BANANAS, also referred to as "saging" in the local tongue, are known in scientific terms as "Musa Acuminata" or "Musa balbisiana." They are native to tropical South and Southeast Asia to include the Philippines, and historical records claim that it has been first domesticated in Papua New Guinea.
Biologists claim that the banana specie "Musa Acuminata Lakatan" or simply "Lakatan" in the Filipino language is most common in the Philippines and is believed to be the most favorite dessert banana among Filipinos.
According to economists, bananas constitute a major staple food crop for millions of families in developing countries. As a matter of fact, in tropical countries, the green unripe bananas are cooked in ways similar to potatoes: fried, boiled, baked, chipped and in the Philippines, bananas can be grilled and brushed with butter and white sugar.
One nutritionist claim that a piece of banana provides about the same calories as one potato.
But bananas are more than just about calories.
Contrary to popular beliefs, dieticians emphasize that bananas are not just rich in potassium but also in calcium, magnesium, fluoride, iron, B vitamins and selenium.
Bananas also contains some amounts of vitamin C.
Chemists share that bananas contain tryptophan.
According to Psychiatrists, tryptophan is an amino acid that can be converted to serotonin, leading to improved mood, thus relieving depression.
One psychiatric nurse supports that eating at least one banana a day may control the feeling of being depressed.
Bananas have relatively high iron content and may help the body's hemoglobin function to combat anemia.
In a research study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology of the USA, it has been proven that adults consuming at least three bananas a day have a reduced risk (by 36 percent) of developing age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in olderadults, compared to persons who consume less than 1.5 servings of fruit daily.
Due to bananas' fiber content, they may help restore normal bowel function. One biochemist says that bananas also contain pectin, a soluble fiber (hydrocolloid) that can help normalize movement through the digestive tract.
According to the published works of the International Journal of Cancer, it has been shown that daily consumption of whole fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, is highly protective to kidney health. The results show that, over a long timeframe (13.4 years), women eating more than 2.5 servings of fruits and vegetable per day cut their risk of kidney cancer by 40 percent.
Among the fruits, bananas were especially protective. Women eating bananas four to six times a week halved their risk of developing the disease compared to those who did not eat this fruit.
The conclusion of the study is that frequent consumption of fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, cabbage and root vegetables, may reduce risk of kidney cancer.
Furthermore, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruits' ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke, as bananas are extremely high in potassium yet very low in sodium, thus preventing high blood pressure.
Being a rich source of B vitamins such as Vitamin B6 and B12, bananas can help anyone recovering from nicotine withdrawal and improve nerve function.
According to gastroenterologists, Bananas stimulate the cells on the internal stomach lining to produce thicker mucus (which protects against acid), thereby reducing stomach acidity and irritation.
In a study conducted by The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of the regular diet can reduce the risk of death by strokes as much as 40 percent.
Several experts also claim that bananas can help remedy a "hangover" due to excessive alcohol consumption.
"When a person gets drunk, his potassium stores are being depleted due to frequent urination and sweating," says Dr. Vincent Toralba Jr., a family medicine practitioner.
"Depletion of potassium in your body is the reason why you feel awful when you've got a hangover," he adds.
Experts also share that the magnesium in bananas helps relax the blood vessels and provide relief from a thumping headache.
As a variation, some nutritionists even suggest that banana milkshake with honey added be given to anyone experiencing the symptoms of "hangover" which includes an aching head, vertigo, dry mouth, nauseated stomach and fatigue.
For everybody's information, in the Philippines, bananas may be classified based on the location where they have been grown or cultured- high land or low land.
High land bananas are grown to locations that are at least 600 meters above sea level compared to low land bananas that can grow to places that are close to sea level.
According to horticulturists, high land bananas, such as those being grown in Bukidnon and in other high level land forms, have much sweeter fruits than those being grown on low land.
High land bananas also have longer period of ripening although the fruit size may not have any significant variation among bananas.
According to a Japanese scientific research, a fully ripe banana produces a substance called Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), which has the ability to combat abnormal cells.
In an animal experiment carried out by a professor in Tokyo University comparing the various health benefits of different fruits, using banana, grape, apple, water melon, pineapple, pear and persimmon, it was found that bananas gave the best results. It increased the number of white blood cells, enhanced the immunity of the body and produced anti-cancer substance TNF.
And if you think that the dark spots blemishing the yellow skin of the bananas means spoilage or unpleasant, think again.
According to the Japanese professor, yellow skin bananas with dark spots on it are eight times more effective in enhancing the property of white blood cells than the green skin version or bananas that are perfectly yellow even.
So never look at bananas in the same way again as it may just save your life.
Source: Paul John A. Vesagas, RN, RM, www.sunstar.com.ph
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