Boost your Health with bananas!

The word ‘banana’ comes from West Africa passed to English from Spanish or Portuguese(source Wikipedia)

Bananas are packed with an impressive list of vitamins and other nutrients:

• Vitamin A
• Thiamine
• Riboflavin
• Niacin
• Pantothenic Acid
• Vitamin B6
• Folate
• Vitamin C
• Calcium
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Zinc
• Sugars, Protein, and fat.

Gorilla endulging bananas.(Source:Wikipedia)

Health Benefits

Studies have shown that bananas reduce:

• Risk of colorectal cancer
• Breast cancer
• Renal cell carcinoma.
• Tryptophan. Helps battle depression.Tryptophan gets converted to serotonin, which helps relax, and improve mood.

Other Uses of Bananas

• Banana Paper.

Fibres from bananas are used to make paper

• Textiles.
  

Used in countries like Japan since the 13th Century. Different fibers from bananas are used to make      tablecloths, while the softer fibers for traditional japanese clothing such as kimonos.Also used in Nepal, where they are used to make high quality rugs.

Banana in Popular Culture – The ‘Banana Republic’.

‘Banana Republic’ symbol of Social Injustice of rich exploiting poor.

• Historically, bananas were grown in poorer countries in big lands owned by rich, multinational nations, which employed the cheap labor afforded by these countries, and got all the profits from their labor.

• The popular cultural term ‘banana republic’ refers to this social and economic phenomenom, where poorer countries worked hard while getting a minimal return for their hard work, getting exploited while the main riches went to their owners, often greedy foreigners, who only cared about the bottom line, or profits.

Funny. Different colored bananas, green and white as well.

After writing this, I’m going to have a banana milkshake.

Anybody want one?

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