Every part of the banana is packed with nutrition and health benefits. This humble plant, with its flower, stem, fruit and leaf, can be consumed in different ways for overall wellness. Also, it is easily accessible and cheap all over India, so you’ve got yourself a practical superfood! Let’s take a look at why you should be eating it.
The banana fruit: The fruit is a source of vital nutrients. It is also a great digestive, which aids bowel movement and contains good fibre for your gut. Rich in vitamin B6 as well as vitamin C, it helps your body absorb iron better, increasing the haemoglobin count and overall blood and cardiovascular health. It is great for pregnant women to eat, as it aids foetal health. It is enriched with potassium as well and is effective to treat cholesterol and high blood pressure. Bananas also relieve stomach issues like constipation and stomach ulcers.
The banana flower: The flower is good for people looking to prevent and control type 2 diabetes because it balances out blood sugar levels in the body. It is also antioxidant-rich, making it ideal for cell health and anti-ageing. It contains a host of essential vitamins and amino acids, is low in calories, and boost metabolism. It is also great for the overall wellness of the reproductive organs, aiding breastfeeding moms and keeping infections at bay.
The banana stem: Consumed with fibre, banana stem slows down the release of sugar and fats stored in the body’s cells. The juice of the banana stem helps in flushing out toxins from the body. It is a diuretic, and one of the most effective ways to cleanse your system from ailments. Drinking a glass of banana stem juice mixed with a few drops of lime juice every day prevents the formation of kidney stones and relieves Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). If you’ve got frequent problems with acidity, banana stem juice helps in regulating the acidic levels in your body and restoring balance. It provides relief from heartburn and discomfort and burning in the tummy.
The raw banana: Raw bananas are an excellent way to get all the benefits of the banana, with lesser natural sugars. They are beneficial for diabetics due to the presence of resistant starches that don’t digest too easily. They’re fibre-rich and keep irritable bowel syndrome at bay, and are good for heart health. They’re also good for overall mental and emotional wellness.
The banana leaf: While the banana leaf itself is not typically edible, eating of it has great health benefits, which have been propagated for thousands of years. This is because the leaves contain polyphenols like EGCG (the same compound that green tea is famous for), which the food absorbs and imparts to the body. This ensures cell health and digestive health, besides being a great antibacterial. It’s also great for the environment!
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