Banana is such a fruit that its lovers never tired of eating. Mildly flavoured and mostly seedless, banana is among the healthiest snacks, easy to carry and less vulnerable to contamination due to the natural covering it has. Like coconut tree, the banana plant's every inch has a useful existence.
Nutritional benefits
Bananas are packed not only with potassium, but also good levels of vitamin C and magnesium. It is rich in vitamin B and also has trace minerals like iodine, iron, selenium and zinc. When added to your daily diet, bananas have an array of benefits. They keep the heart healthy, are good for the gut and keep the bones strong. In fact, even the weight watchers can have a banana daily, as it is very satiating and prevents sweet cravings."
Interesting facts
Banana used for cooking is called plantain. Bananas grow in at least 107 countries. Banana wine and Banana beer are one of the most delicious tasting alcoholic beverages. Scarlet Banana, Blue Banana, Pink Banana, Snow Banana and False Banana are some of its interesting varieties. Banana is naturally radioactive and in fact 'banana equivalent dose of radiation' is used in measuring radioactivity. Banana's genus name Musa is derived from the name of Antonius Musa, the physician of Emperor Augustus. The earliest historical evidence of Bananas has been found around 8,000 BCE.
Uses
While banana flower, fruit, stem and trunk is used as food, its leaves are used in cooking as steam wraps and serving platters. Both yarn and paper can be made from banana plant and the leaf is used in making disposable plates and bowls.
Some not so common uses of bananas
Try banana peel as a shoe polish. Rub it on the shoes and wipe off with a clean cloth. For a healthy and shiny mane, apply a mix of banana pulp and yoghurt. To prevent cracked heels, apply paste of banana mixed with turmeric.
