This is what those obnoxious strings on bananas are for!
Do you loathe these small and long strings when you are trying to peel a banana? Are you scratching your head to figure out why these exist in the first place? Well, we are about to explain this…
Banana
Bananas are a great food to snack on as they feature plenty of fiber, which is beneficial to your digestive system. They are also enriched in potassium and other vital nutrients. Some may avoid them because they are high in calories (higher than many other fruits) and they also don’t contain any vitamin C like other fruits. Still, they make a great and healthy snack because of their high fiber content, especially during exercising. They also contain complex carbs to enhance your energy and minimize muscle fatigue after a workout.
Banana Strings
Those long and thin banana strings are actually called “phloem bundles”. The phloem part of a plant is there to allow the transfer of vitamins and minerals throughout the entire plant–from the stems or leaves to the fruit core. Phloems are major contributors to the development and health state of the plant. Thus, the strings are not only supportive of the banana fruit itself, they are also digestible.
Edible
You don’t have to pull off all the phloems before munching your banana. In fact, leaving them adds some flavor and dimension to the fruit. Experts believe that theoretically speaking, we can make bananas with no phloems. But, it’s far more important to cultivate bananas that are immune to various diseases.
Phloems
Phloem may not have a great taste (or perhaps they have but you don’t want to try them), but they are very nutritious and good for your health. Besides supporting the transfer of nutrients to the banana fruit, they also contain several nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin B6, fiber, and potassium. Once the bananas are harvested from the trees all these nutrients stay on their phloems and add to their nutritional value.
Brown
A new scientific trial has discovered that bananas that are stained with brown spots inside and out are actually healthier than the ones with no spots. Hence, we better eat these. Eating a mature banana also comes with 1-2 unexpected health perks. Studies have demonstrated that eating spotted bananas comes with awesome health benefits. These include:
Brown spotted bananas
You can decrease the odds of developing cancer when you consume strained bananas. These are packed with a substance that attacks cancer cells and also controls your blood pressure. When they get overripe, their potassium level increases, which in turn leads to more regulated blood pressure.
In addition, they alleviate constipation and offer relief to menstrual cramps. So don’t toss these away. You have a really healthy treasure in your hands!
Source: Good Housekeeping
