Bananas - useful properties and contraindications

One of the most popular types of fruits in our country, and throughout the world, is bananas - delicious and nutritious, affordable and sold in every store, healthy and rich in essential substances. They contain a large number of pectins, natural natural sugars, phosphorus and calcium, magnesium and iron, potassium and other chemical compounds. Also, each ripe banana is a real storehouse of vitamins and easily absorbed carbohydrates by the body.

The beneficial properties of bananas

In many southern countries, in fact, where bananas of different varieties mainly grow, they are one of the main sources of nutrition for the population. Which is not surprising, since in such places this fruit is grown in large quantities for export and consumption by local residents, and also everywhere it grows in the wild.

Among the huge variety of products, banana stands out for having a really wide range of useful properties:

1. The complex chemicals in its pulp are an excellent tool for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory processes on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and organs of the gastrointestinal tract. Its regular use contributes to the normalization of the acidity index of gastric juice, stimulates the activation of the digestion process, thereby improving the digestibility of other foods.
2. Another important advantage of such a product as a banana is a high concentration of magnesium and potassium - elements that should be in the healthy diet of every person, regardless of age and gender. Without their help, it is difficult to imagine the normal functioning of the heart, muscle activity, bone and tooth growth, and liver function. Eating a couple of bananas daily, you can completely cover the daily requirement for potassium, as well as almost completely in magnesium. This fruit is considered especially useful for athletes and workers who, by the nature of their activity, experience constant increased stress on the cardiovascular and muscle systems.
3. Banana is a powerful source of energy, containing a large number of sugars and other well-digestible carbohydrates that saturate a person with strength. Its distinctive feature is its high calorie content, as a result of which nutritionists do not recommend including bananas of any kind in the daily diet for people suffering from obesity and trying to lose weight.
4. This southern fruit is important in the nutrition of the child. Its value in the children's diet is easily explained by good digestibility, a chemical composition rich in nutrients, and the absence of the risk of allergies. Even young children can eat bananas, however, it is worth considering that the fibers contained in them are poorly digested by humans until they reach the age of 3.
5. The soothing and enveloping effect of banana pulp when exposed to the mucous membranes of the body allows you to get rid of heartburn. Also, the fruit is an excellent tool for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases and helps to accelerate the recovery processes occurring inside it.
6. The substances contained in the pulp of bananas strengthen bones and hair, have a rejuvenating effect on the skin, therefore, based on this product, face masks and other cosmetics are produced. According to experts, the natural acids in the fruit moisturize the surface of the skin, making it supple and elastic, which women will appreciate.
7. The beneficial effect of bananas on the state of the nervous system is another serious plus to the treasury of their beneficial qualities. Regular consumption of fruit allows you to forget about depression once and for all, to make your character more calm and balanced. And all because bananas are rich in the so-called "hormones of joy", when ingested, improve his mood.
8. There is no doubt their benefits for the hematopoiesis system, due to the high iron content. The inclusion of bananas in the diet allows you to slow down the natural aging process, increase the mental capabilities of the brain, accelerate wound healing, and improve the digestibility of fats and proteins.
9. The substances contained inside the fruit effectively neutralize and excrete harmful compounds inhaled by the lungs during the daily smoking process, so using it makes it easier for those who have seriously decided to try to get rid of this addiction.

Bananas are also used in folk medicine - due to the high concentration of useful substances, they are effectively used to treat inflammatory diseases of the mouth and digestive system, constipation and diarrhea, stomach ulcers and gastritis, high blood pressure and anemia, diathesis and atherosclerosis, various kinds of nervous disorders. The peel is considered an excellent remedy for getting rid of warts and other skin problems.

Banana composition

The beneficial properties of bananas are due to the diverse chemical composition of the fruit. It contains a wide selection of such important compounds for the human body as:

1. Potassium - is responsible for the health of the heart and blood vessels, nourishes and strengthens the myocardium, maintains the elasticity and tone of the vascular walls, reduces the risk of problems with blood pressure. It is enough to use one such fruit a day to forget about hypertension.
2. Fiber - normalizes the functioning of the intestines and other organs of the digestive system, cleansing their delicate mucous walls of toxins, has a mild laxative effect.
3. Serotonin, also known as the “hormone of joy” or the “hormone of happiness” is a real safe natural antidepressant that calms nerves, allows you to relax after busy workdays, purposefully evokes positive emotions in a person.

Bananas are almost free of fats and proteins, but they are rich in vitamins and minerals - ascorbic acid, magnesium, calcium and others. Depending on the size, the calorie content of one fruit is from 70 to 100 kilocalories, or an average of 85 kilocalories.

The benefits of dried bananas

Today, bananas are becoming increasingly popular - sweet dried fruits, which are an excellent treat. They are rich in potassium and other important chemicals that have a beneficial effect on the brain and heart, hair and skin. Their regular use in food allows you to get rid of anemia, problems with the digestive and cardiovascular system, constipation, toxins.

Eating dried bananas in food allows you to remove excess fluid from the body, getting rid of puffiness. The fibrous structure of their pulp most positively affects the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines, stimulating digestive processes and improving the degree of assimilation of food. Due to the large amount of fiber, this type of dried fruit has a slight laxative effect.

Dried banana is a product easily assimilated by the human body, providing it with strength and energy, which is especially important for people who are fond of sports or working in hard physical work. In addition, the fruit is rich in vitamin C, which makes it an excellent tool for strengthening immunity, combating vitamin deficiency, prevention and treatment of viral and infectious diseases.

Banana contraindications

Despite the huge number of advantages, in some cases bananas can harm the human body:

1. They contain a high concentration of sugars, so their frequent use is strongly not recommended for people suffering from diabetes or prone to overweight, as well as trying to get rid of obesity.
2. They should be consumed in moderation, since a large amount of pulp is difficult to digest by the stomach and intestines, especially when it comes to green bananas. Otherwise, you need to be prepared for such troubles as increased flatulence and bloating.
3. Do not try to mix bananas with milk - in most cases, such a mixture as soon as possible will cause indigestion, causing loose stools and other troubles.
4. It is not advisable to give a large amount of this fruit to children under the age of three years. Firstly, their digestive system is still not well suited for the digestion of fiber in the pulp, and secondly, there is a risk of allergies.
5. It is not recommended to eat bananas during childbearing or during breastfeeding - sometimes such a diet can cause allergic reactions, nuclear jaundice or hemolytic anemia in infants.
6. It is also worth abandoning their administration in diseases such as thrombophlebitis, coronary heart disease, and increased blood clotting. People who have suffered a heart attack or stroke should also refrain from buying them.

Often on sale you can find green unripe bananas. Eating them is not the best solution. The fact is that instead of easily digestible sugars, they contain hardly soluble starch, the ingress of which into the digestive organs causes bloating and flatulence. Having bought such fruits, it is necessary to leave them to ripen for several days, so that the starch has turned into sugar.

Video: what will happen if you eat 2 bananas a day