Bananas are among the favorite types of fruit among Germans. Per capita, about 16 kilograms of them are consumed annually. No wonder, because the bananas taste heavenly sweet and contain important nutrients that are very beneficial to health.
This is what you should know about the banana
Bananas are one of the world’s oldest cultivated fruits. They have been cultivated for as long as 2000 years. The original home of bananas is in Asia. Bananas are among the world’s oldest cultivated fruits. They have been cultivated for 2000 years. The original home of bananas is in Asia, but the bananas available in Germany now come mainly from Central and South America, the West Indies and the Canary Islands. They are only available as imported goods, but all year round. The banana plants bear fruit only once, after which they die. However, the plants develop shoots. These can bear new fruit after eight to 15 months. As the yellow fruit bananas ripen, the starch they contain is converted into sugar. Therefore, ripe bananas taste very sweet, while those that are not quite ripe have more of a vegetable taste. The more yellow the banana is, the sweeter and more ripe it is. When buying, make sure they are firm and have no black spots. The small brown spots that appear on the peel during ripening do not indicate that it is an inferior fruit, but that the flesh is particularly sweet. Bananas become crooked only during growth: they grow on the trunk of the banana plant. The clusters on the trunk initially grow hanging down and protected from the light by the large bracts. The leaves later fall off and the bananas stretch out towards the sun. Now they grow crooked.
Importance for health
Bananas have a very crucial importance in some tropical countries, as they are often the main source of nutrients for the population, which is especially true in rural areas. They are fried, boiled or made into flour. Thus, they replace bread, potatoes, rice and cereals. Banana is especially good for people who suffer from diarrhea, as it has a constipating effect. In the case of heartburn or upset stomach, this fruit helps just as many people. They are digestion regulating and easily digestible. It also performs well after survived diseases, because it provides the body with important nutrients that have been lost. In addition, due to the abundant potassium it contains, bananas can reduce high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels. The psyche is also positively influenced thanks to the messenger substance serotonin, which ensures a good mood. Therefore, bananas are a natural good remedy for depression. Due to their mineral content, the vitamins they contain and the fructose, they are a source of energy. For this reason, they are also very popular among athletes. Furthermore, the bananas are good for high uric acid levels and a gout.
Ingredients and nutritional values
Bananas provide various B vitamins as well as vitamins A, C and E, abundant potassium and magnesium, but little sodium. When very ripe, they also contain about 20 percent fructose, which means carbohydrates that go quickly into the blood. In less ripe bananas, it is more starch. Thanks to the optimal combination of sugar, starch and dietary fiber, bananas provide quick and long-lasting satiety, yet have a relatively low calorie content. Other valuable ingredients are niacin and folic acid. Thanks to the low proportion of acids, they are very digestible.
Intolerances and allergies
Bananas should always be eaten when ripe, otherwise they can cause abdominal pain. The reason for this is that green, unripe bananas contain a lot of cellulose. This cannot be processed by the intestines. Unripe bananas, on the other hand, can be cooked well. Diabetics should consume light yellow bananas, as they contain more starch than sugar, which causes the blood sugar level to rise more slowly and steadily. Food allergy to the banana is rather rare. Some people suffer from a cross allergy to latex. In this case, the allergy sufferers are first allergic to latex and then the banana allergy occurs. Other possible cross allergens include the watermelon, chestnut, the pumpkin, peach, the avocado, tangerine and strawberry.
Shopping and kitchen tips
When buying bananas, small brown spots that appear on the yellow skin are harmless, because this is by no means a sign of poorer quality, but a typical sign in very ripe bananas. However, the tropical fruit is almost always sold when the peel is still very light yellow. The brown bananas also lose important vitamins. Bananas belong to the climacteric species, which ripen after harvesting. The fruits are therefore always harvested green. The subsequent transport is carried out in refrigerated vessels, since a temperature below 13 degrees Celsius stops the natural ripening process. In terms of storage, it should be noted that bananas do not like it too cold, because then they get spots and taste bland. In the best case, they are stored at room temperature and not near apples and tomatoes. Both give off ethylene, which causes the bananas to ripen. Ripe fruit will last about five days in ideal conditions. Sprinkling the banana with a little lemon juice can prevent it from discoloring when exposed to air.
Preparation tips
Bananas are a valuable snack, but they are equally popular mixed in milkshakes, yogurts, mueslis, cottage cheese and fruit salads. As a dessert, bananas can be sprinkled with delicious brown sugar, drizzled with orange juice, baked and flambéed with rum. Banana nectar also enhances many delicious cocktails. In Germany and Europe, the exotic banana is often used in desserts, but also increasingly in Asian-style dishes. The banana also goes well with curry dishes, in omelets or as banana cake. The banana is also suitable for savory and sweet fillings and is added to dumpling doughs, for example. In addition, they can be deep-fried in a batter coating. Baked bananas are also very popular. For this dessert, bananas are cut in half and placed in a baking dish. The banana halves are then spread with melted butter. Then almonds and sugar are sprinkled on top. The baking dish is put into the oven for about ten minutes. Bananas are also very popular with babies and toddlers and are perfect for making into a porridge or healthy, child-friendly delicacies. Other forms of processing bananas include banana flour, powder, flakes, chips, syrup and liqueur. It is very clear how many different uses bananas can be put to.
