Bananas are one of the most popular fruits in the world. Yellow, green or brown - they are loved not only for their taste, but also for their nutritional value.
Bananas in the world market
Banana is a tropical plant known as Musa Sapientum that bears an edible fruit. Most likely, the banana comes from Malaysia - it was grown here more than seven thousand years ago. Today, India, China, Indonesia and Brazil have a significant share of the world's mass-produced bananas.
In the USSR, bananas were associated with luxury. Nowadays, they are sold everywhere - ripe fruits can be found even in the most seedy corners of the country.
Growing bananas
Plantation harvesting of bananas takes place even before the fruit reaches full maturity. Unripe bananas in green peels are transported in refrigerated vessels to their destination. Low temperatures stop the natural release of ethylene in fruits, an agent that accelerates their ripening. Arriving in the country of destination, the fruits are placed in ripening chambers, in which the temperature should not exceed 17 ° C. In this case, the fruit is artificially treated with ethylene. And after a few days, bananas begin to ripen and then go on sale.
Unripe bananas should not be stored in the refrigerator, as then their taste deteriorates and further ripening becomes difficult. On the other hand, fully ripe or completely overripe bananas can be kept cool for quite some time.
Why are bananas good for you?
Bananas contain many minerals and vitamins. They contain a full range of vitamins A, C, E, K and group B, most important for humans. Fruits are rich in magnesium, phosphorus and calcium and also contain pectin.
It is interesting to know that a medium-sized banana (about one hundred grams) contains 358 mg of potassium. Even the tomato, which is usually an example of a source of potassium, is less important - only 237 mg per 100 grams of product. The energy value of a banana is 89 kcal.
Bananas are an indispensable nutrient for the diet of hypertensive patients. The soft fruit is also an important component of light diets based on dairy products and cereals. In addition, for parents, bananas relieve the effects of childhood diarrhea.
These tropical fruits help with stomach ulcers - they accelerate the development of cells in the gastric mucosa, which create a layer of protection especially in cases of high acidity.
Alternative medicine views banana peels as a remedy for warts, mosquito bites, and a whitening agent for teeth.
However, it should be remembered that ripe and overripe, that is, yellow and brown bananas, are very high-calorie foods. These medium-sized fruits contain 116 calories.
