You all know that bananas are good for health but do you know that banana flowers are even a better choice?
If you follow the policy of ‘no wastage’ then the banana tree is the ideal to look up to!
Almost all parts of the banana tree can be used. The most obvious is the fruit that we all eat. But, other parts of the tree also offer many health benefits!
Though not widely eaten in the western world, the banana flower is regarded as a vegetable in many parts of the world. It originated in the Indo-Malaysian region of the Pacific Ocean. It then migrated to Europe and other parts of the world.
Banana flower is an inherent to Andes Mountains of Colombia. The flower is large which grows from the end of the bunch of bananas and has a dark purple red blossom. The small flowers would be found on the inside part which eventually turn into the banana. It is starchy and bitter in taste. It is rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin A and can reduce the pains. The hard husk is found outside of the mature flower. It is used in noodles and soup. In some countries, it is served as a salad. The fresh banana flowers can be eaten raw.
Health Benefits of Banana Flowers
Here are some of the amazing health benefits of banana flowers:
1. It regulates the menstrual cycle
Banana flowers increase the progesterone levels in women and thus regulate the menstrual cycle. Progesterone is a hormone that regulates important bodily functions that helps in regulating the menstrual cycle, maintaining pregnancy, and preparing the body for conception.
High progesterone levels causes bloating, breast tenderness, or moodiness, when a woman’s menstrual cycle comes around. Low levels tend to be a cause of missing a cycle.
2. It is good for lactating mothers
Along with regulating the menstrual cycle, high progesterone levels also stimulate the milk-producing glands in women during pregnancy, therefore boosting the supply of milk for your child. Hence, the breast milk supply is increased for the lactating mothers. It helps in curing the excessive bleeding, maintains healthy uterus, restrict constipation during pregnancy and promotes lactation.
3. It is the best food for diabetes
Studies reveal that when diabetes patients consume banana flowers, their blood sugar levels drop. Insulin is the hormone in the body produced by pancreas that is used to help regulate blood sugar levels. People with diabetes have too much sugar in the blood due to lack of insulin being produced and this can be very harmful to the body.
4. It cures anemia
Banana flowers are rich in iron and thus increase the level of hemoglobin in the body. Hemoglobin is used to transport oxygen from the lungs to the rest of your body. Iron is an integral part of our bodily function and a lack of it results in health deterioration. If you don’t have enough iron, then your body can’t make enough red bloods cells, resulting in anemia.
5. It relieves you from constipation
Banana flowers are rich in fiber. Fiber is an essential part of the body as it assists with healthy digestion, the regularity of bowel movements, and ultimately speeds up the removal of toxic waste within the colon. Fiber is also useful in weight loss.
6. It keeps infections away
Banana flowers naturally fight infection as they contain ethanol-based extracts. These extracts prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria, which causes staph, strep throat, and more unwanted and harmful conditions in the body. The extracts of banana flower also help to prevent the growth of malaria parasites.
7. It reduces free radicals in the body
Banana flowers contain methanol, which works as a powerful antioxidant in the body and reduces free radicals. Free radicals attack healthy cells and lead to many heath problems such as cancer, heart disease, and skin aging. To make the full use of the antioxidant property of these flowers, include in health supplements.
8. It is rich in vitamins and minerals
Banana flowers are rich in many vitamins and minerals that are essential for our body. These include vitamin A, C, and E, potassium, and fiber. Vitamin A is essential for normal vision, reproduction, and the immune system. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant and assists in the growth and repair of your tissues and bodily wounds. Vitamin E is good for the immune system, the skin, and the eyes. It also helps protect against free radicals. Potassium is important to the proper function of all cells, tissues, and organs within the body.
9. It lowers anxiety levels and blood pressure
Banana flowers act as a natural anti-depressant. They are rich in magnesium, which plays a great role in improving your mood and reducing stress without the detrimental side effects that most anti-depressants have. Magnesium also has the ability to reduce high blood pressure which can lead to heart diseases.
10. It prevents uterus problems
It helps to prevent the uterus problems. To boost the healthy uterus, the banana flowers should be added with turmeric powder, peppercorns and cumin seeds. The banana flowers should be boiled with minor peppercorns and cumin seeds; ¼ tsp. of turmeric powder and salt till it is half. The uterus problems are eliminated by drinking this decoction.
Nutritional Value Of Banana Flower
As per the African Journal of Biotechnology, 100g of banana flower offers the below mentioned nutrition:
- 51 kcal
- 6g of Protein
- 6g of Fat
- 9g Carb
- 7fgof Fiber
- 56mg of Calcium
- 3mg of Phosphorous
- 4mg of Iron
- 13mg of Copper
- 3 mg of Potassium
- 7mg of Magnesium
- 07mg of Vitamin E
Culinary uses of Banana Flowers
It can be served raw by slicing. The hot and spicy dip is accompanied with the banana flower in Thailand which is named as Nam Prik.
The recipe of South Indian is: along with the salt the chopped banana should be steamed, then softening with mustard seeds, curry leaves, asafetida and topped with grated coconut. In Indian and Asian cuisines, the sliced banana flower is added to the stir-fries, rice or noodle, soups and meat stews.
And there you have some of the amazing benefits of eating banana flowers!
