Banana and its benefits

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The banana is the fruit of a large perennial herb of the genus banana (lat. Musa) of the banana family (lat. Musaceae). Although in everyday life and in the kitchen we are accustomed to considering bananas simply as fruits, botanists classify them as berries. It is these non-standard berries that are included on the world top of the most important crops along with wheat, rice, corn and potatoes. According to statistics, for a year people around the world eat about one hundred billion bananas. [source](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.importancia.org%2Fplatano.php&psig=AOvVaw1xWQWm71YyAnBhdCfXkLEp&ust=1567864683522261)

As for the scientific term Musa, there are two versions of its origin. According to the former, he borrowed from the Arabic language, in which the word mauz (Arabic. موز) means banana. According to the second version, the Latin name was given in honor of the Greek botanist of the Renaissance, Antonio Musa. As for the word "banana," it sounds the same in most modern European languages. Probably, initially the Portuguese or Spaniards adopted it from the West African language Wolof, in which it is pronounced - banana. Although a banana is 75% water, it contains many useful components. For example, this tropical fruit is very rich in potassium and, therefore, helps the body maintain a healthy heart and kidneys, and also improves attention and activates the brain. Scientists claim that a sufficient amount of this mineral in the body prevents the formation of kidney stones, helps normalize blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart attack by 27%. Magnesium in combination with vitamins C and B6 also has a positive effect on cardiac function. In addition, bananas are recommended for diarrhea. The fruit itself will not solve the situation, but it will definitely help restore the level of potassium, which is removed from the body during an upset stomach. Banana also contains dietary fiber that supports the normal functioning of the intestines and plays an important role in the prevention of colorectal cancer. By the way, the antioxidants in bananas can help reduce the damage of free radicals, which, according to scientists, contribute to the development of cancerous tumors. Banana is considered an effective assistant in the fight against ulcers, as it contains substances that resist the bacteria that cause this disease. It also has an antacid effect (reduces mucosal irritation, calms the digestive system) and wraps the stomach walls. Bananas are useful at any age, but they are especially important at an early stage of life. Then, mashed potatoes of this tropical fruit usually becomes the baby's first meal after breast milk. As a general rule, a banana does not cause allergies and provides the child with useful substances. In addition, according to the observations of British scientists, if children eat a banana a day, the risk of developing asthma in them is reduced by 34%. Eating this tropical fruit also benefits the organs of vision. Despite the fact that carrots are generally associated with a positive effect on the eyes, bananas also contribute to the fight against macular degeneration (retinal damage and deterioration of central vision), due to the presence of vitamin A. Calcium is not found in bananas in large quantities, but it still helps strengthen bones. In addition, certain non-digestible carbohydrates increase the body's ability to absorb calcium from other sources. Finally, bananas are often and not in vain associated with a product for athletes. Minerals and fast carbohydrates saturate the body and charge you with energy and strength for intense training. In addition, some scientists believe that bananas help reduce muscle cramps and relieve constipation. However, such an effect is not scientifically proven. Similarly, the effect of bananas on a person's mood has not been proven. The antioxidant dopamine obtained from bananas does not affect the hormonal background, therefore, it is not worth linking your intake with an improvement in mood. And in the case of the amino acid tryptophan, which in the body is transformed into the neurotransmitter serotonin (a "good mood hormone"), its amount in a banana is so small that it can hardly affect the mood. Although bananas are not used in the pharmaceutical industry, they undoubtedly have medicinal properties that are actively used in traditional medicine. In tropical countries, where the banana is considered one of the main components of the daily diet, not only the pulp of the fruits, but also the rest of the plant (roots, leaves, flowers, fruit peel) is used to Treat various diseases. For example, it is believed that the infusion of flowers helps with diabetes, ulcer and bronchitis, roots, stomach disorders, dysentery and leaves, with wounds and burns on the skin. In our area, the use of bananas for medicinal purposes is mainly limited to the use of the fetus and its peel. With bronchitis in combination with drug treatment, it is recommended to drink a honey and banana drink. To prepare it, peel and crush 3 ripe bananas, pour them with 400 ml of boiling water and let the mixture prepare for about 30 minutes. In a cooled product, you should add 2 tablespoons of honey and drink half a glass 4 times a day for 5 days. A chocolate and banana drink can help eliminate a sore throat. It is necessary to knead 1 ripe banana and add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder. Then, the resulting mixture is dissolved in 1 cup of boiled milk. Take the medication before bedtime for 5 days. To combat dry cough, it is recommended to stretch a ripe banana, add 100 ml of orange juice, 200 ml of boiling water, 1 tablespoon of honey and cinnamon to taste. It means using for 5-7 days. And if you prepare a whole banana with peel as tea, adding a little cinnamon, a cure for insomnia will come out. Traditional healers say that 1 mashed banana, filled with a glass of milk, can help the body cope with mild allergic reactions. The drink should be consumed 2-3 times a day. And if you add some honey to this mixture, you will get a good hangover cure. Finally, banana kvass is considered a body assistant for arrhythmias. To prepare it, put 2 cups of chopped banana peel in a gauze and pour 3 liters of boiled water. Then add 1 tablespoon of sour cream, a glass of sugar and insist in 12 days. A thin layer of mold can form on the surface of the liquid, which must be removed immediately. After 12 days, 1 liter of kvas can be poured and filtered through gauze, and add 1 liter of water and a third glass of sugar to the remaining, leaving it infused for a few more days. You need to drink half a cup 2 times a day before eating. In Eastern practice, bananas are considered a useful product and are used for various purposes. Special attention is paid to the fruit's maturity, as this greatly affects its healing properties. For example, with ripening, a protein appears in the banana, which participates in the prevention of the development of cancerous tumors. On the contrary, an immature banana contains resistant starch (dietary fiber) that, according to Indian doctors, improves the condition of diabetes. Oriental medicine also considers bananas as an effective vascular cleanser. This fruit contains phytosterols that help reduce cholesterol. According to one of the recipes, pour a cup of tea with 50 g of mashed bananas and add 2 teaspoons of honey. This remedy should be taken in the morning and at night. In addition, in Eastern practice it is not customary to combine banana with milk, as is usually done in the west. It is believed that said compound negatively affects the digestion process, can cause allergies and can also cause cough and runny nose, which seems to have no relation to this. Nutritionists recommend a banana for inflammatory diseases of the mucous membranes of the duodenum, stomach and oral cavity. It is included in the diet for diseases of the pancreas, as well as some diseases of the liver and kidneys. As for diets destined to lose weight, in this area the attitude towards bananas is ambiguous. Some believe that this fruit is too high in calories and in no case should it be included in the diet of a person who loses weight. Others, on the contrary, argue that the banana, although high in calories, but does not contain fat, so it can and should be consumed, but in moderation. In any case, during the diet, it is preferable to eat green bananas that contain starch, which has not yet had time to turn into sugar. The glycemic index of such a fruit is only 30 units, while a ripe banana is about 50. Therefore, an immature fruit will be absorbed longer, avoid a sharp jump in sugar and bring a longer saturation. In some tropical countries, where the banana is the basis of the diet, it is consumed not only raw or in desserts, but also boiled, fried, baked with coal. Generally, for the preparation of garnishes use bananas. Africans add them to cereals, tortillas and even soups, and in China, bananas can be found in vegetable salad. Based on bananas, sauces, stews, chips, flour and tomato sauce are prepared. By the way, a banana can also be useful during cooking. To make it softer and cuddly, experienced housewives add a banana peel to the pan. As for the compatibility of bananas with other products, it combines well with sweet fruits and nuts. Some nutritionists do not see anything seditious when mixing banana with dairy products, while others consider such a tandem unacceptable. It is better to eat a banana between the main meals, separately from other foods.
Originally posted here: https://steemit.com/naturalmedicine/@elosolezama/banana-and-its-benefits