. Bananas contain only benign amino-acids 'which in most cases ate not allergic. The fruit, however, does cause allergic reactions in certain sensitive per­sons and they should avoid it.

Kidney Disorders

      Bananas are valuable in kidney disorder because of their low protein and salt content and high carbohydrate content. They are useful in uremia, a toxic condition of the blood due to kidney congestion and dysfunction. In such cases, a diet of bananas should only be taken for three to four days, consuming eight to nine bananas a day. This diet is suitable for all kidney troubles, including nephritis.

Tuberculosis

      Bananas are considered useful in the treatment· of tuberculosis. According to Dr. J. MonteIvz of Brazil, South America, the juice of the plantain or the ordinary cooked bananas works miracles in the cure of tuberculosis. He claims to have cured patients with advanced stage of tuberculosis with frequent cough, abundant expectoration or phlegm and high fever in two months by this treatment.

Urinary Disorders

      Juice from Banana stem is a well-known remedy for urinary disorders. It improves the functional efficiency of kidney and liver thereby alleviating the discomforts and diseased condition in them. It clears the excretionory organs in the abdominal region of toxins and helps to eliminate them in the form of urine. It has been found to be of great help in the treatment for the removal of stones in the kidney, gall bladder, and prostate. It is advisable to mix this juice whenever possible with the juice of ash pumpkin.

Over-weight

      A diet consisting of bananas and skimmed milk is considered an effective remedy for weight reduction. In prescribed course of diet treatment, the daily diet is restricted 10 six bananas and four glasses of skimmed milk or buttermilk made from skimmed milk for a period of 10 to 15 days. Thereafter green vegetables may be introduced gradually, reducing the intake of bananas from six to four. This regimen or prescribed course of diet treatment can be continued till the desired results are achieved. Bananas are suitable for overweight people as they contain practically no sodium.

Menstrual Disorders

      Cooked banana flower eaten with curd is considered an effective medicine for menstrual disorders like painful menstruation and excessive bleeding. Banana flower helps increase progesterone hormone which reduces the bleeding.

Bums and Wounds

      A plaster is prepared by beating a ripe banana into a fine paste. It can be spread over burns and wounds and supported by a cloth bandage. It gives immediate relief. The young tender leaves of banana tree form a cool dressing for inflammations and blisters.

Uses

      Ripe bananas are chiefly eaten raw as a dessert or a breakfast fruit. It is also used in salad together with other fruits and vegetables. Unripe fruits are cooked. Banana chips are made from fully mature unripe fruits. The flour prepared from the dried unripe bananas is three times richer in minerals than the wheat flour. It is also more digestible than cereal starches and is an ideal food for infants and invalids.

Precautions

      Banana, taken as a table fruit, must be thoroughly ripe as otherwise it' may be difficult to digest. The raw bananas contain 20 to 25 per cent starch. But during the process of ripening, this starch is almost wholly converted with assailable sugar.

      Bananas should never be kept in a refrigerator as low temperature prevents their ripening. The fruit should not be taken by those, who are suffering from kidney failure because of its high potassium content.