Ayurveda – Ayurvedic – India

The most “eaten” fruits in the world is Banana. It is available anywhere, any time! It is a complete food. It is venerated in most of the Asian countries, especially in India. Without Banana, turmeric and coconut no auspicious function is celebrated in south India. It is the fruit, most offered to god. The beauty of banana is it comes ‘packed’! Hygienically covered with an easily removable skin, it is germ free and there is no need to wash it.
Banana is the fruit planted by most countries – 132 countries for that matter – in the world. It is numero – uno in popularity.
The domestically cultivated plant might have come to India from malaysia. In the religious scripture of Buddhism written in the “Bali” language, in the 6th century B.C. there are references to Banana: Alexander the great, during his invasion of India in B.C. 327, admired the taste of Banana and is said to have taken some young trees for planting in Greece. Alexander credited with the introduction of banana in the Europe. yang a chinese historian of 200 A.D. said about growth of Bananas in southern china. Though chinese considered Banana as a wonderful fruit, its cultivation spread all over china completely in 20th century only.
The Arabs, who had trade links with India, are responsible for the introduction of bananas in Egypt and other African countries. In 650 A.D., the Arabs were operating their “slave trade” in south central Africa, vigorously. They traded bananas and Inory for human slaves. During their travels to the west of Africa, they took banana to Guinea. Then the portuguese sailors, during their travels, planted the bananas in the canary Islands. In the year 1516 A.D, a portuguese bishop called Tomas de Berlango took bananas to the west Indian Island “santa Domingo”. From here Bananas reached the Americas.
It is the Arabians who coined the name ‘Bananas’ In Arabic, ‘banana’ means ‘finger’. Bananas available those days were finger – size. Hence the ‘name banana’ Now bananas are 8 to 12 inches long!
The other name for Banana, plantain, came from its spanish name ‘plantano:
The Americans tasted their first banana in A.D. 1876. Now Americans consume the maximum bananas than any other country in the world. Germany comes next.
The scientific name of Banana is ‘Musa Sapientum. Synomym is M. Paradisiaca. Family – Musaceae.
Though it is called a tree, it is not! It is really a giant herb. It grows to height of 2 to 8 metres. The leaves are green, cittractive and large. The leaves are easily damaged by winds. Propagation is by the sucker that arises from the rhizome (below the ground) of the mother tree, when it bears flowers. After fruiting the stem which has borne the infloresence (mother tree) dies. Meanwhile the other suckers thrown up by the rhizome, in turn flower and die. This way the plant goes on fruiting. A big fruit bunch of Banana consist of number of spirals of fruits called ‘hands’. Each hand contains 12 -16 fruits. There may be 3 to 20 ‘hands’ in the big bunch, to talling to 120 to 200 indvidual fruits (bananas).
India produces 23% of world production. Brazil also is a leading producer. The production is just enough for its own internal consumption. The countries that export (two thirds of total export) bananas are Ecuador, costa Rica, Phillipines and columbia. These are called the ‘banana’ republies. Europe is supplied from west Indies and also from west Africa.
Nutrients in 100 gms of banana
Moisture – 70.1%
Protein – 1.2%
Fat – 0.3%
Starch – 27.2%
Fibre – 0.4%
Calcium – 17 mg.
Vitamin ‘C’ – 7 mg.
Calories – 116.
Banana also contains vitamin ‘B’ carotene, Niacin and Riboflavin
Every part of the Banana tree is useful. There are several varieties. All are useful and nutritious.
Banana in food
Raw bananas are important staple vegetables. They are used in every day cooking as a separate side dish or cut in to sections and boiled in “sambhar”, like potatoes. It is used in hot favourite snacks like “Bajji” Banana ‘bajjis’ are tremondously tasty. But raw Banana is generally believed to produce gas and encourage flatulence. Therefore it is better to cook it with a little ginger or garlic. cooking bananas are the chief staple foods of some millions of people in East Africa.
Banana flowers
Banana flower is also used in cooking but not as much as the raw fruit. The reason is it is difficult to clean. The bud like flower is opened up by rubbing its head, gently with the palm of hand. The central ’style’ is removed. The flowers have medicinal value.
Banana stem
Used in South Indian cooking, the stem is said to clear kidney stones. It is used in Burmese (Myanmar) cooking also.
Banana leaves
Banana leaves could be 3.5 m in lenght. In all major functions like marriage, the leaves are used instead of plates. Eating off banana leaves is considered hygienic and healthy.
Medicinal uses:
The banana fruit is not much used in cooking as by itself it is a complete food.
It is used in milkshakes, khir (payasam) and Panchamrit (fruit mixture).
Raw Banana:-
Enhances appetitie, improves blood production. It is belieted to produce gas.
Banana flower:-
Said to be good for curing femal menstruation problems. Traditionally used for this purpose. Improves sperm production in males. Good for diabetic patients
Banana”bark”:
As said earlier, cooked stem cleas urinary tract stones. Diuretic. Relieves Intestinal disorders.
Banana Rhizome
In orissa, people use this to treat Hepatitic diseases like Jaundice.
Banana fruit:
? Easily digestible therefore good for sick people. Relieves ‘pilta’.
? Mild but good laxative. It has ulcer healing nutrients. Because of its ‘pectin’ content, banana is good for treating constipation. A banana a day, keeps piles away!
? Gives instant energy. Tennis professional ‘Ace’ players, eat a banana during the internals to boost up their stamina. Steffi graf, pete sampras, Boris becker use banana during their games. Bananas pep up enthusiasm, strengthener the body.
? Because banana contains ’serotonin’, it is the food fit for the brain. It improves functions of brain cells. It curbs depression.
? Its magnesium content protects the heart. Its iron content is good for preventing anaemia.
? Lean persons, who want to put on weight can take daily, banana with milk and honey.
? The red variety of banana is good for improving sperm production. It cures Night blindness.
? The variety “Rastali” arrests Diarrhoea.
? Daily intake banana prevents joint disorders.
Other use
1. Rope like strings are stripped off the bark and used in making flower – garlands
2. In East Africa, bananas are used in making beer. Special varieties are grown for this purpose.
3. In venezuela the banana fruits are used for making vinegar
Caution
Persons with kidney disorders should avoid taking bananas. The reason is the presence of potassium. Diabetic and Asthma patients also should avoid bananas.