Banana, Phytochemicals, Resistant starch, Pectin, Fructooligosaccharide

Description :   Banana is a nutritious fruit belongs to the genus Musa. It has been traditionally used as an

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Banana is a nutritious fruit belongs to the genus Musa. It has been traditionally used as an instant energy booster. Banana contains numerous imperative nutrients that have profound health benefits.

Nutritional profile

• It contains desirable amount of carbohydrates and dietary fibre especially resistant starch and pectin
• It also contains less amount of protein
• It contains very negligible amount of fat
• It contains various micronutrients, which include Vitamin C, Vitamin A and B Vitamins especially Vitamin B6, potassium, copper, magnesium and manganese
• It also contains several biologically active components such as flavonoids, carotenoids, amines, phenolic acid, polyphenols, catechins and dopamine

Banana and potassium

Banana is a potassium rich fruit and its potassium content makes it a supper fruit. Potassium content of banana shows potent health benefits such as it helps to regulate blood pressure as well as heart beat and mainly helps to keep the brain alert. Consumption of banana is thus very effective for improving the health of blood and brain.

Biological properties

Antioxidant property

• Vitamin E, Vitamin C, beta carotene, dopamine, phenolic compounds and gallocatechin components of banana act as potent antioxidant, which help to decrease the concentration of free radicals within body
• It also helps to protect every cell of the body from free radical induced oxidative damages hence promotes cellular functionality that helps to decrease the risk of developing chronic diseases

Anti-inflammatory property

• Several parts of banana plant have been used extensively for traditional medicine
• They show strong anti-inflammatory activities, which are associated with preventing inflammation by decreasing the level of inflammatory mediators in body

Detoxification property

• Banana contains significant amount of pectin, which makes this fruit an effective detox
• Pectin is associated with sticking with toxic substances within blood and helps to flush them out from body through urine

Health benefits

Role on immunity

• Antioxidant and Vitamin B6 contents of banana play significant role in boosting up the overall immunity of body
• It is associated with stimulating the synthesis of RBC, which is considered as an imperative modulator of innate immune response
• It also helps to decrease the risk of developing diseases by enhancing the body’s resistant power

Role on eye

• Vitamin A as well as beta carotene contents of banana play significant role in improving eye health
• Its antioxidant activity is also responsible for protecting the cornea from oxidative damages and helps to prevent the risk of developing eye disorders
• It helps to promote vision especially helps in night vision
• Lutein content of banana is accountable for decreasing the prevalence of macular degeneration

Role on digestive health

• It helps to stimulate the secretion of digestive enzymes hence helps in digestion
• Its fibre content plays significant role in improving bowel movement that helps to increase regularity
• It is also associated with enhancing the growth of intestinal beneficial bacteria that helps to improve colonic health
• Banana contains resistant starch, which is associated with increasing the synthesis of fatty acids (short chain) within gut and these are essentially required for improving gut health
• It helps to protect the digestive tract from oxidative as well as inflammatory damages and promotes its functionality
• It is very effective for reducing the prevalence of constipation, diarrhoea, stomach upset, heartburn, peptic ulcer, inflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis

Role on weight management

• Resistant starch, pectin and fibre contents of banana play significant role in facilitating weight reduction
• It helps to make an individual feel full for a long period of time, which ultimately helps to reduce appetite, hence decreases calorie consumption by restricting food intake. This helps to generate a negative energy balance within body and promotes weight loss
• It is also awfully useful for decreasing belly fat as it contains choline that acts as fat blasting substance and inhibits fat accumulation in abdomen

Role on endurance

• Consumption of banana is extremely effective for athletes as it helps to provide sufficient energy due to its carbohydrate contents, which is associated with improving endurance
• Its B vitamins components are also responsible for boosting up the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats  
• It    Read more