Everyone knows that bananas are extremely useful and tasty, unfortunately, this is where our knowledge of fruit almost ends. However, there are many fascinating facts about bananas, starting from the moment of their discovery and ending with the prospect of this popular fruit. In fact, there are many more bananas than you think.
After reading this article, you will learn that bananas can be of different colors, purify water and even carry a religious meaning. In addition, they will help to solve problems in bed and much more!
1
Bananas are important for Hindus
We all love to eat delicious bananas, but for Hindus this fruit means a lot more. The female evil spirit of Pontianak (in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan it is called Churel) lives among plants, including banana trees. It is worth noting that, despite the common name "banana tree", this plant is not a tree as such. This spirit was first coined in Malay mythology, describing Pontianak as a woman who died during pregnancy or from bullying by her family. Hindus believe that Churel can return to avenge men. According to another version, she attacks pregnant girls, tearing the fetus inside them.
This banana story is really terrible, but they are also present in the more positive beliefs of Hindus. For example, kadali or banana tree are considered symbols of the goddesses Lakshmi and Parvati. The tree symbolizes Tatva Jhana, which means age-old wisdom, and its leaves are synonyms of tranquility and peace.
Recently, we wrote on most-beauty.ru about the most popular Buddhist monasteries in India, we advise you to look!
2
Not all bananas are yellow
Scientists around the world have found about 1 thousand types of bananas, which were divided into 50 main groups. Despite the fact that they are all almost the same shape, not all of these fruits are yellow. Our usual banana belongs to the type of Cavendish, but there are many types that are not so familiar to buyers in our region.
One of them - a red banana - has a reddish hue. It is grown in Colombia and Ecuador. Also interesting is the Blue Java banana variety. It is grown in Hawaii, in the process of maturation, it takes a bluish tint. This banana variety is known for its resistance to low temperatures and proudly bears the nickname "banana ice cream" for its resemblance to ripened vanilla ice cream.
3
Five Heart Banana Plantation
In the process of ripening, a banana tree “sheds” leaves, starting to form an inflorescence, consisting of a complex cluster of flowers on one stem. This inflorescence is usually called the "heart" of the stem, growing until the "heart" has matured, after which it bursts in the upper part.
Almost all banana plants have only one "heart", but in 2008 in the Philippines there was an amazing case - a tree with a "fantastic five" was found. It is characteristic that all five inflorescences or “hearts” were masculine and this is a unique case. Plantation workers and local residents considered this a symbol of good luck, and were right, the place became a real magnet for tourists.
4
Bananas are barren
The paradox is that, having an exceptional phallic form, the banana we know is itself deprived of a healthy sexual life. The bananas available to us in stores belong to the Cavendish subgroup, and their common feature is complete sterility. Wild bananas are a massive herbaceous plant growing in the jungle. Its fruits are filled with a huge amount of hard seeds, which make them unsuitable for eating. The classic bananas for us are mutants of the wild fruit, with non-developing seeds. This makes them ideal for food, but does not allow breeding.
Previously, farmers did not allow the extinction of bananas by replanting cuttings for cloning. However, the inability to reproduce made plants vulnerable to pests and diseases that would not pose a threat if sexual reproduction was possible. Because of this, several types of bananas were simply destroyed. So, in the 60s in the West of the USA the fruits of Gross Michel were popular, exactly as long as they were not destroyed by the "Panamanian disease." Modern bananas are susceptible to the aggressive effects of the black sigatoka, a fungal disease that infects fruits through leaves.
5
Bananas are radioactive
Nature turned out to be a little fruitless banana, and she "awarded" their radioactivity. Do not panic, remember that radioactive energy is everywhere! For example, the average resident of the United States receives 360 mbar irradiation per year, which is approximately equal to 36 x-ray procedures. Most of the exposure (200 mbar) occurs in the odorless, colorless radon gas that occurs as a result of the destruction of radium and uranium.
Another source of radiation is food. Living things need potassium, and each of the 8550 potassium atoms contains the radioactive isotope-40. This means that any food irradiates us, but bananas contain the greatest amount of radioactive elements, since they contain much more potassium than other products. Do not worry, because to get a lethal dose of radiation you will have to eat about 20 million bananas, and this is 700 pieces per day for 80 years. In truth, if you eat 700 bananas a day, you will obviously die not from radiation.
6
Bananas have an ancient history
The cultivation of banana plants began a long time ago, the scientists call the Cook Swamp in Papua New Guinea the first place of their cultivation, there were found traces of growing bananas dating back to 5000 BC. e. Some researchers claim that breeding began even earlier in 8000 BC. e. In this area, a huge number of pits with tanks for plant breeding were found. Scientists came to the conclusion that, among others, bananas could be grown in them. One of these places is called the Musa plantation.
Musa, this is the indigenous population of many highlands of Papua New Guinea. They live in the valleys of Kamang, Ming, and also on Mount Piora and Ayyuru, which expands the geography of the alleged cultivation of banana plants. In some places, the height of this highest grass in the world reaches 18 meters.
7
Bananas are in great demand thanks to Jules Verne
Jules Verne is known throughout the world as the author of adventure novels such as “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” and “Journey to the Center of the Earth”. Do you know what success he achieved in promoting bananas? In his adventure novel Around the World in 80 Days, written in 1873, he described this fruit in enthusiastic tones, which led to an increase in interest in banana among the inhabitants of North America and Europe.
One of these descriptions can be found in the 12th chapter of the novel, where Jules Verne describes the impressions of Phileas Fogg and his companions from the discovery of bananas, "his fruit as nutritious as bread and as juicy as cream was appreciated and accepted by all." The novel was a huge success, and American readers were unusually fascinated by fruit, although it appeared only in the next decade - the Boston fruit company began mass delivery of fruits using steamers.
8
There is not as much potassium in bananas as many people think.
It is widely believed in society that bananas are rich in potassium and contain it many times more than any other product. This is nothing more than a myth - in one average banana contains about 0.4 grams of potassium. Of course, this is more than in many products, but there are vegetables and fruits that are far ahead of these figures. Among them, it is worth noting dried apricots, spinach, as well as peaches in any condition (raw, stewed, dried).
One banana contains only 9% of the recommended potassium rate of 4.7 milligrams. Potassium is extremely beneficial for the body, it provides support to the muscle and nervous system, and also has a number of nutritional properties and has a positive effect on blood pressure. Apparently, in order to get the missing 91% of potassium, you will have to feast on fresh spinach.
9
Bananas are not only used as food
This fruit is not only suitable for satisfying hunger. For example, in Latin America, inverted leaves of a banana plant are used as a raincoat or umbrella during rainfall. In the Philippines, there is a plant that processes plants for the production of agna fabric, from which various products can be made, from handkerchiefs to shirts. For the production of paper, two parts of the plant are used: stalk fibers and bark. Barrel fibers are processed on an industrial scale, and bark paper is used for artistic purposes.
In Central America, they found even more extravagant use of bananas. Red banana juice is drunk before the supposed night of love, as it is believed that it contains an aphrodisiac. With the help of a banana peel, they purify water, removing heavy metals from its composition. For this, the peel is dried, crushed and poured into water or used in the manufacture of filters. Brazilian scientists at the Institute of Biological Sciences of the municipality of Botucatu came to the conclusion that in both cases the metals exfoliate, sticking to the peel.
In addition, for several decades now, a banana coir has been successfully used in the manufacture of modern mattresses. Coyra is called a fiber obtained from dried leaves and fruits of a banana tree. It has a number of useful properties that are difficult to obtain using other materials.
10
They should be avoided by people who are allergic to latex.
If you are allergic to latex, we advise you to stay away from bananas, as they can cause an undesirable reaction. One study found that 8 out of 16 latex allergy sufferers experienced side effects from eating bananas. Tests with a banana peel showed that 5 out of 14 (36%) of the tested had a negative reaction, and 12 out of 19 (63%) “suffered” as a result of the RAST banana test.
Eating avocados and kiwi leads to the same reaction. This is due to the fact that these fruits contain latex-like proteins that cause allergies. Observed symptoms: difficulty breathing, itchy eyes and nasal congestion.
Output
Banana is a truly amazing product that has saved people from hunger for thousands of years and evokes pleasant emotions, however, it also has a “skeleton in the closet,” saying that this fruit is not as simple as it seems!