Bananas have many nutrients that are good for the body. One of them is that they have a high potassium content. Potassium is good for heart health, maintaining blood pressure, and brain function. It can help regulate fluid and electrolyte balance. So that blood pressure remains stable. Not only that, the carbohydrate content makes bananas one of the favorite snacks when dieting. But do you know? Bananas belong to the berry group. Meanwhile, the word fruit refers to the structure of a flowering plant that is sweet, fleshy, and stores seeds.
Bananas, botanically, are a category of berries. Beri has characteristics, among others; develops from one ovary, generally, has a soft exocarp (outer skin of the fruit), has a fleshy mesocarp (flesh or middle part of the fruit), and has a soft endocarp (inside that wraps around the seed) and can accommodate one or more. Therefore, bananas fulfil all the requirements of what is called a berry. This fact is quite the opposite. Because the berries we know so far are strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and other fruits that have the word berry at the end.
However, these fruits do not fall into the category of berries, you know. What we call berries every day fall into the category of aggregate fruits. Surprisingly, bananas and other fruits that fall into the classification of berries rarely have the word “berry” added to their names. The difference in the name of this fruit has been around for thousands of years. Even before they found the classification of the fruit, they found the name of the fruit first to avoid public confusion. Several other fruits —tomatoes, grapes, avocados, eggplant, and guavas — also qualify as berries. However, like bananas, these plants are more commonly referred to as fruits than berries.
You can enjoy it in various ways: eaten raw, fried, steamed, or mixed with other ingredients. But bananas are not only delicious, but they also have many benefits. The delicious taste and affordable price make bananas a favorite fruit. However, do you know about the benefits of bananas for the body? Here are the various benefits and nutritional content of bananas that you need to know.
1. Realizing Quality Sleep
The tryptophan present in bananas is the building block for the hormone melatonin. These hormones play a role in creating feelings of relaxation and regulating sleep patterns. The benefits of eating bananas, especially before bed, can help achieve better quality sleep.
2. Rich in manganese
Magnesium is a mineral that helps everybody to function normally. Manganese helps in the metabolism of carbohydrates, cholesterol, and amino acids in the human body. In addition, this mineral also plays a substantial role in bone growth and wound healing. Manganese can also prevent migraines, lower the risk of pregnancy complications, and lower the risk of dying from a heart attack. Several studies have shown that women with osteoporosis have lower levels of manganese in the body than those without osteoporosis. The good news, the benefits of manganese you can find in bananas. For two medium-sized bananas, there is 30 percent of the daily human manganese requirement. The benefits of this banana you can get by eating it directly or processed into juice.
3. Contains high fiber
For you guys who are on a diet, the complex carbohydrates in bananas will not raise glucose levels drastically. In addition, bananas also have a low-fat content. So it is safe for those of you who are on a weight loss program. Fiber is good for maintaining a healthy digestive tract and intestines. It is also substantial for maintaining your cholesterol levels. In addition, this content can help you lose weight because it keeps you full longer. Ripe bananas can help expedite the disposal of body waste from the metabolic process. One of the benefits of bananas for digestion is that they help relieve digestive problems, such as constipation, thanks to their fiber.
4. Rich in magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral that helps every organ and system in the body to function normally. Magnesium is essential for protein formation, maintaining muscle and nerve function, energy production, and controlling sugar and blood pressure. Magnesium deficiency can reduce appetite, cause nausea, vomiting, tingling, increasing the risk of seizures, migraines, heart rhythm disorders, and osteoporosis. Bananas are rich in magnesium. Two medium bananas contain 16% of your daily magnesium requirement. Adding bananas to your diet can prevent you from developing a magnesium deficiency.
5. Good for digestion
If you’ve heard of stomach flu or have had food poisoning, bananas are a great choice to soothe your stomach problems. Its soft texture makes it easy for this fruit to pass through the digestive tract. Its potassium content also helps replace lost electrolytes from your body. Not only that, but the fiber content in this fruit also helps increase stool density and relieve diarrhea. Eating bananas can also help with morning sickness in pregnant women. It is because it contains vitamin B6. Usually, doctors will recommend pregnant women take vitamin B6 supplements during pregnancy to reduce nausea and vomiting.
6. Rejuvenate facial skin
Bananas mixed with honey are efficacious to overcome skin that is too dry. This mixture can reduce inflammation in acne. Mash the ripe banana flesh. Then add a little bit of honey and apply it to the skin with acne. You can mix it with lemon and honey for better results. Leave it on for 15 – 30 minutes, then wash it off with clean water and dry your face. Do it regularly until the acne disappears.
One of the biggest fears of women is premature aging. Signs of this include dull skin, dark spots, wrinkles, and sagging skin. One banana contains vitamins C and B6. They are antioxidants that can help the skin avoid premature signs of aging. From the information above, we know that bananas have many health benefits. For those who want to enjoy these benefits, make sure to eat bananas in the right portions every day.
