Banana is such a fruit, even the peel (skin) is also to be taken along with the fruit, the Japanese company D&T Farms comes out with the process by freezing the banana, th method known as Freeze-thaw Awakening. The skin (peel) is nutritious.
Banana is called kela in Hindi, arati pandu in Telugu, vazhai pazham in Tamil, bale hannu in Kannada, and ethapazham in Malayalam. The fruit is variable in color, size, and firmness. It is one of the widely cultivated crops in the tropical and subtropical zones. Though there is no sharp distinction between bananas and plantains, the former is the softer variety while the latter is more firm.
Bananas are one of the most popular fruits in Japan. The country has long relied on imports from places like the Philippines, where the climate is better suited to growing the fruit. But D&T Farm, the company behind the super bananas, is hoping to change that with an agricultural method it calls "freeze-thaw awakening." Bananas usually grow in temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius, but D&T Farm says it has found a way to cultivate them at far cooler temperatures inside a special greenhouse.
In Japanese it's being described as "mongee"; the ‘super banana’. They cost around $6 each, but the special bananas have had no trouble attracting customers to the one place in the country where they're sold: the Tenmaya store in Okayama.
The process, involves initially freezing the bananas' cells, making the skin edible and even nutritious, according to D&T. Its researchers claim it also allows them to grow other tropical fruits, such as papayas and pineapples.
The flesh of the banana is a rich source of many nutrients and considered high in carbohydrates. The sugar content in a banana is highest when the skin has turned completely black, which indicates that the starches have all been converted to sugars such as sucrose, fructose and glucose, as cited in “Biochemistry of Human Nutrition.” The flesh is high in vitamins B-6 and B-12, magnesium and potassium, but also contains some protein and fiber. In general, the peels of fruits contain additional nutrients and fiber that complement the inside flesh. The peels of apples, oranges and kiwis are good examples and more commonly eaten in Western countries, although banana peels seem to be better appreciated in India and Southeast Asia.
Banana peels are also rich sources of potassium and contain much more soluble and insoluble fiber than their flesh. Dietary fiber promotes digestion and bowel movements and can reduce blood cholesterol levels. Banana peels also contain tryptophan, which increases serotonin levels in the body and affects mood, much like the drug Prozac does. According to “Prescription for Nutritional Healing,” researchers in Taiwan discovered banana peel extract can ease depression because of its effect on serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter in the brain responsible for balancing mood and emotions. Others found that eating two banana skins a day for three days increased blood serotonin levels by 16 percent. Further, banana skin contains lutein, a powerful antioxidant that protects the eye from free radicals and harmful frequencies of UV radiation from the sun. Lutein has been proven to reduce the risks of cataracts and macular degeneration, as cited in “Biochemical, Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition.”
The process, involves initially freezing the bananas' cells, making the skin edible and even nutritious, according to D&T. Its researchers claim it also allows them to grow other tropical fruits, such as papayas and pineapples.
The flesh of the banana is a rich source of many nutrients and considered high in carbohydrates. The sugar content in a banana is highest when the skin has turned completely black, which indicates that the starches have all been converted to sugars such as sucrose, fructose and glucose, as cited in “Biochemistry of Human Nutrition.” The flesh is high in vitamins B-6 and B-12, magnesium and potassium, but also contains some protein and fiber. In general, the peels of fruits contain additional nutrients and fiber that complement the inside flesh. The peels of apples, oranges and kiwis are good examples and more commonly eaten in Western countries, although banana peels seem to be better appreciated in India and Southeast Asia.
Banana peels are also rich sources of potassium and contain much more soluble and insoluble fiber than their flesh. Dietary fiber promotes digestion and bowel movements and can reduce blood cholesterol levels. Banana peels also contain tryptophan, which increases serotonin levels in the body and affects mood, much like the drug Prozac does. According to “Prescription for Nutritional Healing,” researchers in Taiwan discovered banana peel extract can ease depression because of its effect on serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter in the brain responsible for balancing mood and emotions. Others found that eating two banana skins a day for three days increased blood serotonin levels by 16 percent. Further, banana skin contains lutein, a powerful antioxidant that protects the eye from free radicals and harmful frequencies of UV radiation from the sun. Lutein has been proven to reduce the risks of cataracts and macular degeneration, as cited in “Biochemical, Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition.”
Banana peels can be eaten raw, although they are purported to be ropey and have an unpleasant taste. Waiting for the fruit to ripen makes the skin much thinner, a little sweeter and easier to chew, according to “Contemporary Nutrition.” Some people prefer to boil the peel for 10 minutes or so before eating it, putting it through a juicer or blending it with other fruits. In Asian countries, banana peels are cooked with their flesh or fried on their own. Cleaning commercially grown bananas before you eat the skins is essential due to all the spraying that bananas are subjected to.
In addition to eating banana peels, they can be used to rub on your skin to stop itching, reduce inflammation, remove warts, smooth out wrinkles, get rid of acne, control psoriasis, and improve skin tone and texture. These are anecdotal claims, of course, but it's worth a try and certainly economical.
This fruit is so common that we probably have stopped giving it any importance. Which is wrong – given the benefits of bananas and how amazing they can make your life. How you can eat them is simple, but what they can do to you is incredible. To know more, keep reading.
It is one of the most widely consumed fruits on the planet. And that’s incredibly good news (we will tell you why a little later). Speaking in botanical terms, banana belongs to the family of Musaceae. The scientific name of the fruit is Musa acuminata Colla.
In terms of monetary value, bananas are ranked fourth amongst the world’s food crops. They are very popular and come in several varieties –
Apple bananas, which are exceptionally sweet. They are also called candy apple bananas. They have firm flesh that has a slight pinkish tone.
Cavendish bananas, which are the most common variety. They are long, yellow, and slightly sweet. The unripe version is green. The ripe version is yellow, which then goes on to become super soft and brown.
Lady finger bananas, which are smaller and sweeter than the common type.
Pisang Raja, which are often used to prepare banana fritters. They are popular in Indonesia.
Red bananas, which are red (obviously!) and the sweetest of the lot.
Cooking bananas, which are similar to plantains, and are often considered a nice replacement for potatoes. You can roast or steam or even fry them into chips.
Bananas have been a highly cultivated fruit for thousands of years. Many species of primate consume the entire banana, peel and all, which may have led indigenous peoples to follow suit. Although not common practice in the West, peoples of Asian countries eat banana peels, but they are usually cooked in some capacity. They are not nearly as sweet as the flesh, but they are rich in some nutrients, especially potassium, and can be used for a variety of other health benefits.
