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Very recently since the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and all other Muslim countries around the world celebrates the Holy Month of Ramadan, that means no food during the day and since we are working here, we ought to follow if not to respect their tradition during this Holy Month. What I am saying is as reverence we don’t really eat in a place where Muslims can see us. Actually it is prohibited in public places although not really that strict inside the workplace or office so we can still take our lunch.
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So what am I trying to say here?
Well based on the short facts I mentioned earlier on what is happening here in Saudi Arabia, it is expected that even if we are not Muslims and even if we can actually eat we still experience irregularity in our eating schedule. More often than not we also skip meals especially breakfast and dinner. So in relation to this, and in my end I resolve in eating some fruits in those times that I cannot eat full meals. And here comes the actor of my blog today.
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Are you familiar with Banana?
It may be a bit expensive here in Saudi Arabia but I make it sure that I am able to eat banana once or twice a day. Why? Because I believe that banana is extremely healthy and delicious, it’s a wonder fruit with a lot of benefits to offer to the human body. And yes of course it’s not only intended to monkeys (or some other lower form of animals) who are the main consumer of banana in old times and in the jungle but I firmly trust that the reason why banana is made available to us humans because it contain essential vitamins and minerals that could actually do magic in our body. Please do try to read all the way down so you would not have reasons anymore not to eat banana.
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What is banana?
I’m pretty sure almost all if not all people know about it or have eaten banana in their lifetime. But for formality sake here’s the definition of Banana according to Wikipedia.
The word banana is thought to be of West African origin, possibly from the Wolof word banaana, and passed into English via Spanish or Portuguese.” - Wikipedia
The banana plant is the largest herbaceous flowering plant. All the above-ground parts of a banana plant grow from a structure usually called a "corm". Plants are normally tall and fairly sturdy, and are often mistaken for trees, but what appears to be a trunk is actually a "false stem" or pseudostem.” – Wikipedia
The 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. - Wikipedia
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I hope that you will agree with me if I say Bananas are among the most popular fruits on earth. There are many types of Bananas which vary in color size and shape and the most common type is the yellow banana. Bananas normally grow in warmer place and it contains fiber and antioxidants:
Potassium: 9% of the RDI.
Vitamin B6: 33% of the RDI.
Vitamin C: 11% of the RDI.
Magnesium: 8% of the RDI.
Copper: 10% of the RDI.
Manganese: 14% of the RDI.
Net carbs: 24 grams.
Fiber: 3.1 grams.
Protein: 1.3 grams.
Fat: 0.4 grams.
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Based on the information above, each banana contains only about 105 calories, and consists almost exclusively of water and carbs. Bananas contain very little protein and almost no fat.
What are the Benefits of eating at least one Banana a Day?
According to experts adding a banana to your daily diet has an array of benefits in your body.
- Bananas help you reach your weight-loss goals,
- Keep your bowels healthy,
- Provide nutrients that regulate heart rhythm and have vitamin compounds for eye health.
What are other health Benefits of Banana?
1. Moderate Blood Sugar
Experts said eating Banana helps abate blood sugar. Bananas are rich in pectin a fiber which gives the flesh its structural form. Pectin and resistant starch may moderate blood sugar levels after meals and reduce hunger by giving the feeling of fullness or slowing stomach emptying. Nevertheless, it is important to know that this should not be applied to diabetics, which should certainly elude eating well-ripened bananas.
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2. Improve Digestive Health
Since Banana is a very good source of fiber (pectin and resistant starch), it also helps improve digestion. A medium sized banana actually contains 3 grams of fiber and studies says that it helps in fighting or getting away from colon cancer.
3. Help With Weight Loss
Still due to the fiber content of Banana aside from the fact that it also contains a very low calories, it also helps in reducing body weight which is normally happens when we eat more fiver fruits and vegetables. Remember, eating bananas helps reduce body weight but there was no study yet which directly the effect of bananas in weight loss that means eating banana alone would not guarantee a swift decrease of your weight.
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4. Help Lowers Blood Pressure
Bananas are one good source of Potassium, a mineral that is very important in lowering blood pressure. It also helps us keep away from heart diseases. Potassium on the other hand also plays an important role in maintaining a healthy kidney, so might as well eat a lot of Bananas and other potassium containing fruits and vegetables if you want to keep your heart and kidney in good shape.
Bananas are a great dietary source of potassium. One medium-sized banana (118 grams) contains 9% of the Recommended Daily Intake.
One study in women showed that over 13 years, those who ate bananas 2–3 times per week were 33% less likely to develop kidney disease.
Now if you want to read more about the benefits of Banana, please check the following bitLander's blogs links:
- http://www.bitlanders.com/blogs/advantages-of-banana/3313340
- http://www.bitlanders.com/blogs/banana/3021988
- http://www.bitlanders.com/blogs/health-benefits-of-banana/3252048
Or you may click here for more information about health benefits, facts and studies about Banana.
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Finally although I know I was not able to cover all the health benefits banana has in store for us but one essential thing that we should keep in my mind is that it's not only by eating an apple a day that keeps the doctor away but eating bananas as well.
(Hope my "tag" suits well!)
