Besides being a fruit available all year round, do you know what else bananas can do for you? In fact, the entire banana is a treasure, and it also offers various health benefits. Today, the editor will introduce you ladies to the various health benefits of bananas.
Banana Peel:
1. Purify Heavy Metals from Water
Banana peels can absorb heavy metal pollutants from water.
Researchers at the State University of São Paulo in Brazil found that chopped banana peels can effectively remove harmful heavy metals like copper and lead from drinking water. Water purification devices made from banana peels maintain their significant ability to adsorb heavy metal pollutants even after being used 11 times consecutively. The researchers believe that banana peels can play an important role in water purification because, compared to current purification methods, this method is not only environmentally friendly and inexpensive but also more durable.
2. Sober Up Easily
Banana peels can help with sobering up.
Sobering Remedy: Boil 60 grams of banana peel in water and drink it to clear the head and refresh the mind.
3. Treat Pruritus (Skin Itching)
Banana peels contain musa sapientum, which can inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi. Experiments have shown that banana peels are very effective in treating skin itching and athlete's foot caused by fungi or bacteria. Patients can rub fresh banana peels on the itchy skin area repeatedly, mash them into a paste, or boil them in water to wash the area. Continuous use for several days will yield results.
4. Treat Oral Ulcers
Dry banana peels, add Fire炭母 (also called Fire炭毛), and boil them together in water. Add an appropriate amount of brown sugar for flavor. Drinking this can treat oral inflammation and ulcers, and it also has a laxative effect.
5. Make Skin Smooth and Radiant
For dry skin, you can use the inner side of a banana peel (the side facing the flesh) and apply it to your face. Let it sit for about 10 minutes, then rinse with clean water to make the skin moist and smooth.
Banana Flesh:
1. Lower Blood Pressure
Bananas are rich in potassium, which provides a large amount of potassium ions that can lower blood pressure. It counteracts the blood pressure-raising and blood vessel-damaging effects of sodium ions, thereby balancing the adverse effects of sodium and promoting cell and tissue growth. Nutritionists say that eating more bananas can lower blood pressure and prevent hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Research shows that eating two bananas a day can effectively lower blood pressure by 10%.
2. Aids Digestion and Helps with Weight Loss
Bananas provide immediate and long-lasting energy, making them the most suitable food for breakfast. Additionally, because bananas are low in calories, even people who are dieting can enjoy them without worry.
3. Moistens the Intestines and Relieves Constipation
Bananas are rich in starch and have a sweet nature and are cooling, making them most suitable for people with heatiness. They help to clear heat and moisten the intestines, promote intestinal peristalsis, and can treat constipation. Those with hemorrhoidal bleeding or restlessness during pregnancy caused by heat can eat the raw banana flesh, but it is not suitable for those with a weak spleen and loose stools. Those with a "hot" body constitution can eat one banana a day, but if they are concerned about its cooling nature, they can choose other varieties like plantains (which have a stronger laxative effect) or the Emperor banana.
4. "Happy Food"
What's most interesting is that German researchers have said that bananas can treat depression and emotional instability because they promote the secretion of endorphins in the brain. This is mainly because bananas help the human body produce a chemical substance—serotonin. This substance stimulates the nervous system, sending signals of joy, calm, and drowsiness, and even has a pain-relieving effect. Therefore, bananas are also known as the "happy food."
Five Healthy Banana Recipes
Banana Rice Porridge
1. Sweet and Fragrant Banana Porridge
Ingredients: 250g fresh banana, 100g rock sugar, 100g japonica rice.
Method:
1. Peel the banana and cut it into small pieces;
2. Wash the japonica rice, soak it in clean water for 120 minutes, then drain;
3. Place a pot on the stove, pour in 1000ml of water, add the japonica rice, bring to a boil over high heat, then add the banana pieces and rock sugar, reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
Health Benefits: Nourishes the stomach, quenches thirst, lubricates the intestines to relieve constipation, moistens the lungs and relieves cough.
2. Corn Silk, Watermelon, and Banana Soup
Ingredients: 200g watermelon, 300g banana, 10g corn silk.
Method:
1. Wash the corn silk;
2. Peel the banana and cut it into pieces;
3. Take the flesh of the watermelon, remove the seeds, and cut into pieces;
4. Put the corn silk, watermelon flesh, and banana pieces into a clay pot;
5. Add an appropriate amount of water and simmer for 20 minutes.
Health Benefits: Nourishes yin and moistens the intestines, promotes urination and stops bleeding.
3. Rock Sugar Steamed Banana
Ingredients: 300g banana, 20g rock sugar.
Method:
Peel the banana, add an appropriate amount of rock sugar, and steam it in a water bath.
Health Benefits: Clears heat and moistens dryness, detoxifies and lubricates the intestines, replenishes the middle burner and harmonizes the stomach.
4. Banana, Lily, and Tremella Soup
Banana, Lily, and Tremella Soup
Ingredients: 15g dried tremella, 100g lily, 400g banana, 5g goji berries, 60g rock sugar.
Method:
1. Soak the tremella in warm water for 2 hours, pick out the yellow bases and impurities, and tear into small pieces;
2. Place in a porcelain bowl, steam in a steamer for half an hour, then remove;
3. Separate the fresh lily bulbs, wash them, and remove the old bases;
4. Peel the banana and cut into small pieces;
5. Wash the goji berries and soak them in warm water until soft;
6. Put the tremella, lily, banana slices, and goji berries into a stewing pot, add rock sugar to mix evenly, and steam in a steamer for half an hour.
Health Benefits: Regulates lung health, clears heat and reduces internal heat.
5. Stir-fried Banana with Shrimp
Ingredients: 400g banana, 100g shrimp, 50g egg.
Method:
1. Peel and wash the scallion and ginger separately. Cut the scallion into sections and the ginger into mince, set aside. Peel the banana and cut into triangular pieces, coat with starch and egg white, and deep-fry until golden brown, set aside.
2. Pat the shrimp dry, marinate with a bit of cooking wine, then coat with starch and set aside.
3. Heat vegetable oil in a wok, stir-fry the minced ginger and scallion until fragrant, add the banana pieces and shrimp and stir-fry briefly. Thicken the remaining seasonings with starch, toss evenly, and serve on a plate.
Health Benefits: Rich in nutrition, nourishing without being heavy, prevents constipation.
Health Tip: People with a weak spleen and cold stomach, or those with loose stools and diarrhea, should not eat too many raw bananas. It is contraindicated for patients with acute or chronic nephritis and renal insufficiency.
Banana lily and tremella soup
Fish tofu