sPOTLIGHT iNGREDIENT: bANANA

Bananas are yummy and I have never eaten one that was not sweet, and that’s because it consists mainly of sugars (glucose, fructose and sucrose). Bananas also contain a good amount of fiber, which makes them a great energy booster. The banana is notorious for its good press. People who exercise like it, people who bake like it, people who love natural foods like it, and these days people who want healthy hair and skin are really into it.

Why are people so hyped about bananas? It could be that it contains tryptophan an amino acid that is converted to serotonin, a mood improver. So people who eat it just can’t help liking it. What else is so attractive about the banana? It contains potassium, iron, B Vitamins including B6 and B12 and it is good for a whole host of issues, including anemia, constipation and diarrhea, maintaining healthy bones and teeth, regulating blood pressure, kidney health, improved nerve function, and stress relief.

Even the peel of the banana is worthy of mentioning because it contains a number of antioxidants and can be used as home remedy to cure allergies, bruises, mosquito bites, skin irritation, warts, treating acne, and wrinkles. To use the peel in these situations, just apply a section of the banana peel to the affected areas and leave it on for half an hour everyday until there is noticeable change.

Banana rules for dry, itchy, flaky hair. It keeps hair hydrated and healthy. With regular use, a banana hair mask can increase the moisture content of your hair, smooth frizz, and soothe your itchy scalp.

Rich in potassium and moisture, it hydrates and moisturizes dry skin, making your skin soft and supple. Banana is also known as nature's botox. Bananas contain super wrinkle fighting nutrients that help to fade age spots and prevent fine lines and wrinkles

Banana is one of the most widely consumed fruits on the planet. Banana belongs to the family of Musaceae. The scientific name of the fruit is Musa acuminata Colla.

Banana is variable in color, size, and firmness. It is one of the widely cultivated crops in the tropical and subtropical zones. 

bananas are ranked fourth amongst the world’s food crops. They are very popular and come in several varieties –

Apple bananas, which are exceptionally sweet. They are also called candy apple bananas. They have firm flesh that has a slight pinkish tone.

Cavendish bananas, which are the most common variety. They are long, yellow, and slightly sweet. The unripe version is green. The ripe version is yellow, which then goes on to become super soft and brown.

Lady finger bananas, which are smaller and sweeter than the common type.

Pisang Raja, which are often used to prepare banana fritters. They are popular in Indonesia.

Red bananas, which are red (obviously!) and the sweetest of the lot.

Cooking bananas, which are similar to plantains, and are often considered a nice replacement for potatoes. You can roast or steam or even fry them into chips.

One banana contains about 467 mg of potassium. Potassium is vital to control blood pressure, which, in turn, protects your heart. The same banana has just 1 mg of sodium. Bananas also contain vitamin B6 that prevents anemia and coronary heart disease.

Bananas are also rich in vitamin B6, which improves cognitive function. And the magnesium in bananas facilitates the electrical activity between the nerve cells in your brain.

More importantly, the cells in your brain utilize glucose as fuel. Since our brain cannot store glucose, we must regularly supply it. Bananas (as they contain fiber) release their sugars slowly into the bloodstream, and your body uses this sugar more gradually than refined sugar (pastries and candies, etc.) – this provides a steady supply of glucose to your brain

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