Are Bananas Healthy?

The banana really is one amazing fruit. Where else do you find a natural package of vitamins and minerals, packed together to taste so good, and sealed in its own peel?

Convenient, tasty, healthy and so clean and easy to prepare – just peel and eat.

Then we have the skin with its own attributes, and so good for the garden – they even tell me you can use them to shine your shoes!

The banana has been called “the fruit of the wise”. With all the minerals and vitamins in them that our bodies need, it only makes sense to make them a regular part of our diet.

If you have had the privilege of raising children – here is a food they all seem to eat. Whoppee!

Whether you are young, old, big or small, bananas make a tasty and healthy part of our daily food.

Bananas and Health

One of the key benefits of banana being included in our diet certainly involves the banana nutrients. There are other benefits to add to those though. Look at how convenient the banana is.

We often take fruit with us to events – the banana lasts the distance much better than most other fruit. It is extremely easy to eat, no matter where you are.

The banana tastes great. They are also an affordable fruit. As our economic times get tougher, a factor to bear in mind.

banana nutritional Information

The nutritional value of a banana isn’t as recognized as I first thought. In fact, there are a number of myths about concerning the banana so lets get to the facts.

Some peole think that the banana causes constipation. Bananas are actually high in fiber and at the same time as making them good for your cardiovascular health, fiber actually also helps avoid constipation. And, fiber also keeps your intestines healthy.

It is a diarrhea sufferer’s ally. A soothing substance that may stop the diarrhea and replace what you’ve lost, without causing constipation. It helps replace electrolytes, the very tiny electrical charges needed to power the body and maintain fluid balance.

Bananas contain potassium, riboflavin, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, vitamin’s A,B and C, thiamin, niacin, copper, pantothenic acid and zinc.

A banana is cholesterol free.

The plantain banana when cooked, rates at a slightly higher level on the nutritional scale for vitamins and minerals than fruit bananas. They are both similar in their protein and fibre content.

The way a banana is prepared is extremely important to the nutrient value. Cooking and drying can diminish nutrient value.

Calories in Bananas

People often ask – how many calories are in a banana?

That largely depends on the size of the banana. A raw, fresh, medium sized banana is around the 100 calories mark (weight for weight, about the same as cottage cheese).
A larger banana may have up around 135 calories.

There are other things to consider with bananas though. Bananas derive nearly 92% of their calories from carbohydrates, around 4% of their calories from protein, and 4% from fats.

A banana is filling and is ideal for children’s morning break or an after school energy boost.

Carbs in Bananas

If you are on a low carbohydrate diet in an effort to burn fat, you need to consider the carbohydrates in addition to how many calories are in a banana.

The body burns off calories from carbs more easily and quickly than calories from fat or protein. Bananas are an excellent food for weight loss.

Bananas can help children to learn better at school. The fuel your brain uses is glucose, just like your muscles. The glucose in your body comes directly from carbohydrate foods like bananas. The glucose in blood is used whenever you think or learn something new.

Bananas contain three natural sugars, fructose, sucrose and glucose along with fiber. This provides an instant and substantial boost in energy.

No other fruit contains more digestible carbohydrates than bananas.

Bananas are a quick and easy source of carbohydrates which is needed to provide energy for muscles and the brain.

What are the best food choices before sport? Food that is high in carbs. Carbohydrates top up the natural fuel used by muscles in sport. The banana is the favourite fruit of many active people. They are easy to eat, rich in carbohydates and help you to perform in your sport.

Potassium in Bananas

Bananas are high in potassium. From a muscle building perspective, your nerves need potassium to tell out muscles what to do. This is important to the weight trainer to build muscle. A diet rich in potassium is also said to reduce the risk of hypertension and stroke.

Bananas are also relatively free from sodium so they can be included in a diet to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.

It is believed that potassium may help to counteract the increased urinary calcium loss which is caused by the high salt diet typical of our western civilisation.

Bananas contain pectin and malic acid. They are refreshing when eaten raw.

The vitamin B6 in bananas helps in teh synthesis of antibodies in the immune system apart from red blood formation, protein metabolism and functioning of the central nervous system.

Actually bananas are the best fruit source of vitamin B6.

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Recipe: Banana Bread (with walnuts and dates)

An easy and incredibly tasty banana Bread. For recipe details: www.itsyourturntocook.com

Duration : 0:4:16

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Including a banana in your breakfast is a great way to start the day.

1. Banana from the Skin

The simplest breakfast is to take your banana, peel back the skin and get right into eating. What could be simpler? What could be as tasty and as good for you? This must surely rate as the easiest, healthy breakfast.

2. Mashed Ripe Bananas

Take ripe sweet bananas and mash them up. You can then eat them either on their own, mixed up with cereal, on toast, or my mothers favourite, as the filling for a sandwich. Whatever way you choose, they provide a breakfast with banana nutritional value.

3. Bananas Sliced in Cold Cereals

If you find the same old cereal a bit boring, bring it alive by adding some sliced up banana. In my eyes there is a huge difference between plain bran for breakfast and bran with sliced banana!

4. Banana Sauce over Cereal

Another simple way to enjoy banana for breakfast is to puree the banana. You may like to add a couple of ice cubes to keep it cool on a hot day, or maybe a couple of tablespoons of water, milk or cream. This can be poured over your cereal for a delicious healthy breakfast alternative.

5. Banana Smoothie

If you prefer a light breakfast drink, then a banana smoothie is the way to go. Milk is mixed together with mashed banana to create a healthy drink. My preference is to use non-fat milk as I find it mixes in the blender to a thicker mixture be warned though do not over mix or it becomes too thick. Add a few drops of vanilla to flavour.

6. Banana Porridge

For a tasty porridge incorporating banana, have a look at the orange and banana porridge recipe. It takes about ten minutes to prepare and will warm you up and fill you on a winter morning before you go about your daily tasks.

7. Banana Pancakes

There are a number of different ways to prepare banana pancakes, some cooking the bananas on top of the pancake while some include the banana in the pancake mix. The simplest way is often my favourite and we usually make the pancakes, slice the bananas on a long angle, add either whipped cream or a little sauce, say maple syrup and roll it up. Yum!!

Technorati Tags: Banana from the Skin, Banana Pancakes, Banana Porridge, Banana Sauce, Banana Smoothie, bananas for breakfast, Bananas Sliced, Mashed Ripe Bananas

Ingredients:

30ml/2 tablespoon wheatgerm
1 large banana, chopped
130gm/4oz (a generous cup) soya yoghurt
15ml/1 tablespoon linseed (flax seeds)
Juice of 1 lime
Juice of 1 large orange
Mineral water (optional)
Linseed and grated lime zest, for decoration

Method:

1. Put the wheatgerm, the banana, the yoghurt and linseed in a blender or food processor.

2. Blend until smooth then scrape down the sides of the bowl.

3. Stir well.

4. Add the lime and orange juice to the yoghurt mixture.

5. Blend again until evenly mixed.

6. Pour the juice into a large glass and top up with mineral water, if desired.

7. Use the linseed and lime zest to decorate, then serve.

Makes 1 large glass

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To come will be recipes for banana bread, banana cake, banana muffins, banana smoothies, banana split, banana fritters, banana flambe, banana cream pie, banana pudding and banana loaf with varieties of many of these as well. Maybe you are a chocoholic and have to have the chocolate fix in your muffins – we will keep you happy!

There will be more than just the banana recipes, also you will find tips on how to have success with these recipes. As we develop the site further recipes will include more and more banana pictures and some banana videos.

If you have a fantastic recipe or any advice on how we can improve the Banana Site please place a comment or email us at support@bananasite.com.

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The banana spider is regularly referred to as the world’s deadliest spider. By having some knowledge it will help you to do the right thing should this creature cross your path. There are actually two spiders referred to as the ‘banana spider’.

The Golden Silk Spider (Nephila clavipes) are often thought of as banana spiders because of their yellow bodies. Their web is very strongly woven and looks like gold thread in the sunshine. The webs are about three feet wide. These spiders are all over the southern part of the United States, especially in Florida. It is rare for them to bite people. The female is around 3 inches long, yet the male is only 1/2 inch long.

The other spider known as the banana spider is a much more dangerous spider. They are the Phoneutria banana spider known as the Brazilian Wandering Spider. There are eight different species of the phoneutria of which two, the phoneutria nigriventer and phoneutria fera are recognised as being extremely dangerous.

The Brazilian Wandering Spider is found over large parts of South America and some parts of Central America. They are called ‘banana spider’ as they are frequently found on banana leaves.

These spiders have on occasion unintentionally appeared on banana boats heading for the United States. They hide in dark moist places and in banana boxes.

My mother recalls as a young child her mother removing a spider from a banana box that arrived at their store all the way down here in New Zealand. To this day she recalls the large size of the spider and how hairy it was. From her description it seems highly likely it was a Brazilian Wandering Spider.

In the Guinness Book of World Records they are listed as the planets most venomous animal. A banana spider is a spider to be extremely wary of
spider to be extremely wary of and one that may well terrify you if you have a fear of spiders.

The Brazilian Wandering Spider is extremely fast, extremely venomous and extremely aggressive. If you are bitten by one, you should get immediate emergency treatment as the venom may be life threatening.

The Phoneutria has a potent neurotoxin and is said to have one of the most excruciatingly painful spider bites due to its high concentration of serotonin. The antidote for the bite of one was discovered by Carlos Chagas from Brazil.

They have an aggressive defence posture, in which they raise their front legs straight up into the air and rock from side to side. The wandering spiders are called this because they wander the jungle floor at night rather than having a web or lair.

The Phoneutria is a ‘true spider’. True spiders all have a certain amount of venom. The Phoneutria has very strong venom. Their venom is toxic to the human nervous system, causing symptoms such as irregular heartbeat, salivation and prolonged, painful erections (priapism) in men. Scientists are investigating the phoneutria nigriventer venom as a possible treatment for erectile dysfunction.

The Phoneutria nigriventer is the species of banana spider most responsible for cases of venom intoxication in Brazil. It is commonly found in highly populated areas of south-eastern Brazil. The spiders are encountered in peoples homes hiding in poeples’ shoes, hats and other clothes.

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Best Moist banana Bread Recipe

http://moistbanana-bread-recipe.blogspot.com

This Moist Banana Bread video shows the difference between 2 moist banana bread, that has been mould in different ways. Both ways has it own advantage. Enjoy the Moist Banana Bread video!

Duration : 0:3:5

Technorati Tags: banana, best, bread, moist, recipe, Video

Ingredients:

• 250gm (8 oz) packaged cream cheese at room temperature
• 1/3 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
• teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 egg, separated
• 2 tablespoons cream
• 1 tablespoon rum
• 30gm (1 oz) butter
• 8 bananas
• 1/3 cup cream, extra
• Extra cinnamon

Method:

1. Beat cream cheese until soft and fluffy.
2. Gradually add the brown sugar and cinnamon and beat well.
3. Add lightly-beaten egg yolk and beat until combined.
4. Stir in the rum and cream, mixing well.
5. Beat the egg while until soft peaks are formed.
6. Fold egg white into the cream cheese mixture gently.
7. Peel the bananas and halve lengthwise.
8. Melt butter in a pan.
9. Add the bananas and gently saut over a low heat until they are golden and tender.
10. Place alternate layers of bananas and cream cheese mixture in a small ovenproof dish.
11. Finish with a layer of cream cheese mixture on the top.
12. Spoon extra cream over and sprinkle with the extra cinnamon.
13. Bake in a moderate over for 15-20 minutes.
14. The bananas will be heated through and bubbly on top.

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To view video, click on the post title

Preparing a banana Smoothie

Charlotte Lyons, Ebony Magazine Food Editor, demonstrates how to make a breakfast smoothie. Learn to make fast, easy, fun, and healthy dishes to share and enjoy!

Duration : 0:2:29

Technorati Tags: Banana Smoothie, preparing, Video

4 bananas
3 tablespoons cream
3 tablespoons milk
1 cup brown sugar
Knob of butter

Whipped cream for topping
Chopped nuts

Method

1. Place sugar, cream, milk and butter in a pan.
2. Boil for 2 minutes.
3. Cool the mixture.
4. Slice the bananas into a dish.
5. Pour the mixture over the bananas.
6. Top with whipped cream and chopped nuts.
7. Chill in refrigerator.

Technorati Tags: Banana delight, banana delight recipe