BANANA: ( BOTANICAL NAME : MUSA ACUMINATA COLLA)

There are various varieties and shapes and sizes of the bananas. It has been proved that the
bananas have curative properties both scientifically and traditionally. Everybody loves the
banana fruit including elephants, monkeys, cows and birds also.

There are lot of nutritious and health benefits in Bananas. All parts of the banana tree are nutritious, delicious and high medicinal values.

Banana is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows from the underground rhizome. It

flourishes well under tropical, moisture-rich, humid, low-lying farmlands.

Banana has unique growth characteristics. In fact, the whole plant is a false stem

(pseudostem).

Its stem consisting of broad leaves together with their long petioles overlapping around

each other in a disc-like fashion standing up to 2 to 6 meters tall from the ground surface 

depending upon the cultivar types.

Banana leaves are large, flexible, and waterproof. They are often used as ecologically friendly disposable food containers or as "plates" in South Asia and several South east countries. Indonesian cuisines banana leaf is employed in cooking method called as pepes and botok ; the banana leaf packages containing food ingredients and spices are cooked on steam, in boiled water or grilled on charcoal.

In the South Indian states of Tamil nadu, Kerala, Andra Pradesh and Karnataka in every occasion, the food must be served in a banana leaf and as a part of the food a banana is served. Steamed with dishes they impart a subtle sweet flavor. They often serve as a wrapping for grilling food. The leaves contain the juices, protect food from burning and add a subtle flavor.^[102] In Tamil Nadu (India) leaves are fully dried and used as packing material for food stuffs and also making cups to hold liquid foods. In Central American countries, banana leaves are often used as wrappers for covering food.

At maturity, the rhizome gives rise to a flower (inflorescence) that is carried up on a long smooth un-branched stem (true) through the centre of the pseudo-stem which finally emerges out at the top in between the leaf cluster. The flower subsequently develops to a huge hanging bunch, consisting of 3 to 20 hands (tiers), each with at least 5-10 fingers (fruits) in each hand (tier).

The female flowers (which can develop into fruit) appear in rows further up the stem (closer to the leaves) from the rows of male flowers. The ovary is inferior, meaning that the tiny petals and other flower parts appear at the tip of the ovary.

The banana fruits develop from the banana heart, in a large hanging cluster, made up of tiers (called "hands"), with up to 20 fruit to a tier. The hanging cluster is known as a bunch, comprising 3–20 tiers, or commercially as a "banana stem", and can weigh 30–50 kilograms (66–110 lb). Individual banana fruits (commonly known as a banana or "finger") average 125 grams (0.276 lb), of which approximately 75% is water and 25% dry matter.

The female flowers (which can develop into fruit) have petals and other flower parts at the tip of the ovary (the ovary is "inferior")

The fruit has been described as a "leathery berry".  There is a protective outer layer (a peel or skin) with numerous long, thin strings (the phloem bundles), which run lengthwise between the skin and the edible inner portion. The inner part of the common yellow dessert variety can be split lengthwise into three sections that correspond to the inner portions of the three carpels by manually deforming the unopened fruit. In cultivated varieties, the seeds are diminished nearly to non-existence; their remnants are tiny black specks in the interior of the fruit.

There are many healing and medicinal properties of bananas:

The high content of iron in bananas increases the production of hemoglobin in the blood

therefore they are very good for anemia

They regulate bowel movement - whether it is constipation or diarrhea. Our elders believed

that eating a banana after every meal improved digestion significantly.

When you suffer from a hangover - a banana milkshake with honey can give you immense

relief. Cold milk soothes the stomach lining and bananas with honey build up depleted blood

sugar levels.

Bananas are exceedingly good for students as the rich source of potassium can make a 

person very alert; the fruit is often called a brain tonic

Bananas work well as a snack for people who have high blood pressure as they are 

wholesome with low salt levels.

For those suffering from depression, bananas are good as they contain a protein called

serotonin – which is also called the ‘happy hormone’ as it makes one feel happy and relaxed

Bananas can be eaten frequently to treat ulcers as they neutralize acidity in the stomach

This soft and smooth fruit cannot irritate the stomach walls.

For pregnant women suffering from morning sickness, eating bananas in between meals

helps immensely in settling the queasiness in the stomach.

Eating bananas helps people give up smoking as this fruit is rich in vitamin C, A, B6 and B12
  
Bananas contain potassium and magnesium as well, which help the body recover from

nicotine withdrawal.

Bananas have an antacid effect, so people who experience heartburn find relief on eating a

banana.

Potassium is a vital mineral which normalizes heartbeat while regulating the body’s water

balance. As banana is a rich source of potassium, it re-balances disturbances of fluids in the

body.

For weight watchers,, banana is an excellent snack in place of crisps and chocolates

Research found that food craving during high pressure work could be assuaged safely and in

a healthy manner by eating a banana every 2-3 hourly as it is a high carbohydrate food that

controls blood sugar levels.

Topically, the peel of a banana – with the yellow side on top can be taped to a warts. It will

shrivel and fall off.

The peel of a banana fruit can be rubbed on a mosquito bite with good effect, the stinging

sensation stops and the swelling also reduces.

A ripe banana mashed and applied on the face is great at moisturizer and nourishing tired

and dry skin.

Banana Stem

:

When a bunch of bananas is harvested, the stem/tree is cut away. The tender inner stem is

used as food and has many medicinal properties as well.

Layers of hard outer stem are peeled away and only the tender inner stem is used. It is

very fibrous, so the thread fiber has to be cleaned. The stem is chopped into small bits and

soaked in buttermilk or diluted yogurt for half hour. In Southern parts of India, it is cooked

as a vegetable and eaten along with rice.

The banana stem has fiber – this is very beneficial for those on a weight loss program. It

is also a rich source of potassium and vitamin B6 which helps in the production of insulin

and hemoglobin.  Eating banana stem once a week keeps high blood pressure in control.

Banana stem also maintains fluid balance within the body. It is a diuretic and helps in

detoxifying the body. The popular belief is that eating banana stem is very good for

kidney stones

Banana Flower:

The banana flower grows at the end of a bunch of bananas. It is a leafy maroon colored 

cone with cream colored florets layered inside. These florets need to be cleaned well before

they are cooked as a vegetable. The banana flower is rich in vitamins, flavonoids and

proteins. The flower has been used in traditional medicine to treat bronchitis constipation

and ulcer problems. It eases menstrual cramps. The extracts of banana flower have

antioxidant  properties that prevent free radicals and control cell and tissue damage.

Red Skinned Bananas:

The peel of this type of bananas is a maroon red color and they are plumper than normal

bananas. They are also highly nutritious - the vitamin C content depends on how red the

banana is. The potassium content is high - more or less like the yellow.