Nutritional values (2)

Welcome to our second series of nutritional values. Our last discussion was about nuts. Today, we shall be talking about banana 🍌..

If asked about bananas, am sure most of us will have a thing or two of say about it.
Bananas are one of most famous fruits in the world. They are usually characterized by a thick peel which could be green, yellow or black. They have a long curve body and the inside are always yellowish. They are from the family musaceae and genus musa. They have many varieties but the most popular ones are:

• Red: ripe ones may be hard to discern, but a purplish red colour normally indicate ripe bananas in this category . They are also characterized by a soft creamy peel suggesting that they should be handled with care as they easily peel off.
• Cavendish
• Plantain: this is a kind of banana which is usually eaten cooked rather than raw which is the case in other types of banana. Although they taste good, they are not as sweet as the Cavendish. The unripe ones are sometimes recommended for diabetic patients.  They may in such cases serve as potato, yam or rice.
• Burro: a close relative of the Cavendish but is usually larger and fatter.
• Manzano.

Health importance of bananas includes:

• They are very good source of energy and therefore should be taken before a strenuous work is done.
• They also help to reduce the risks of various diseases like;
• Cancer
• Diarrhea
• Heart problems and attacks
• Asthma
• Kidney cancer
• Stroke
• They also help to elevate sad mood through the production of tryptophan which is converted to serotonin which helps in good mood brain neurotransfer.
• They also help to prevent muscle cramps
• They help in regulating blood sugar and pressure.

With all these health importance of bananas indicated, i hope you will include them in your diet. See you later.