There is a famous western medicines say, “An Apple a day keeps the doctor away”, in the same way Ayurveda have its own saying “Eating a banana will keep you away from all diseases”.
Compare to apple banana have four times more proteins, five times
vitamin A and iron, three times the phosphorus, two times carbohydrate and
twice other vitamins and minerals.
This golden fruit of tropical regions contains all the essential
nutrients needed for health. This fruit is known to be a store of vitamins,
minerals and carbohydrates.
It contains vitamins A, B, B-6 beside calcium, magnesium, iron,
potassium etc. Raw bananas contain about 20 to 25 percent starch. Then during
the maturation process the starch is almost converted with assimilable sugar.
I. Ayurveda view on banana
Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems
based on the five basic elements of nature that influence the three humors (doshas) of the body.
Ayurveda recommends banana as the first solid food for babies. The
yellow skin Banana can cures most diseases caused by the three humors (vata,
pitta and kapha).
Although it balances vata and pitta doshas it may increase kapha
dosha if not properly digested. An interesting feature is that bananas can
reduce your weight causes obesity and at the same time it can build
the body. Ayurveda also recommends feeding of banana to anemic children.
According to the Ayurveda texts such as “Sushruta Samhita” explain
the benefits and uses of banana tree that can be used as both fruit and
vegetables.
They note that the banana is only the plant whose stem, flower,
leaves; skin means whole plant is full of medicinal properties. It also keeps
the body cool by balancing the vata and pitta dosha.
1. Medicinal uses of banana
stem
When harvesting bananas
the tree so called stem is cut away. The tender inner part of the stem can be
used as vegetable.
The stem are very fibrous so it is necessary to clean the fiber
yarn properly .The stems are cut into a smaller pieces and soaked in buttermilk
or diluted yogurt for half an hour and can be consume.
In southern part of India it is cooked as a vegetable and eaten
with rice. The banana stem are of rich fiber so it very beneficial for those
people with a weight loss program .
In addition it have good amount of potassium and vitamin B6 that
helps in the production of insulin and increase hemoglobin .
It is also beneficial to a person having blood pressure. Eating
banana stem once a week will keep blood pressure under control. It
also helps to maintain fluid balance within the body and detoxify the body.
2. Medicinal uses of banana
flower
The flower grows at the end of a bunch of bananas it is cone shape
redish brown with cream colored florets layers in inner part .
It can be used as vegetable, it should be
thoroughly cleaned before being cooked. The banana flower is rich in proteins,
vitamins and flavonoids.
The flower has been used as traditional medicine to treat various
illnesses such as constipation, ulcer and bronchitis problems also helpful in
menstrual cramps
3. Medicinal uses of banana
plant leaves
In southern part of India using banana leaves in daily life have a
traditional look they serve food in banana leaves. For them Banana leaf is
considered a sign of purity and therefore people consider big meal to be served
in a banana leaf. The
medicinal benefits of banana leaf juice is that it is an amazing cleanser.
It is very beneficial for cleaning bowel if taken half a glass
once a week, leaf juice mixed with warm water can also be used for gargling.
It provides relief from sore throat, can be crushed and applied to
the skin. It is also beneficial in skin irritations, Heals burns and other
minor injuries
4. Medicinal uses of banana
peel
Banana peel or so called skin is rich in polyphenols and
carotenoids that are phytochemicals with antioxidant properties.
The Studies have found that unripe banana peel contains more
antioxidants properties than ripe banana.
The other antioxidant properties found in banana peel is ‘lutein’, which is
known to reduce oxidative stress and neutralize free radicals in various parts
of body including the skin.
The ‘lutein’
found in banana peel is also known for providing nutritional substance to
eyes reducing the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts, filter out
harmful UV rays which damage the eyes and protect cells in the eyes from
free radicals damage .
The researchers suggest a minimum of 6 mg – 10 mg of ‘lutein’ is
required daily to be healthy and fit that can be obtained from dark green leafy
vegetables, spinach and fruits, so why not from banana peel instead of throwing
it away.
II. The advantages of
banana plant
Banana is used as traditional medicine in India and the ancient
Persia it is called the golden fruit due to the secret of perpetual youth
nature.
Today banana is known to consume for the healthy digestion. It
create a feeling of youth as it have calcium , phosphorus and nitrogen all of
which then work to build sound and regenerated tissues. Below is some more
benefit of eating banana and banana tree uses.
1.Kidney Disorders
Banana fruit have low protein and salt and are rich in
carbohydrates that are useful to person having kidney disorders.
It is also useful in different aliments such as uremia, a toxic
condition of the blood cause due to kidney congestion and dysfunction. In such
cases bananas must only being taken for three to four days, the consumption of
bananas is eight to nine per day.
The banana are suitable for all persons with kidney problems,
including nephritis .
Note: The person suffering from kidney failure
must avoid it as it have high content of potassium that can harm kidney.
2.Urinary disorders
The banana stem juice is a well-known remedy for urinary
disorders. It improves the functional efficiency of kidney and liver thereby
reduces the pains and diseased condition in them.
It clears the excretion organs in the abdominal portion and helps
to eliminate toxins in form of urine. It has been found that it is helpful in
the treatment for removal of kidney stones, gall bladder, and prostate. It is
advisable to mix this juice with the juice of ash gourd for best result.
3.Allergies
The banana fruit is very useful for those people who are allergic
to certain foods causing a result of skin rashes. It is also useful in aliment
such as digestive disorders or asthma.
Unlike many other protein-rich foods they contain an amino acid
which the people cannot tolerate and causes them allergy. But bananas contain
only benign amino-acids that are not allergic.
Even though it may not causes allergic reactions, but in some
individuals who are allergic should avoid it.
4.Constipation and diarrhea
Bananas is well known remedy for both constipation and diarrhea it
normalize the functions of the colon in the large intestine to absorb large
amounts of water for proper bowel moments.
It is beneficial in constipation due to its richness of pectin
that functions as water absorbent and gives them greater production ability.
It functions to change the bacteria in the intestines from harmful
type bacilli to beneficial acidophilus bacilli.
5.Menstrual disorders
The uses of Banana flower is known to be best natural remedy for
menstrual disorders. If it is taken with curd it is very useful for menstrual
disorders such as excessive menstrual bleeding and pain. Banana flower helps to
increase progesterone hormone which reduces the bleeding.
Precautions : Banana should be consume only when it is
fully ripe or else it cannot be digested in the small intestine, which then
fermented in the large intestine , often causing wind problem.
Bananas should not be stored in a refrigerator
as it prevents it from ripening. The person suffering from kidney failure or
kidney related problem must not consume banana as it has high content of
potassium that is unhealthy for such person.
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