Banana is an edible fruit, botanically a berry produced by several kinds of large herbaceous flowering plants in the genus Musa. In some countries, bananas used for cooking may be called plantains, in contrast to dessert bananas. The fruit is variable in size, color, and firmness, but bananas are usually elongated and curved, with soft flesh rich in starch covered with a rind, which may be green, yellow, red, purple, or brown when ripe. The fruits grow in clusters hanging from the top of the plant. Almost all modern edible parthenocarpic (seedless) bananas come from two wild species – Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana. The scientific names of most cultivated bananas are Musa acuminata, Musa balbisiana

Facts about Banana

Here we are going to be telling you some amazing information about bananas. It is very likely that you already know some of these facts but be rest assured, many of the facts about bananas mentioned here will take you by surprise. Below are some interesting banana facts.

1. Bananas are seriously healthy for your heart. In case you are not aware, bananas are very rich in the mineral called potassium. Potassium is an electrolyte that our body requires to keep electrical impulses flowing through the body. Without electrical impulses, our heart will not operate. So, eat bananas for a happy and healthy heart.
2. If your muscles are hurt and too stressed out, eat bananas! They have magnesium – a natural muscle relaxant. When muscles relax, body slips into sleeping mode. Happy sleeping
3. Bananas are naturally radioactive. The potassium found in bananas is present as potassium-40 isotope. That is a radioactive version of the element. Funny though, this radioactive potassium in bananas do not harm our body.
4. If you are having troubles sleeping, eat bananas. They are rich in vitamin B6 that naturally helps a person to sleep.
5. Bananas is rich in potassium, and low on sodium content which is not bad because high potassium and low sodium content helps to reduce risk of high blood pressure – a potentially deadly cardiovascular disease.
6. Feeling depressed? Eat bananas. They will help elevate your mood because they are rich in tryptophan. This tryptophan is processed by the body and converted into serotonin – a neurotransmitter that helps to elevate mood.
7. Bananas are low on calcium but still good for your bone health (unlike milk which is high on calcium but is super unhealthy for bones). The reason is a bit complex but here is a simple explanation – bananas have fructooligosaccharides. It is actually a carbohydrate that our body cannot digest but it is known for encouraging probiotics that in turn increases the ability of our body to absorb calcium. Additionally, there is magnesium in bananas that also helps to absorb calcium.
8. Bananas are good for the eyes because they have vitamin A in small amounts. Vitamin A improves night vision and maintains normal vision.
9. Having issues defecating? consider eating bananas because they are really high on fiber and help to regularize your bowel movements.
10. Yes we call it a banana tree. But did you know that it is not really a tree? It is actually a tree-like or arborescent perennial herb. which is the world’s largest herb
11. Over 100 billion bananas are consumed annually in the world, making bananas the 4th largest agricultural product in the world behind wheat, rice, and corn
12. The phrase “going bananas” was first recorded in the Oxford English Dictionary and is linked to the fruit’s “comic” connection with monkeys.
13. The term “Banana Republic” was coined for states that were primarily run by large banana companies who generally would support some dictator whose primary purpose was to protect the banana companies and ensure large, cheap crops.