What are the health benefits of bananas? Is it possible to treat with bananas and for what?

Where do bananas come from?

Content:

• Where do bananas come from?
• What does the name mean
• general characteristics
• Benefit for health
• The nutritional value
• Who benefits from bananas?
• Other benefits
• Possible hazardous properties
• How to choose and store correctly
• What to do with the skin
• Bananas in cosmetology

The first bananas are believed to have originated about 10 thousand years ago. And if this is so, then they claim to be the first fruits in the world that have survived to this day. It is known that the first banana trees grew in New Guinea, the Philippines and Indonesia. Over time, traders brought these plants to India, Africa, and Polynesia. The first written memories of this berry were found among Buddhists and date back to approximately 600 BC. e. And when in 327 BC. e. When Alexander the Great's army invaded India, the first thing they discovered were banana valleys. This is how the Western world learned about these yellow exotics. And by 200 BC. e. bananas reached China, where they “populated” the southern regions of the country. However, the fruits were not very popular here and until the twentieth century were considered strange and alien fruits.

Modern bananas, which can be bought on the market throughout the year, are very different from their wild ancestors, which had a lot of hard seeds and not very tasty pulp. Bananas as we know them appeared around 650 BC. e. in Africa, as a result of crossing two wild varieties, seedless and larger fruits were formed. Today, bananas are grown in at least 110 countries around the world and are one of the most sought after fruits. Americans alone eat significantly more bananas each year than apples and oranges combined [1].

What are the benefits of bananas for sexual performance?

This is perhaps the best property of the fruit. A banana can really make a person more sexually active. It's about the hormone of joy. Its formation may well lead to increased sexual desire. Therefore, banana is considered an aphrodisiac.

Moreover, bananas produce oxytocin or the “love hormone”. It can evoke strong affection and a feeling of closeness.

It turns out that bananas are very good for health and they can become a real source of good mood. And the fact that it’s delicious is only a plus.

What does the name mean

Historians suggest that bananas got their name, so to speak, from the light hand of Arab traders. In those distant times in Southeast Asia, banana fruits were very small by modern standards - no more than the finger of an adult.

Hence the strange name - “banana”, which in Arabic means “finger tip” [2].

According to another theory, the authorship of this name belongs to one of the nationalities that inhabited West Africa.

general characteristics

Bananas are exotic, elliptical-shaped fruits with creamy flesh covered with a dense, inedible peel. The banana tree can grow from 3 to 6 m in height. Fruits are formed in groups of 50-150 pieces, which are combined into clusters of 10-25 pieces.

Today, biologists know many varieties of bananas, but the most popular is the Cavendish. It is this variety that most often appears on our shelves. And it received its strange name in honor of the Englishman William Spencer Cavendish, who actually brought this variety from the Mascarene Islands around 1826 and began actively growing fruit in greenhouses [3].

In addition, all edible varieties of bananas known today are divided into two groups: dessert and vegetable (plantains) [4]. Representatives of the first variety may differ in taste, color and size. They come with red, pink, purple and even black skin. Vegetable varieties are valued for their high concentration of beta-carotene.

Benefits of bananas for children

How are bananas good for babies? For an actively growing and developing organism, the benefits are very high. The high content of nutrients satisfies the needs of the child's body. Experts advise eating these fruits every day, of course, without overusing them if there are no contraindications.

Bananas will benefit the children's nervous system. The baby will be less capricious and irritable, the vitamin composition has a calming effect on the child. Fiber helps normalize digestive processes and improve bowel movements.

Benefit for health

Bananas are equally beneficial for both adults and children. And all thanks to the rich mineral and vitamin composition.

The cardiovascular system

The first reason why bananas are good for the cardiovascular system is their rich potassium content. This mineral is responsible for normalizing blood pressure and proper heart function. The effectiveness of this theory was confirmed by American scientists. Over the course of eight years, they observed more than 43 thousand men whose diets contained potassium, magnesium and several other nutrients. It turned out that almost all participants in the experiment had a reduced risk of stroke, and their blood pressure stabilized [5].

The second reason that makes bananas a healthy food for the cardiovascular system is their high concentration of sterols. These substances are structurally similar to cholesterol and can block the body's absorption of this fat-like substance from food. As a result, we can say that bananas prevent the development of atherosclerosis.

The third reason is this: bananas are an excellent source of fiber. One average fruit contains approximately 3 g of fiber, 1 g of which is soluble dietary fiber. And they, as scientific experience shows, reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases [6].

Digestive system

Bananas are an amazing fruit in terms of carbohydrate and sugar content. Although these yellow exotics are quite sweet, they are low glycemic index foods.

As mentioned earlier, one medium banana contains approximately 3 grams of dietary fiber. They are necessary for regulating the digestive process, as well as for the breakdown of carbohydrates into simple sugars. In addition, the fruit contains pectin, a unique and more complex type of fiber. Some of the pectins are water soluble. As bananas ripen, the number of water-soluble pectins increases, which, in fact, is one of the reasons why more ripe fruits are very soft. As the concentration of water-soluble pectins increases, the proportion of fructose (relative to other sugars) also increases. The essence of this proportional relationship between fructose and pectins explains the secret of easy digestion of this fruit.

Another important component of bananas is fructooligosaccharides - a unique type of fructose, which, as a rule, is not broken down by enzymes, but only in the lower intestine under the influence of beneficial bacteria, which helps maintain the balance of the latter.

The results of the study showed that if you eat two bananas daily for several months, the number of beneficial bifidobacteria increases [7]. As a result, the incidence of gastrointestinal problems is reduced.

Benefits for athletes

The unique combination of vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates with a low glycemic index makes bananas a favorite fruit for athletes. Eaten before training, they increase physical endurance. A study of cyclists found that a banana (equated with half a fruit for every 15 minutes of riding) maintained energy levels [8]. In addition, athletes consume these fruits as a remedy against muscle spasms. Studies have shown that eating 1-2 bananas an hour before exercise helps maintain potassium levels in the blood after exercise, and it is the lack of this mineral that causes muscle pain [9].

Bananas contraindications

Despite the huge number of advantages, in some cases bananas can cause harm to the human body:

1. They contain a high concentration of sugars, so their frequent consumption is categorically not recommended for people suffering from diabetes or those who are prone to obesity, as well as those trying to get rid of obesity.
2. They should be consumed in moderation, since a large amount of pulp is difficult for the stomach and intestines to digest, especially when it comes to green bananas. Otherwise, you need to be prepared for such troubles as increased gas formation and bloating.
3. You should not try to mix bananas with milk - in most cases, such a mixture will cause digestive upset in the shortest possible time, causing loose stools and other troubles.
4. It is not advisable to give large amounts of this fruit to children under three years of age. Firstly, their digestive system is not yet well adapted to digest the fiber found in the pulp, and secondly, there is a risk of allergies.
5. It is not recommended to eat bananas while pregnant or breastfeeding - sometimes such a diet can cause allergic reactions, kernicterus or hemolytic anemia in infants.
6. You should also stop taking them for diseases such as thrombophlebitis, coronary heart disease, and increased blood clotting. People who have had a heart attack or stroke should also refrain from purchasing them.

You can often find green, unripe bananas on sale. Eating them is not the best solution. The fact is that instead of easily digestible sugars, they contain poorly soluble starch, the entry of which into the digestive organs causes bloating and flatulence. Having bought such fruits, you need to leave them to ripen for several days so that the starch has time to turn into sugar.

beneficial properties and contraindications of feijoa

The nutritional value

These yellow fruits are a good source of vitamin B6, ascorbic acid, manganese, potassium, copper, biotin, and fiber.

Nutritional value per 100 g [10]

Who benefits from bananas?

The chemical composition of these fruits determines their beneficial properties. In particular, you can outline the circle of people who especially need bananas. These are individuals who have been diagnosed with one of the following diseases [11]:

• 
  high blood pressure;

• asthma;
• oncology (bananas prevent the development of leukemia in children, as well as the occurrence of colorectal cancer);
• cardiovascular diseases;
• diabetes mellitus (green bananas increase insulin sensitivity);
• diarrhea and other digestive disorders;
• absent-mindedness and memory impairment;
• obesity.

In addition, bananas are good for preventing kidney cancer, they protect the eyes from macular degeneration and strengthen bones by improving calcium absorption. These fruits are useful for children, as they increase learning ability [12]. The high antioxidant content of yellow exotics helps protect against free radicals. Many pregnant women save themselves from early toxicosis with the help of bananas. These same fruits will help lower your temperature during a fever.

The fruits are also useful for people who quit smoking, as they supply the necessary B vitamins, potassium and magnesium, which speed up the process of cleansing and restoring the body.

The healing properties of bananas for various diseases

The fruit contains a huge amount of vitamins, micro- and macroelements, nutrients that support the human body and regulate metabolic processes.

1. The effect of banana pulp on the digestive system.

First of all, the fibrous structure of a banana cleanses the intestines of harmful substances and accumulated toxins.

In addition, it restores intestinal motility and relaxes smooth muscles, which helps cope with hemorrhoids and inflammatory diseases of the small intestine.

For peptic ulcers and gastritis, doctors recommend regularly eating fresh bananas with milk or milkshakes to reduce acidity.

1. Influence on liver function and restoration of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolic processes in the body.
2. Bananas strengthen the human immune system and help resist bacteria, viruses and other infections.
3. The fruit has an effect on concentration, increased performance and improved perception of information.
4. As a result of the production of serotonin by vitamin B6, the general condition improves, mood improves and energy levels increase for the whole day.
5. Bananas promote rapid muscle growth, so they are necessary for athletes during regular sports activities.
6. Potassium and magnesium in the fruit prevent the appearance of atherosclerotic plaques, strengthen the walls of blood vessels, and prevent the development of myocardial infarction.

In addition, bananas lower blood pressure, so they are necessary for hypertensive patients.

1. Scientists have proven the effect of bananas on human sleep.

They have a hypnotic effect due to tryptophan, which regulates circadian rhythms.

1. Pyridoxine maintains a constant level of glucose in human blood, thereby preventing the development of type II diabetes.

Benefits for men, women and children

For males, the benefits of banana are invaluable, especially if men expose themselves to strenuous physical activity.

According to scientists, a healthy man needs to eat 2-3 bananas daily to replenish the level of potassium and magnesium in the body.

In addition, this fruit is directly related to the restoration of reproductive function, that is, it restores and increases male potency. This occurs due to the active action of tryptophan, which also has a positive effect on the functioning of the central nervous system.

Bananas are considered all over the world to be powerful aphrodisiacs that increase libido and sexual desire.

For women, it is necessary to regularly eat this fruit to cheer up and replenish the body with all nutrients. This is especially true for expectant mothers who are expecting a baby.

During pregnancy, bananas help cope with toxicosis in the first few weeks, and also relieve fatigue and tension in the abdominal muscles, reducing the tone of the uterus when there is a threat of miscarriage.

In addition, many expectant mothers experience digestive problems and constipation. Bananas, due to their fibrous structure, help cope with this problem in a short time.

Currently, many people on our planet suffer from iron deficiency anemia - bananas help quickly replenish iron in the body and increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood.

Fruits are also indispensable for children of different ages. Due to the fact that bananas grow without fertilizers and do not require additional care, they are absolutely safe for children.

Due to its pleasant sweet taste, many children enjoy eating this fruit both during illness and as a snack.

Benefits of the peel

Not many people know that not only the pulp of the fruit, but also its peel has beneficial properties.

• Fresh skin from a ripe banana is usually applied as a compress to painful areas of the body: cracked heels, as well as burns, cuts and severe bruises.

To do this, place the peel with the inside facing the skin and attach it to the damaged area of ​​the skin.

With regular long-term use, banana peels can cure warts.

• Some traditional healers for migraines and severe headaches apply the skin of the fruit to the forehead and occipital area to relieve painful symptoms.
• If you make an alcohol tincture on banana skins, you can rub it on sore joints; this solution will also relieve pain in tired and tense muscles.

Application in cosmetology

• In cosmetology, an infusion of banana peels and water is used.

It copes with skin problems such as age spots, lightens freckles and helps restore an even complexion. The dried peel is usually ground into powder and used as an anti-inflammatory and antiparasitic agent.

• To boost immunity and increase the body's protective reserves, some doctors prescribe taking Bolotov's kvass daily, the main component of which is banana peel.

The result of fermentation of the fruit skin is the formation of substances that can fight the formation of malignant tumors.

To prepare it, you need to dissolve one half glass of sugar, 3 cups of ground banana peel in a three-liter glass jar and add a couple of teaspoons of sour cream or cream to the mixture.

After this, you need to tie the neck of the jar with a gauze bandage, folded in several layers, and leave to infuse for about a couple of weeks. It is recommended to consume half a glass of ready-made kvass daily before meals.

In addition to the peel, green bananas, which are recommended to be boiled or fried beforehand, are also beneficial.

Like dessert varieties, such fruits are rich in potassium, therefore they are useful for cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure. Green fruits are able to retain calcium in the body, and therefore help strengthen bones and the muscular system.

Possible contraindications

Despite the enormous benefits that these fruits bring, in some cases it is recommended to limit their consumption or completely stop:

• It is advisable for overweight people to limit their consumption of bananas to one per day, as they are a high-calorie food rich in carbohydrates.
• People with high stomach acidity are not recommended to eat them, as they are slowly digested and retain digestive juice.
• After a heart attack or stroke, as well as with varicose veins, bananas are contraindicated.

This is due to the fact that they increase blood viscosity.

• Children's age up to 6 months.

In infants during the first six months of life, the intestines are not yet fully formed and cannot fully digest complex carbohydrate foods.

To avoid intestinal problems and allergies, it is recommended to introduce the fruit gradually, starting with one teaspoon per day, gradually increasing the dosage.

Therefore, when eating bananas, you should adhere to the basic rule: “Everything is good in moderation,” then this fruit will only bring benefits without harming the human body.

Possible hazardous properties

The fruits, eaten in moderation, do not cause any significant side effects. However, excessive consumption of exotic fruits (more than five bananas a day) can cause headaches and drowsiness. This is especially true for overripe bananas. In rare cases, they can cause hyperkalemia, an increased concentration of potassium in the blood. Eating sweet fruits too often is not good for your teeth - it leads to the destruction of enamel.

Bananas can cause one type of food allergy - the so-called latex-fruit syndrome. This disease is the result of an immune system reaction to proteins found in natural rubber and certain substances found in bananas. By the way, this type of allergy can also be caused by kiwi, papaya, tomatoes, potatoes and avocado.

Vitamins and calories

The beneficial properties of bananas are numerous; the fruits have a rich chemical composition. How many vitamins are in bananas? The fruit contains the following beneficial substances:

• Ripe fruits contain natural sugars, fiber, essential oils, carbohydrates, proteins, pectins and many other useful substances. It has high energy value and nutritional value.
• Organic acids and dietary fiber, a healthy fruit can be safely included in the menu of young children.
• The microelements that are of greatest value are potassium and magnesium. Moreover, banana, when compared with other berries and fruits, is almost a record holder in terms of the content of these elements. How much magnesium is in a banana? One fruit contains about 32 mg of this element, which is 8% of the daily requirement. These microelements are needed for the normal functioning of the brain, cardiovascular system, and heart muscle. If you consume at least two fruits a day, the deficiency of essential, beneficial microelements will be completely compensated.
• Many people are interested in whether bananas contain iron. 100 grams of product contains approximately 0.5 mg of this substance. Iron is necessary for the production of hemoglobin. With a lack of this element in the body, iron deficiency anemia develops.
• The amino acids included in the composition also provide benefits, supporting the functioning of all internal organs.
• The composition includes fats, choline, beta-carotene, malic acid.

How to choose and store correctly

Since commercially grown bananas are often picked while still unripe, it is not surprising to see fruits with a greenish tint in stores. For this reason, you should choose fruits based on when you plan to eat them. Unripe fruits will take a few more days to fully ripen. The yellower the fruit, the shorter its shelf life. Proper bananas should be firm, but not too firm. In any case, the color should be bright, the skin smooth, without damage. The size of the fruit does not affect its taste.

And although bananas at first glance seem very durable, in fact they are fragile fruits that require special handling during storage. Greenish fruits should ripen at room temperature. In addition, you should not expose them to low temperatures. Many people like to store fruits in the refrigerator, but this is wrong. Bananas are quite heat-loving. And if an unripe fruit is sent to the refrigerator and then returned to room temperature, the ripening process will not resume. The only case when it is justified to keep bananas in the refrigerator is to prevent rotting of overripe fruits. And although their skin will still turn black, the flesh will remain dense and edible.

Some people prefer to freeze bananas. In this case, it is important to cold process only peeled fruits, wrapped in plastic wrap or crushed to a puree. To prevent discoloration after defrosting, it is important to add a little lemon juice before putting the pulp in the freezer.

But you can speed up the process of fruit ripening if you place them in a paper bag or wrap them in newspaper. But at the same time, it is necessary to “add” a neighbor to the bananas – an apple or a tomato [14]. By the way, ripe fruits are richer sources of antioxidants than unripe ones.

How to treat a cough with a banana - folk recipes: tips

As a rule, it is enough to eat a few bananas to leave you with unpleasant sensations. Many recipes suggest using milk, honey, lemon and other products. Here you need to take into account that if you cannot tolerate bananas, then you should not eat it or use some components that can trigger allergies. In addition, if you care about your figure, then you should not abuse this fruit because it contains a lot of calories.

Banana with cough milk

Banana with milk
To make the effects of banana even more beneficial, you can make it with milk. It envelops the mucous membrane and warms up on it. Moreover, together these two components normalize blood circulation and prevent inflammation. The sputum begins to clear better, and the body receives useful substances.

By the way, the composition will be even more useful if you supplement it with a drop of honey. It will help you warm up from the inside. To prepare the drink you will need a banana, a glass of milk and a little honey.

You need to prepare it as follows:

• Mash banana and add milk
• Boil this mixture. Just a couple of minutes
• Let cool to a comfortable temperature and mix with honey
• Drink the prepared mixture in small sips throughout the day. Duration of treatment is 10 days

Banana with honey for cough

Banana with honey
This folk recipe presents another useful product - honey. It is rich in vitamins and is also beneficial for the body. Honey has a bactericidal effect and improves the body's protective properties. It can be used regardless of age, as long as there is no allergy.

Essentially, everything that is used here is the same as in the first recipe, but milk is not involved in it.

For preparation:

• Grind a banana into a puree and mix it with honey
• Place the mixture on the fire and leave to simmer for 10 minutes
• When you get a dark golden color, the medicine is ready

Banana with cocoa for cough

This medicine contains cocoa. It contains theobromine and is a cough suppressant. Please note that real benefits are possible from high-quality powder, and therefore you should not buy the cheapest product. The remedy works almost immediately, but for the full effect you need to treat for a week. To prepare you will need 1 banana, 200 ml of milk and a couple of spoons of cocoa.

Recipe:

• Make banana pulp and mix with cocoa
• Warm the milk slightly and add to the mixture. It is better to use a blender for mixing.

You need to take the medicine warm in the morning and evening. It’s better not to do this before going to bed, because then the body will tone up.

Banana with sugar

Banana with Sugar
Sugar is always used in making syrups. They reduce the manifestation of cold symptoms and also facilitate the release of phlegm. It is also an excellent source of energy, allowing you to cope with viruses faster. The presented recipe is more like a delicious sweet, which is why kids like it so much.

To prepare a delicious syrup you will need:

• One banana
• 100 ml water
• 5-10 g sugar

For preparation:

• Mash the banana and then add sugar and water
• Stirring constantly, heat the mixture in a water bath
• The whole procedure takes 7-10 minutes. As soon as the mixture darkens, remove it from the heat.

The mixture should be consumed warm.

Banana with chocolate for cough

Bananas with chocolate
Not many people know, but such a delicacy can also be an excellent medicine. Chocolate contains theobromine, which has a calming effect. It also contains theanine, which has an antibacterial effect, which helps reduce sore throats. And dark chocolate with cocoa beans helps strengthen your immune system.

All you need is one banana and a quarter of a chocolate bar.

For preparation:

• Melt the chocolate at your convenience
• The banana is cut into 4 parts and heated in the microwave.
• After that, pour chocolate over it and you’re ready to eat.
• By the way, the effect will be better if you drink it all with an infusion of herbs

Banana jelly for cough

Bananas are respected in folk medicine and sometimes very strange recipes are found. These include banana jelly. Despite all the strangeness, the medicine remains effective.

You need a banana, a glass of water and 25 grams of sugar.

For preparation:

• Mash the fruit and add sugar to it
• Mix everything and leave to stand for half an hour

When the time is up, you can drink the jelly. Drink half a glass every half hour. You can be treated for two weeks.

Fried banana for cough

Fried banana
As a rule, bananas are usually eaten raw, but they give an original taste when fried. To prepare this original medicine, take banana, honey and cinnamon. The latter kills all germs and the disease goes away faster. In addition, it dissolves mucus and reduces the frequency of throat spasms.

• To begin, cut the bananas into circles.
• Then the frying pan is heated and the mugs are fried in oil. 1-2 minutes is enough for each side
• Mix honey and water to make a viscous syrup
• Brush it over cooked bananas and sprinkle cinnamon on top.

Banana with lemon for cough

Banana with lemon
Citrus fruits have always shown themselves to be excellent in treating colds. Lemon helps strengthen the body's defenses and restore it.

To prepare you will need:

• Banana
• 200 ml milk
• Big spoon of honey
• Small spoon of mint infusion
• Small spoon of lemon juice
• Olive oil and cinnamon

Cooking method:

• Make banana pulp and heat milk
• Heat the honey in a water bath as well.
• First mix honey and banana and then add everything except milk. Add it last

Banana tea for cough

You don’t have to bother with different recipes and just make banana tea. You can drink it throughout the day. Its advantage is that it provokes the discharge of sputum and facilitates this process. Preparation is made from dry fruit. You can make it yourself or buy it in a store. Everything is very easy to prepare - just put a couple of banana slices and honey in boiling water for a sweet taste.