10 Interesting Facts about Bananas

Banana

Bananas can come in many different sizes, shapes, and colors. It is a fruit that grow on banana trees. The scientific name of the banana tree is Musa Acuminata. They are native to Southeast Asia and northern Australia.

Characteristics:

The banana tree is cultivated around the world as a major fruit crop. Bananas are eaten raw or cooked, often in desserts and baked goods such as muffins or breads. They also have three major crops per year: early (March-April), main (June-July), and late (October-December) harvest seasons in tropical regions with no frost months between them. The fruits are used in juice and are eaten whole, or the pulp can be removed and used in cooked foods. Bananas are eaten raw or cooked, often in desserts and baked goods such as muffins or breads. The fruit is also dried. The basic use of a banana can be summarized as follows: external – peel, slice or dice, eat raw; internal – peel, cube to a stew (a true delicacy among Brazilians), fry or bake in slices, blend for banana milkshake; medicinal – banana leaves can be torn into small pieces and applied directly on wounds for effective healing.

Malnutrition and food security are major concerns in some banana-producing countries. Diseases such as Panama disease (Fusarium wilt) can have devastating effects on production. Flowering may be delayed by a month or more if the plant is infected [Banana disease resistance]. Banana plants are susceptible to black Sigatoka, a fungal disease that affects the plants’ leaves and eventually leads to their death.

Uses:

Bananas are grown in almost every tropical country for their fruit which is eaten fresh, cooked or processed into products such as jam, liquor or animal feed. The fruit is high in pectin that can be used for commercial jam-making. Bananas are a good food source for tropical regions. In Central and South America, they typically have the status of an “essential” crop due to high yields and profitability. However, the crop is rarely profitable for farmers due to low prices paid to producers.

Banana leaves are used for wrapping food in Southeast Asia and are also used as a plaiting medium in traditional basket and container making in Africa. The fibers from the leaf sheath can be woven into mats which provide a level of thermal insulation against harsh weather conditions. The banana plant (Musa spp.) is an important source of fiber for textile and cordage production in many parts of the world. In Central America, it is also used to make twine and rope.

Bananas are a major ingredient in the beer production process. The starch in banana can be converted to sugars by mashing and straining, which is then fermented into an alcoholic beverage. Bananas can be baked or fried, steamed or boiled. They can be added to puddings or mixed with milk and frozen as ice-cream. Banana flowers are eaten as vegetables sautéed in oil with other vegetables like spinach or okra. The flowers are also used as garnish for other dishes. Banana stems can be cooked and used as a vegetable or grated and made into a jelly.

The “Fruit Banana Nomenclature” section lists some of the variety names that have been given to bananas. Each variety name consists of two main parts: the plant’s Latin and the common. The common, is pronounced as it is in English, but the Latin usually has a different pronunciation than you would expect from its English translation.

Bananas are an important staple food crop for at least 422 million people in developing countries. They are consumed on average almost every day in these countries (DOE Scienceline). Most bananas are exported fresh to developed countries and are consumed as a food item there.

Bananas can be eaten raw, cooked or frozen. When cooked, they can be steamed, fried or baked. When frozen, they can be added to fruit smoothies

1. Bananas float in water because they are less dense than water

The density of the banana is less than the density of water. The bananas can float because they are lighter objects and are able to displace a greater volume of water compared to rock.

Bananas float because they have less mass per unit volume than an equal volume of water, which means that whatever area we take up by placing one in a glass, that area will be taking up less space than any other object would in the same position.

2. Bananas are one of the most widely eaten fruits in the United States, especially popular among children

Bananas are one of the most popular fruits in the American diet, ranking as the 4th most consumed fruit in America. They have a worldwide reputation for being rich sources of potassium and other nutrients, which make them a healthy part of any diet. But beyond their nutritional value, bananas are also loved for their versatility and convenience. Indeed, they can be eaten raw or cooked into dishes ranging from savory to sweet. In addition, their peels can be used to make such popular products as banana wine and vinegar.

3. If someone is allergic to bananas, they have a greatly increased risk of being allergic to latex

Latex is made from a class of chemicals called alpha-hydroxy acids, or AHAs. These are known as allergens that can cause reactions such as runny nose, itchy eyes, and sneezing. A person who suffers from allergy symptoms after exposure to bananas or chestnuts may also be allergic to latex.

4. Bananas are scientifically considered to be berries

Yes, a banana is a berry. A berry is defined to be a fruit which contains two or more seeds, and the banana fits this description. It is also classified as an herb, which means a plant that does not need wood or true roots to live.

In addition to being a berry and an herb, the banana is also classified as a “pip”, meaning that it grows from the ovary of the plant rather than an extension of the stem. This distinction is usually reserved for those fruits which grow on trees; however, there are some other plants which can be classified as pips such as some types of cacti.

5. In 2016, Andrew Lawrence — a man from the U.K. — set the Guinness World Record for fastest time to run a marathon wearing a banana costume

In the Guinness World Record for fastest marathon in a banana costume, the 50-year-old man finished with a time of 2 hours 47 minutes and 41 seconds.

The record was set on October 3rd 2016 at the Great North Run in Newcastle.

He was dressed as a banana and said he ran to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

6. A person’s mood can be enhanced by eating bananas

It can be difficult to get through a difficult day. After all, we’re living in “interesting” times. For most of us, work and life stressors can take over and cause mood swings – even on the best of days. One way to improve your mood is by eating a banana. Bananas are rich in potassium and magnesium, nutrients that help regulate nerve signals and ease muscle tension in our body (which then improves mental state). Banana is also rich in tryptophan and vitamin B6. These two elements help our bodies produce serotonin; a chemical that helps elevate our mood. Eating bananas daily may be one way to help maintain a positive mood throughout the day.

7. The bananas we eat today are different from those that our parents and grandparents ate in the 1960s

In the 1960s, the Gros Michael banana was wiped out by a fungus called Panama disease. Countries like China and India had to develop their own strain of bananas because they found that their bananas were susceptible to the disease. The Cavendish, found in our stores today, are hybrids of two other varieties.

The Gros Michael has no resistance or immunity against the first strain of Panama disease, but it is resistant to a second strain. Therefore, modern-day banana plantations spray pesticides on their crops whenever there is a danger of infection by a deadly strain of Panama disease. The Cavendish was developed after experimenting with hundreds of hybrid samples

8. The International Banana Museum in Mecca, California is a museum dedicated to the banana

The museum’s mission is to celebrate the cultural and historical significance of the banana and to preserve its many varieties. The museum is home to thousands of banana-related artifacts, including the world’s largest collection of banana-themed art.
The museum holds the Guinness World Record as the largest museum dedicated to a single fruit. It was built in the center of the town of Wenatchee and features 18,000 square feet of exhibit space, a gift shop, a cafe, and a research library.

9. Humans share 50% of our DNA with bananas

Bananas are a delicious and nutritious treat! But did you know that you share 50% of your DNA with a banana?
This means that we have shared ancestry from many millions of years ago due to the fact that we share proteins, such as cytochrome c, lysozyme, and other genes. Bananas also contain potassium which is an important mineral for humans to regulate our heart rate, blood pressure and muscle function.

10. Bananas can actually help lower your risk of stroke and heart attack

Many people have been told over the years that bananas are bad for them mostly marketed off of the fact that it is high in calories and sugar. Upon closer inspection, research has shown that there is no correlation between this fruit and any negative health effects.

In fact, one study done on monkeys found a strong connection between eating bananas and having a lower risk of stroke and heart attack. This has been linked to the potassium, magnesium, and fibre that bananas contain. This also means that those who are on a diet can still eat bananas and work them into their diet without worrying about the negative effects.