The banana, the comedian’s friend. For as long as there has been comedy, the old banana peel gag has been around. The average person consumes up to 27 pounds of bananas per year. their benefits are long reaching and help to restore balance to your system.
As we all know, the banana is one of nature’s best sources of potassium. Potassium is known to signifigantly lower the risk of high blood pressure and related diseases like heart attack and strokes. Bananas are believed to prevent dangerous low-density lipoprotein from oxidizing, which causes it to stick to the walls of the arteries. This accumulation can contribute to artherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, a major contributor to heart attack, stroke and high blood pressure. Even one serving of a potassium rich food, such as bananas, can lower your risk of stroke by up to 40%.
New research is indicating that bananas are helpful in ulcer treatment. They seem to act as a natural antacid. First, they stimulate the stomach’s production of protective mucus which helps to prevent harsh acids from touching the tender stomach lining, causing an ulcer. Second, the protease inhibitor found in bananas appears to kill the harmful bacteria that helps to cause ulcers.
Bananas also contain electrolytes, which are essential for maintaining fluid levels and preventing dehydration. 30% of your DV of vitamin B6 is provided by one banana. B6 keeps your nervous system in top working condition and boosting immunity. Folate is also in bananas, which is needed for proper tissue growth, and can protect against birth defects, heart disease, and cancer.
To keep your bananas fresh, you should keep them in the fridge. If you are waiting for green bananas to ripen you can speed up the process by putting them in a brown papaer bag at room temperature. If bananas are not to your liking, you can mash them up and add them to a variety of recipes from meatloaf to casseroles, the taste of the dish will be slightly sweetened but without the direct taste of the banana. So buy a bunch today and help to save your life!