Banana Trivia -Bananas have a curious way of capturing everyone’s imagination...

Bananas have a curious way of capturing everyone’s imagination. They can really play on your mind if you have a sense of humour, a bent for the extraordinary or a passion for trivia. This is the section to delve into for all those weird and wonderful facts about bananas, fun stories from around the world. In the United States town of Council Bluffs in Iowa, it was against the law to sell bananas without warning the buyer on the dangers of casting the peels on the footpath. Bananas are grown Iceland.

The fruit is grown in greenhouses heated by water pumped up from volcanic underground springs. Angel Castro, Father of Fidel Castro, was a banana plantation owner. When young, Fidel tended the bananas on his father’s 10,000 acre estate.

 The sap of the fe’i banana is a reddish colour and was once used by missionaries to make copies of the Bible by dipping bamboo pens in the red sap. In the former Belgian Congo European soldiers during colonial times used the sap from the banana plant to heal wounds made by arrows of the natives.

 A half eaten banana was sold on the Internet auction site Ebay for US$2500, with the money going to charity. The other half of the banana was eaten by a British television presenter. The successful bidder was a United Kingdom stockbroker.

 In the 17th and 18th centuries it was considered bad luck to carry bananas on board a sailing ship. Back then, ships undertaking transatlantic crossings would stop at tropical islands to replenish their provisions of food and water.

 Passengers and crew would purchase wooden crates of bananas from the locals and bring them abroad. These crates often harboured bugs, spiders, vermin and snakes that would make their way into the bilges of the ships, multiply, and then find their way into the captains’ quarters. It is believed the captains circulated rumours that bananas were bad luck in an attempt to keep unwanted exotics off the ship.

 An urban myth propagated by those opposed to the formation of the European Union is that the European Commission had decreed that bananas destined for the European market must be straight, not curved as nature intended. This myth originates from one aspect of EU Regulation 2257/94 that states that ‘bananas must be free from malformation or excessive curvature of the fingers”.

In fact the European Commission was asked by national agriculture ministers and the banana industry to draft legislation to establish uniform banana quality standards, and did so after extensive consultation with the industry. There are in excess of 500 banana varieties in the world. They come in all shapes and sizes, from small finger fruits to purple plantains. Bananas are harvested green because they keep ripening even after they are picked. Unlike most other fruits that grow on trees, bananas grow on plants. The phrase 'going bananas' was first recorded in the Oxford English Dictionary, and is linked to the fruit's 'comic' connections with monkeys.
Source:australianbananas.com.au

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[History] How the first banana tree is planted ?

The first banana is believed to have come from either Malaysia or Papua New Guinea. Scientists have provided evidence that bananas date as far back as 5000 BC and possibly even 8000 BC, and some believe that the banana was the earth's first fruit.

 The banana as we know it today is far different from the original plant from the wild which contained plenty of large, hard seeds with very little tasty flesh. Back in 600 BC, Buddhist Pali texts referred to Indian traders travelling through the Malaysian region and tasting this curious fruit and brought these fruits north, back to India with them. Several years later in 327 BC, when Alexander The Great and his army invaded India, he discovered banana crops existing in the Indian Valleys.

 After tasting this unusual fruit for the first time, he introduced this new discovery to the Western world. The health benefits of bananas were discovered very early on in history in 23 BC. During that spring, the first Roman emperor, Octavius Augustus, became severely ill. Augustus' physician, Antonius Musa cured him from his deathbed with cold compresses using Musa, the plant group bananas come from. Antonius Musa became instantly famous for curing the emperor, thus having the genus named after him. By 200 AD, the goodness of bananas had spread to China. According to the Chinese historian Yang Fu, bananas only ever grew in the southern region of China.
They were never really popular until the 20th Century as they were considered some sort of strange and exotic alien fruit. About 450 years later in 650 AD, Islamic conquerors that were engaged in slave trading, also traded ivory and abundant crops of bananas. These slave traders reached Madagascar, an island off the south eastern coast of Africa, and the African mainland bringing bananas with them. Bananas only became pleasantly edible when an unknown person in Africa is believed to have intervened by crossing two varieties of wild bananas, the Musa Acuminata and the Musa Baalbisiana. From this process, some bananas became seedless and more like the bananas we eat today.
 Most historians believe that the Arabian slave traders are the ones who gave the banana its popular name. The bananas that originated from Southeast Asia were not the eight-to-twelve-inch size that we are familiar with today. They were small, about as long as an adult finger, hence the name “banan”, Arabic for finger. With the expanding slave trade, bananas eventually reached Guinea, on the West Coast of Africa. By 1402, Portuguese sailors discovered bananas in the African continent and established their first banana plantations in the Canary lslands.

 From here, banana rootstocks were packed onto a ship under the charge of Portuguese Franciscan monk Tomas de Berlanga, who took them to the Caribbean island of Santo Domingo in 1516. The banana subsequently became popular throughout the Caribbean and Central America. The Spaniards, who saw a similarity to their native plane tree, gave the plantain its Spanish name, platano. This gave the name to the modern day Plantains, which are typically used for cooking.
 The unripe plantain, commonly steamed or boiled, resembles the taste of a potato. However, when plantains are ripe, they can be eaten raw like a banana, and have a starchy but sweet flavour. Some like to use the term “plantain variety” to describe the different variations of “bananas” or “plantains”. The variety of plantain that is well known to us today is the Cavendish.

Originally grown by Lord Cavendish, the 7th Duke of Devonshire who had bananas hand delivered to him, he grew them on the Isle of Mauritius and two plants in his conservatory . He is attributed with crossing various species resulting in the seedless, fleshy fruit which is known today as the Cavendish banana. They later grew in the Kew Gardens of England where they still are today. In 1840, missionaries transported some of his plants to the South Pacific, where they flourished.

Later, a missionary John Williams, imported bananas into Fiji. In the 1870s, sugar cane plantation owners in Queensland, imported and exploited sugar cane cutters (Kanakas) from Fiji, who brought back some banana plants with them. In 1891, from this crop, Herman Reich started plantations in Coffs Harbour and surrounding areas, New South Wales, Australia which continue to contribute to Australia’s modern day banana industry. Bananas were officially introduced to the American public at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition. Each banana was wrapped in foil and sold for 10 cents. Before that time, bananas came to America on the decks of sailing ships as sailors took a few stems home after travelling in the Caribbean.

 Although originally native to Southeast Asia and New Guinea, bananas are grown in at least 107 countries in the world today. In fact bananas, eaten raw in its yellow form and cooked green bananas, are the main staple of many African populations. Boiled or baked green bananas can also be found in many Caribbean Island recipes. India is by far the largest world producer of bananas, growing 16.8 million tonnes annually, over 20 percent of the world’s total output.

This is followed by Brazil, which produced 7.1 million tonnes of bananas annually. Today, bananas are the world’s fifth most traded crop commodity by volume. With all of the uses of the banana plant, and bananas general good taste, it is no wonder that bananas have become one of the world’s most popular fruits. Where else can one get so much delicious taste and healthy benefits from one source? Source:australianbananas.com.au

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[Species] Musella lasiocarpa -The Chinese yellow banana -A sacred flower in local Buddhism

Musella lasiocarpa is a great plant for a tropical effect in cooler climate zones. It is not a true banana, but a banana relative, and has a smaller, shrub-like form. It can produce a large, lotus-shaped, waxy yellow flower that will remain in bloom for six months.

 The Chinese yellow banana is endemic to the Yunnan province of China, and it grows in mountains up to 2500 meters in altitude. Its flower is known as the Golden Lotus Flower, a sacred flower in local Buddhism.

It will eventually form a large clump, up to 15 feet in diameter and 5 feet high. The Chinese yellow banana is considered root-hardy to zone 6. Plants resist light frost but die back at 28° F. Cut back leaves after soon after light frost damage occurs.

 Spray the root crown with a fungicide to prevent fungal rot during the winter. Use heavy mulch around the root crown to protect from freezing. Gradually remove the mulch in late winter-early spring as the risk of a hard freeze passes. Grow in full sun to partial shade.

Musella lasiocarpa prefers even moisture throughout the growing season. Leaves may be shredded or dried out in a windy location; pick a site with some wind protection.
Source: coldhardytropicals.com

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[Banana Species] Musa Basjoo - Japanese Fiber Banana

Musa basjoo is generally considered the most cold-hardy banana. While it does grow in Japan, the Japanese fiber banana is native to the Ryukyu Archipelago, which lies between Japan and Taiwan. It is also very common in parts of China. Its large, tropical foliage and fast growth rate make it ideal for a dramatic feature in the tropicalesque garden. It will eventually form a large, deep green clump, up to at least 18 feet tall.

Musa basjoo is somewhat unique in that it will actively grow in cool weather. The banana will continue growing until temperatures reach approximately 40° F. It will resist light frost, but die back at 28° F. It is is considered root-hardy to zone 6, and will survive a zone 5 winter with heavy mulch.

 Cut back leaves after soon after light frost damage occurs. Spray the root crown with a fungicide to prevent fungal rot during the winter. Use heavy mulch around the root crown to protect from freezing. Gradually remove the mulch in late winter-early spring as the risk of a hard freeze passes.

 Grow in full sun to partial shade. Musa basjoo thrives on plenty of fertilizer and water during the growing season. It will do well with a regular application of balanced liquid fertilizer applied weekly during the summer. While it is a heavy feeder, be careful not to burn the plant with too high a concentration of fertilizer. Top-dressing with composted manure is another popular feeding method. Leaves may be shredded or dried out in a windy location; pick a site with some wind protection. Source:http://coldhardytropicals.com/

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All Step Grow Banana Plants

The first priority to consider when growing banana is to use the proper soil. It is very important to use a well draining soil MIXTURE and 20% PERLITE should be added to it to assure that you have good draining soil. Do not use heavy soils when growing banana such as potting soil, or soil from a yard. Plant the banana rhizome upright and be sure the roots are well covered and the rhizome has about 1/2" of the base covered with soil.

 We advise that you water and fertilize banana at the same time using any type of balanced fertilizer to help grow banana. Bananas are heavy feeders so we suggest that you fertilize very lightly each time that you water with the exception being that you do not fertilize if you are not seeing active growth.( Balanced fertilizer means - a fertilizer that has three numbers on the label ). After your initial watering we would not water again until your soil is dry to a 1/2" depth. ( Use your finger to test it ). Please do not expect this to be a plant that you "water once a week".

 If you water once a week it is unlikely that you will have success growing this rhizome. Grow banana in BRIGHT LIGHT. 12 hours of bright light are ideal for most varieties. Grow bananas in Constant WARMTH is very important - the ideal night temperature would be 67 F. The day temperatures would be in the 80s. Ideally you would have fresh circulating air. BANANA RHIZOMES THAT WE SHIP weigh 5 to 8 ounces, sometimes more. They are rooted and ready to plant. The pseudostem ( trunk ) is usually 6" - 8" long. Prior to packing the Banana Rhizomes we cut off the leaves.



This is a standard procedure. It would not be practical to attempt to box the plant with leaves intact because they would arrive damaged badly after being in a box for 4 to 8 days without light or any air and in the summer the leaves would be "cooked". Once planted it takes only 4 to 10 days for a large new leaf to emerge.



 Grow banana with HIGH HUMIDITY of 50% and higher is desirable. Hot, dry air will destroy the leaves. Grow bananas in THE CONTAINER that is not too large. It should be a standard 6" or 8" pot with a drain hole. Never plant it in a container without a drain hole. Transplant to a larger container when your plant is quite crowded . Growing banana plants isn't limited to tropical areas. Learn more about Cold Hardy Banana Trees.

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The Medicinal Uses of Bananas - One of the major tropical fruits

Banana (Musa sapientum L.) one of the major tropical fruits, is commercially important in world trade. Banana is the cheapest as well as one of the most nutritious fruits. The banana bas become a very popular fruit in modern westernized diets for its flavour, texture and for its convenience value being easy to peel off and eat. Banana can make an useful contribution to the Vitamin A, C and B6 content of the diet and is an important and immediate source of energy.
 It is often eaten by sportsmen and women during competition. A medium sized banana contains 280 kilojoules, which is more than that of deciduous or citrus fruits. The energy and nutritional status of banana and plantam are higher than to other common tropical and subtropical fruits. Banana and plantain which encompass a wide range of dessert and cooking varieties have their origins in Asia and the Pacific. The crop has spread throughout the tropical world, carried by traders and other travellers to Africa, South and Central America and the Caribbean islands.
Now bananas are of major global importance in terms of food and income security to millions of small farmers throughout the developing countries of the tropics. The medicinal values are higher than the other common tropical and sub tropical fruits.
 The Medicinal Uses of Bananas are Stated Below :
 Anaemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and so help in cases of anaemia.

  Blood Pressure: The unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the prefect food for helping to contain blood pressure.
So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
 Brain Power: 200 students at an English school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
 Constipation: High in fibre, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel function helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
 Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin-known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
 Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and rehydrates your system.
 Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body so if you suffer from heart-burn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
 Morning Sickness : Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness. Mosquito Bites : Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation. Nerves : Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
 Overweight and at Works : Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods-such as bananas-every two hours to keep levels steady.
 PMS : Forget the pills-eat a banana. The Vitamin B6 it contain regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) : Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer, trypotophan. Smoking : Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking as the high levels of vitamin C, A1, B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
 Stress : Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalise the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water-balance. when we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be re-balanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack. Strokes : According to research in 'The New England Journal of Medicine' eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40 per cent.
 Temperature Control : Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
 Ulcers : The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronic ulcer cases. It also neutralized over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
 Warts : Those keen on natural alternatives swear that, if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape. Submitted By Krishibid Omar Ibn-I-Hasan.
Source: http://generalhealthtopics.com/

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Benefits of Eating Bananas for health of human

It's a rich supply of potassium. The simple banana is also a natural supply of iron. Banana is an efficient fruit for health Benefits. The mixture of carbohydrates and vitamins contained in banana helps a power increase. Natural fiber in banana also gives towards the many health Benefits. Here are some important Benefits of banana. Banana fruit has numerous health benefits. It’s a rich supply of potassium. The simple banana is also a natural supply of iron. Banana is really a nutritious food helping in weight loss, constipation, blood pressure level, brain power, anemia. As well as the cardiovascular benefits, the potassium present in bananas also may help to promote bone health. This short article helps you to find the many benefits of bananas that you might not know about. Benefits of Banana - Health Benefits of Eating Bananas Bananas contain 3 natural sugar - sucrose, fructose and glucose. These natural sugars coupled with fiber inside a banana gives an immediate, sustained and substantial boost of one’s. Research has proven that simply two bananas provide enough energy for any strenuous 90-minute workout. No surprise the banana may be the number one fruit using the world’s leading athletes. But energy isn’t only way a banana might help us exercise. It can also help overcome or prevent a considerable number of illnesses and scenarios, making it essential to add to our diet. Depression – : Based on a recent survey amongst people struggling with depression, many felt far better after eating a banana.

The reason being bananas contain tryptophan, a kind of protein the body converts into serotonin, recognized to make you relax, enhance your mood and usually make you feel happier. PMS – : Your investment pills – consume a banana. The vitamin B6 it has regulates blood sugar levels, which can affect your mood. Anemia – : Full of iron, bananas can stimulate producing hemoglobin in the blood and thus helps in cases of anemia. Blood pressure level – : This excellent tropical fruit is very high in potassium yet lower in salt, which makes it the perfect to conquer blood pressure. So much in fact, the US Fda has just allowed the banana industry to create official claims for that fruit’s ability to lessen the risk of blood pressure level and stroke. Mental ability – : 200 students in a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this season by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch inside a bid to enhance their mental ability. Research has shown the potassium-packed fruit can help learning by looking into making pupils more alert. Constipation – : Full of fiber, including bananas within the diet might help restore normal bowel action, assisting to overcome the issue without resorting to laxatives. Benefits of Banana Health Benefits of Eating BananasHeartburn – : Bananas possess a natural antacid effect in your body, so if you are afflicted by heartburn, have a banana for soothing relief. Morning Sickness – : Snacking on bananas between meals keeps blood sugar levels up and steer clear of morning sickness. Mosquito Bites – : Before grabbing the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected region with the within a banana skin. Lots of people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation. Nerves – : The simple banana is high in B vitamins which help calm the central nervous system.


Overweight and also at work? Studies in the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at the office leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Taking a look at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found probably the most obese were more prone to be in high-pressure jobs The report figured, to avoid panic-induced craving for food, we need to control our glucose levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every 2 hours to keep levels steady. Ulcers – : The banana can be used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders due to the soft texture and smoothness. It’s the only raw fruit that may be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. Additionally, it neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the liner of the stomach. Temperature Control – : A number of other cultures see bananas like a “cooling” fruit that may lower both physical and emotional temperature of pregnant women. In Thailand , for instance, pregnant women eat bananas to make sure their baby comes into the world with a cool temperature. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – : Bananas might help SAD sufferers simply because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan. Smoking – : Bananas will also help people attempting to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain along with the potassium and magnesium present in them, assist the body recover from the results of nicotine withdrawal. Stress – : Potassium is a crucial mineral, which will help normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen towards the brain and regulates your own body’s water balance.

If we are stressed, our metabolism rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. It may be balanced by using a high-potassium banana snack. Strokes – : Based on research in “The Colonial Journal of drugs,”eating bananas included in a regular diet can reduce the risk of death by strokes up to 40%. Warts – : Those interested in natural alternatives swear when you want to get rid of a wart, have a piece of banana skin and put it around the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully contain the skin in position with a plaster or surgical tape. So, a banana is indeed a natural fix for many ills. When comparing it for an apple, it’s four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, 3 times the phosphorus, 5 times the vit a and iron, and twice another vitamins and minerals. It’s also rich in potassium and it is one of the best value foods around.

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