Bananas, the sweet good mood food
BANANAS are sweet fruits that children love. They are very soft when ripe that even a child who is teething can eat them. Their rich yellow colour is what I find most attractive about them. And, they are affordable. <br>
By Sarah Ulotu
BANANAS are sweet fruits that children love. They are very soft when ripe that even a child who is teething can eat them. Their rich yellow colour is what I find most attractive about them. And, they are affordable.
A bunch of small sweet bananas costs sh500 to sh3,000, while the big ones (bogoya) cost sh100 to sh300 each, depending on where you buy it from.
Not only are bananas sweet, they are also nutritious. Nelly Birungi, a nutritionist at Mulago Hospital, says one banana contains three natural sugars — sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fibre.
“A banana is a natural remedy for many illnesses. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the Vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium,†says Birungi.
According to an online source, the banana is sometimes called “brain food†because each banana has 602 milligrams of potassium, which is important for the brain to function well, about 1 gramme of protein, 27 grammes of carbohydrates (including 14 grammes of sugar and three grammes of fiber), and 15% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of Vitamin C, 20% of the RDA for vitamin B6 and 20% of the RDA for potassium.
Birungi says bananas contain Vitamin A which is essential for the integrity of body membranes and immunity. It is like an avocado, the only difference being that an avocado contains more fat and potassium while a banana contains more sugar, carbohydrates and soluble diet fibre.
In Australia, the banana is called the “good mood food,†because its high Vitamin B6 content can help to relieve anxiety and stress.
The banana can also ease and prevent sensual constipation. “When a child has difficulty going to the toilet, they should be given at least one banana each morning. This will help soften the child’s system, making it easier for them to go to the toilet,†Birungi says.
“The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronic ulcer cases. It also neutralises over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach,†says Birungi.
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body; so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for relief. Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
According to the New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%.
An online source states that bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The vitamins B6 and B12 as well as the potassium and magnesium they contain, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
BANANAS are sweet fruits that children love. They are very soft when ripe that even a child who is teething can eat them. Their rich yellow colour is what I find most attractive about them. And, they are affordable.
A bunch of small sweet bananas costs sh500 to sh3,000, while the big ones (bogoya) cost sh100 to sh300 each, depending on where you buy it from.
Not only are bananas sweet, they are also nutritious. Nelly Birungi, a nutritionist at Mulago Hospital, says one banana contains three natural sugars — sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fibre.
“A banana is a natural remedy for many illnesses. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the Vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium,†says Birungi.
According to an online source, the banana is sometimes called “brain food†because each banana has 602 milligrams of potassium, which is important for the brain to function well, about 1 gramme of protein, 27 grammes of carbohydrates (including 14 grammes of sugar and three grammes of fiber), and 15% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of Vitamin C, 20% of the RDA for vitamin B6 and 20% of the RDA for potassium.
Birungi says bananas contain Vitamin A which is essential for the integrity of body membranes and immunity. It is like an avocado, the only difference being that an avocado contains more fat and potassium while a banana contains more sugar, carbohydrates and soluble diet fibre.
In Australia, the banana is called the “good mood food,†because its high Vitamin B6 content can help to relieve anxiety and stress.
The banana can also ease and prevent sensual constipation. “When a child has difficulty going to the toilet, they should be given at least one banana each morning. This will help soften the child’s system, making it easier for them to go to the toilet,†Birungi says.
“The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronic ulcer cases. It also neutralises over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach,†says Birungi.
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body; so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for relief. Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
According to the New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%.
An online source states that bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The vitamins B6 and B12 as well as the potassium and magnesium they contain, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.