Contributed by Healthians Team
Introduction
Banana is one of the fruits that are most commonly consumed worldwide. It is grown primarily in subtropical and tropical areas.
Banana is also well-known for the remarkable medicinal qualities of its banana flowers, sometimes referred to as banana blossom or banana heart, which are mostly consumed in India.
It has an effective nutrient profile which is rich in minerals, including phosphorus, calcium, potassium, copper, magnesium, and iron, which are necessary for several biological processes. These lovely blooms can be consumed raw or cooked and added to salads, soups, stir-fries, and herbal teas.
Here are some amazing benefits of the banana flower you must know:
Promotes good heart health
Heart disease continues to be the primary cause of death. Similar to bananas, banana flowers are a great source of potassium, which has proven to safeguard the heart.
Furthermore, bananas provide antioxidants including vitamin C, potassium, folate, and fibre. Each of these promotes heart health. According to several studies, people who consume more fibre in their diets are less likely to develop cardiovascular diseases than those who consume less of it.
Cure diabetes
According to research, the banana flower has anti-diabetic characteristics and also controls the symptoms of diabetes including polyuria, hyperglycemia, and imbalance in body weight. The extract from banana flowers helps in lowering blood glucose levels.
Additionally, it helps in balancing the blood sugar levels which also keep your body active.
Promote menstrual health
Banana blossoms can help since they increase a woman’s progesterone levels and balance her hormones to make her menstrual cycle more consistent. Low progesterone levels are a typical contributor to this issue.
Consuming a cup of cooked banana flowers with yoghurt can increase the body’s progesterone levels and lessen heavy menstrual bleeding.
Moreover, it is believed that banana flowers can benefit women with the polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Boosts digestive health
When used to treat acidity-related bloating and pain in the abdomen, banana flowers are gentle, calming and effective. This is because they contain both soluble and insoluble fibre and are an excellent source of dietary fibre.
Those who experience diarrhoea frequently are usually advised to boost their intake of soluble fibre; as a result, adding a banana flower into their diet plan will help them to ease their day-to-day digestive issues.
Helps in weight loss
Banana flowers are enriched with lots of fibre, which makes people feel fuller for longer. Therefore, it is a perfect fit for any diet plan focused on weight loss.
Adding banana flowers with other low-calorie fruits and veggies in salads and soups is the simplest method to take advantage of the benefits of banana flowers for weight loss.
Simple banana tea recipe
- Take 2 banana flowers
- Boil the water according to the quantity of tea you want to prepare
- Add banana flowers to the boiling water
- Add green tea leaves if you want
- Reduce the flame and leave it for another 15 to 20 minutes
- Add honey or sugar according to your taste
- Sieve the prepared tea and it is ready to drink.
Final thoughts
The banana flower contains a variety of nutrients, such as protein, fibre and carbohydrates. Iron, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and other minerals are some more important nutrients present in banana flowers.
Although these blooms are typically seen as a waste product when bananas are produced, the flower’s precise colour can range from orange to purple, and its inside is filled with light yellow or white florets. The flavour of banana flowers is nutty, crispy, and starchy, and they contain a lot of iron.
Additionally, it may help in the treatment of some medical conditions including diabetes, and gastrointestinal and cardiac diseases, to name a few.
Furthermore, you should also undergo preventive health checkups. These health checks give a complete report about your health, allowing you to take necessary precautionary measures to improve your well-being and keep a host of ailments at bay.
