Bananas are very nutritious. Every 100 grams of pulp contains 1.2 grams of protein, 0.5 grams of fat, 19.5 grams of carbohydrates, 0.9 grams of crude fiber, as well as carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and rich trace elements like potassium. Research has found that bananas have many health benefits.
1. Preventing Cardiovascular Diseases
When the body lacks potassium, arrhythmia, tachycardia, and a drop in blood pressure can occur. One banana contains 400 milligrams of potassium, which can maintain the coordinated action of normal myocardial contraction, keep the excitability of nerves and muscles normal, and coordinate the contraction and relaxation functions of the heart muscle, thereby maintaining stable blood pressure and preventing cardiovascular diseases.
2. Preventing and Treating Hypokalemia
After exercise, the body loses a large amount of sweat, and potassium is also excreted, leading to limb weakness. After excessive vomiting and diarrhea or long-term use of potassium-wasting diuretics, the blood potassium concentration can decrease. At this time, eating bananas is the most ideal way to supplement potassium and can effectively prevent and treat hypokalemia.
3. Preventing Dementia
Eating bananas helps improve brain power, enhance learning ability, increase alertness, and prevent Alzheimer's disease.
4. Preventing and Treating Depression
Bananas contain a certain amount of serotonin and substances that synthesize serotonin, which can make people feel more relaxed and help prevent and treat depression.
5. Preventing and Treating Stomach and Duodenal Ulcers
Bananas contain a chemical substance called 5-hydroxytryptamine, which can soothe the irritation of gastric acid on the gastric mucosa, promote the growth and reproduction of mucosal cells, thereby repairing various ulcerative lesions and preventing stomach ulcers.
6. Preventing Constipation
Bananas are rich in pectin, a dietary fiber, which can promote intestinal peristalsis and make bowel movements smooth. Insist on eating a banana before going to bed at night to effectively relieve habitual constipation. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that bananas are sweet in taste and cold in nature. The cold nature can clear intestinal heat, and the sweet taste can moisten the intestines and promote bowel movements, making it more suitable for constipation caused by heat accumulation in the gastrointestinal tract, with symptoms such as dry stools, short and dark urine, red face and fever, or accompanied by abdominal distension and pain, dry mouth, and bad breath. It is advisable to eat bananas 1-2 hours after a meal, 1-2 bananas per day.
7. Preventing Gout
Eating potassium-rich bananas helps reduce the precipitation of uric acid crystals in the joints and helps the body excrete uric acid.
8. Relieving Eye Discomfort
When the body consumes too much salt, it causes cells to retain a large amount of water, leading to red and swollen eyes. The potassium in bananas helps the body excrete excess salt, balance potassium and sodium, and relieve eye discomfort. Bananas contain a large amount of carotene, which can to some extent relieve eye fatigue and prevent premature aging of the eyes.
9. Relieving Itching
Banana peels contain a substance called musatin that inhibits the growth and reproduction of bacteria. Skin itching caused by sweaty feet, tinea pedis, or tinea manuum can be relieved by applying banana peels to the affected area.
10. Boosting Immunity
Animal experiments have found that bananas have the effect of inhibiting cancer cells and can enhance human immunity. Teikyo University in Japan conducted animal tests comparing the immune activity of various fruits such as bananas, grapes, apples, watermelon, pineapple, pears, and persimmons, and found that bananas had the best effect. This is because bananas contain an anti-cancer substance called "trinitrofluorenone" (TNF), which increases white blood cells and can improve immune system function.
Tips: Because bananas are cold-natured, people with a weak spleen and stomach, stomach pain, or diarrhea should eat them in moderation. You can choose varieties like plantains (which have a stronger laxative effect) or the emperor banana.