Bananas are the most consumed food in the whole entire world, and there’s a good reason for that. Not
only are bananas delicious to eat, but they are also great for your health. Some might say it is the
perfect fruit as it checks every single box, such as sweet, low calories, plenty of vitamins and minerals,
easy to find, extremely cheap, and easy to eat. It’s no surprise then that bananas also carry many
medicinal uses, backed up by science, which can help everyone. Let’s take a deep dive into the
medicinal uses of banana and explain them, so that next time you go to your nearby store you don’t
have to think twice about buying a banana bunch.
Starting by the most famous health and medical use: nutritional value. Bananas are an excellent source
of potassium. Potassium can be found in a variety of fruits, vegetables, and even meats; however, a
single banana provides you with 23% of the potassium that you need on a daily basis. This is highly
important due to the benefits of potassium, which in muscles helps maintain their proper working and
prevents muscle spasms. As well, they’re a great source of vitamins, which include A, B6, C, and D.
Vitamin A aids in healthy teeth, bones, and soft tissue; Vitamin B6 helps with the body’s immune
system, brain health, and heart health; Vitamin C helps with healing, tissue, and ligaments; and Vitamin
D helps with calcium absorption.
As seen above, bananas contain high amounts of potassium in comparison to others foods. Scientists
have found that a low amount of potassium increases the risk of stroke, therefore consuming bananas
can increase potassium levels, therefore reducing the risk of stroke. Another benefit of this is reduced
risk of high blood pressure and helps maintain normal fluid and electrolyte balance in the cells.
Little known fact about bananas is the fact that it is rich in nondigestible fibers, which include cellulose,
hemicellulose, and alpha glucans, which help restore the normal bowel activity and helps with
constipation and diarrhea. Speaking about fiber, bananas are great for lowering cholesterol, the high
dietary fiber component helps in this scenario. An important aspect to mention is that ripening does not
affect the dietary fiber amount in bananas.
Another medical use of bananas is the protection from ulcers and as a remedy for heartburn. Due to the
anti-acid affects, which comes from a flavonoid in the banana called leucocyanidin, had been found to
significantly increase the thickness of the mucous membrane layer of the stomach.
An important aspect in medical uses of banana is the protection against neurodegenerative disease,
such as Alzheimer’s disease. Results from researchers at Cornell University found that a daily diet of
various fruits, including banana, protect neuron cells against oxidative stress-induced neurotoxicity and
may reduce the risk of neurodegenerative disorders due to the qualities of this fruit.
Kidneys also benefit from bananas, as it has been observed to promote an overall improvement of the
functional efficiency of this organ. This benefit comes from the high potassium contents of bananas,
which in turn reduces the risk of kidney cancer.
Analyzing more mood medicinal benefits of bananas, they provide plenty. Bananas contain three
natural sugars, which are sucrose, fructose, and glucose combined with fiber. Potassium is also essential
for helping muscles to contract properly during exercise and reduces cramping up, helping maintain a
good pace. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy due to its component’s.
Another related benefit in immunity booster, which helps in preventing common colds. This comes from
the high amounts of vitamin B6 which produces antibodies and red blood cells, as well as aiding in the
metabolism of fat. But very importantly, bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body
converts into serotonin, which helps improve mood and the feeling of happiness, combating the feeling
of depression. In a study in which 200 students participated, those who ate banana at breakfast and
lunch were found to have a booster brain power during the day, ultimately contributing with better
results during school.
Iron component of banana also helps with anemia, as eating banana stimulates the production of
hemoglobin in the blood.
Now for some quick aspects in which bananas help as medicinal uses, some of which are less known,
and others are more commonly used. After a late night of partying and drinking bananas can come in
handy, as they are a great remedy for hangovers. Bananas help calm the stomach which in turn helps
with stomach ache from drinking, and the nutritional value of this fruit helps boost the brain, taking
away the soggy feeling. Or what if during the late night, instead of partying you were hanging out in the
woods enjoying nature, but you realize a mosquito has bitten you, resulting in a painful and irritating
mosquito bite. Grab a banana peel and rub it against the affected area, it has been shown that bananas
peels can alleviate pain, reducing swelling, reducing irritation, and it even helps in burns. Bananas also
help with constipation as their high fiber components help restore normal bowel action. Not only for
constipation, but as a laxative in general bananas are great, especially when eaten early in the morning
on an empty stomach. Another aspect to consider is hair care as they include minerals, vitamins,
potassium, carbohydrates, and natural oils which help maintain healthy hair and scalp when applied. As
a result of applying banana the hair has more strength and shine, resulting in a healthy-looking hair.
In conclusion, bananas are truly one of a kind fruit. Not only because of the health benefits, as many
other fruits also contain plenty of benefits, but because of the availability, price, and taste. Bananas are
a combination of good traits, and this contributes with their popularity, making them a staple fruit in the
diet of hundreds of millions of people across the whole entire world.
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