Green Banana

Banana is available in all seasons throughout India. But the raw or unripe banana or plantain is considered more potent medicine than the ripe ones. Since ancient times green bananas or plantains, have been in use in Ayurveda, as a remedy for peptic ulcer. Green Bananas must be cooked before eating because it is tough to eat it raw.

Recent evidence pointed out the fact that eating green bananas has many health benefits. Green bananas have a type of dietary fiber that helps the body feel satisfied while it burns fat. Nutritionally, the green banana is a good source of fiber, vitamins, minerals and starch.

IT HAS FOLLOWING BENEFITS

■             Green bananas also have high contents of vitamin B-6. One cup of boiled green bananas contain 39 per cent of daily required value of vitamin B-6. Vitamin B-6 plays an important role in more than 100 enzymatic reactions in our body.

■             Presence of iron in banana helps to boost the production of hemoglobin. This helps persons who suffer from anaemia.

■             Banana also acts as tonic and helps to boost memory power.

■             They also have mood enhancer, tryptophan, to calm and soothen you on a hot and stressful day. It also reduces stress and depression. It also helps to overcome heart-burn.

■             The stem of this herb is useful in curing kidney stones.

■             Green banana also aids in the control of blood sugar. Diabetics eat green bananas as a source of low calorie carbohydrate. The flowers in this fruit are useful in curing diabetes and ulcers.

■             The leaves of this plant are used in natural treatments like mud bath, banana leaf bath etc.The tender leaves also have cooling and soothing effect when applied on burns.

■             Like in banana fruit, the green banana is also high in potassium. One cup serving of boiled green bananas has 531 mg of potassium. Including high potassium foods in diet, aids in blood pressure control.

■             Green bananas have been reported to improve dyspepsia and peptic ulcer in men.

■             People on low carb diet often avoid bananas because of their higher sugar content but eating green bananas in moderation could have benefits for dieters.

■             A decoction of plantain/green banana is considered good in curing disorders of the kidneys and also the powder of the roots of banana helps in curing problems relating to bowel movement.

■             The plantain juice was recommended for spitting of blood and piles. To prepare a plain infusion recommended in herbal medicine for diarrhea and piles, pour one pint of boiling water on one ounce of the herb, stand in a warm place for 20 minutes and then strain and let it cool. Take about a half cup, three or four times a day. Plantain juice mixed with lemon juice was judged as an excellent diuretic.

■             The powdered leaves taken along with the juice are helpful in destroying worms.

■             Most importantly they are a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals. One cup of cooked plantain has around 30 per cent of our daily requirement of vitamins A and C.

■             Contrary to banana’s fatty reputation, green banana is actually 0 per cent cholesterol food. Instead of frying them, one should brush wedges or slices with some oil and bake them.

■             Its flowers, stem and leaves are used in many ways. It is a custom in South India to serve food to guests on banana leaves. The tree is considered auspicious and is used during festivities and religious functions. Its flowers and stem are also edible and a variety of dishes are made with them.

By Nibhanapudi Suguna