The health benefits of the Banana

The banana is native to southeast China and Indochina. From there it went to India and is believed to have been the armies of Alexander the Great who brought them to the Mediterranean, where its cultivation was established on the seventh century.

A Canary in the fifteenth century came from Guinea, and from the archipelago, the Spanish conquerors took Santo Domingo and Jamaica, and later extended its cultivation by the rest of the Caribbean, Central and South America.

Then returned to Africa and was surpassing all boundaries to become the fourth most important crop in the world after rice, wheat and corn.

Currently, the banana is an essential part of the staple diet of much of the population in many tropical and subtropical countries and is an important role in the economy of many countries.

The banana is the fruit of the banana plant that requires plenty of sun, plenty of water and constant temperatures around 20 º C, characteristic of hot, humid regions that are therefore suitable for this crop.

The fruits, oblong and slightly curved, are grouped into a cone with the apex hanging down due to the high bunch weight. This cluster consists of a shaft or stem, long and thick, which are inserted small bunches of fruit, which are called "hands."

In turn, the "hand", consists of simple fruits (bananas) that are called "fingers." In the case of bananas in the Canary Islands, for instance, the number of "hands" is usually 10 per cluster, and the number of "fingers" to "hand" is 15 to 20.

Cavendish dwarf banana is the Canary Islands, with its two sub-varieties, large and small dwarf. Is of Chinese origin and has a golden yellow skin and soft flesh and compact, very sweet and aromatic.

Gros Michel, yellow-green skin, is notable for its strength in the handling and transport, as well as easy maintenance.

Lacatan (Musa walk). It is similar to the Gros Michel, but tougher. It is widely cultivated in the Caribbean and South America and has a fruit and crushed by the end that is not joined to the "hand".

Other varieties and hybrids: Poyo, from the island of Guadeloupe, Dominica, very sweet, Grande Naine, from Martinique original Laide Oceania Currarré in two sub-varieties: pink and dwarf; Balangon, own variety of the Philippines; Zelig, Israel; Brier and Thick, among others.

Currently, genetic improvement programs seek to make hybrids more resistant to pests and diseases as well as less demanding growing conditions, to obtain varieties of high productivity while maintaining or even improving its excellent flavor and nutritional value.

The banana is notable for its high energy (85 kcal/100 g edible portion), compared with other fruits, but this should present no problem whatsoever for consumption taking into account the nutritional benefits the fruit provides.

The caloric intake is due to its carbohydrate content, as the percentage of fat and protein is almost negligible (0.27 g and 1.20 g/100 g edible portion, respectively).

- Water. 76% of its composition is water, and its major component.

- Carbohydrates. Stresses its richness in carbohydrate (21 g/100 g). Unripe bananas contain starch "resistant" is not digested in the small intestine and is fermented in the large intestine by intestinal bacteria, causing flatulence often. In ripe bananas, the starch (complex carbohydrate) decreases while increasing its content of simple carbohydrates or sugars such as glucose, sucrose and fructose, which are easily digested and absorbed by the body.

- Protein and fat. They are found in small amount (1.20 g protein and 0.27 g of fat per 100 g edible portion) and not significant.

- Vitamins. The banana provides vitamin A, C and small amounts of vitamin E or tocopherol, all with antioxidant, protecting body cells from free radical action, responsible, among others, aging and many degenerative diseases.

It also contains folic acid, essential to prevent certain types of anemia and birth defects (spina bifida), so that the consumption of bananas is highly recommended for pregnant women.

In addition to other B vitamins such as vitamin B6 or pyridoxine, which promote nerve function.

- Minerals. The banana also stands out for its contribution in potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus, among other minerals. Potassium is necessary for the generation and transmission of nerve impulses and muscle activity will also help to renal function.

Magnesium is very important for the proper functioning of the nervous system, muscle contraction, the body's defense system and has a mild laxative effect.

- Fiber. The banana provides plenty of fiber, both soluble and insoluble. Within the soluble fiber, highlights its content fructooligosaccharides (FOS). FOS are complex carbohydrates that reach the large intestine undigested and are fermented by intestinal bacteria, favoring the proliferation of them, especially bifidobacteria or lactobacilli that colonize the colon, which exert beneficial actions on the body.

- Non-nutritional components. The banana is rich in tannins. Tannins are astringent substances, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that also confer a bitter taste and interfere at high concentrations, the absorption of certain nutrients like iron. However, the bitter taste disappears when cooked.

Recommended for all ages. Because of its nutritional content, the consumption of bananas is highly recommended to all ages, especially children, the elderly, athletes, pregnant women or nursing mothers.

Not much fat as they say. Despite its bad reputation with the belief that fat, the truth is that the calories provided by a medium banana, are similar to those provided by other types of fruit (an apple or orange) when taking into account the caloric piece of fruit consumed.

Advised in diabetic and hypertensive. The high intake of carbohydrates and fiber gives a very satisfactory satiating effect allowing you to control your appetite, so it can be included even in slimming diets and diet of diabetics.

Because of its high content of potassium and low sodium intake, a food is highly recommended for people with hypertension or cardiovascular disease.

Moreover, in the case of hypertensive subjects treated with diuretic drugs to help offset losses caused by potassium medication and helps prevent and treat muscle cramps caused by a deficiency of potassium.

However, it should take account of their wealth in potassium when considering its use in people who suffer from kidney problems (renal failure) where it is necessary to control the diet in regard to this mineral.

An ally against stomach problems. Over time, bananas have been recommended as a dietary supplement for people who suffer from stomach disorders, ulcers, etc.., To contain protective elements of the stomach. One of these components is the leucocyanidins, a flavonoid that relieves the symptoms caused by acting as anti-inflammatory ulcers.

Promotes good intestinal transit. Green bananas are not easily digested, it causes the increase stool volume, so it can help relieve constipation. On the contrary, very ripe bananas are traditionally used remedy for diarrhea. A very popular natural prescription is to take a mashed banana with a little lemon juice to cut diarrheal episodes.

The presence of fructooligosaccharides favors the presence and growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria for the body part in the normalization of intestinal transit, but also works by stimulating the body's immune system and exert a protective effect against colon cancer.