Health benefits of banana:
Banana fruit is one of the high calorie
tropical fruits. 100 g of fruit provides 90 calories. Besides, it contains good
amounts of health benefiting anti-oxidants, minerals, and vitamins.
Banana pulp is composed of soft, easily
digestible flesh with simple sugars like fructose and sucrose that when eaten
replenishes energy and revitalizes the body instantly; thus, for these
qualities, bananas are being used by athletes to get instant energy and as
supplement food in the treatment plan for underweight children.
The fruit holds a good amount of soluble
dietary fiber (7% of DRA per 100 g) that helps normal bowel movements; thereby
reducing constipation problems.
It contains health promoting flavonoid
poly-phenolic antioxidants such as lutein, zea-xanthin, ß and α-carotenes in
small amounts. These compounds help act as protective scavengers against
oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that play a role
in aging and various disease processes.
It is also a very good source of vitamin-B6
(pyridoxine), provides about 28% of daily-recommended allowance. Pyridoxine is
an important B-complex vitamin that has a beneficial role for the treatment of
neuritis, and anemia. Further, it helps decrease homocystine (one of the
causative factors in coronary artery disease (CHD) and stroke episodes) levels
within the body.
The fruit is an also a moderate source of
vitamin-C (about 8.7 mg per 100g). Consumption of foods rich in vitamin-C helps
the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful
oxygen-free radicals.
Fresh bananas provide adequate levels of
minerals like copper, magnesium, and manganese. Magnesium is essential for bone
strengthening and has a cardiac-protective role as well. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor
for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Copper is required in the
production of red blood cells.
Fresh banana is a very rich source of
potassium. 100 g fruit provides 358 mg potassium. Potassium is an important
component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood
pressure, countering bad effects of sodium.
Dr.S.Senthil Karunakaran,
M.D(Siddha)
AVIZTHAM SIDDHA HOSPITAL
No 6, Mounasamy Mutt Street,
Ambattur O.T, Chennai – 53
Contact no: 9444403023
Email; drkarunakaran@gmail.com
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