Our parents and teachers drilled into us from an early age that bananas are good for you. It’s rich in both micronutrients and macronutrients, both of which have been shown to have positive effects on health.
Bananas themselves are well-known for their many health benefits, but you may not know that the plant’s leaves and flowers are useful as well. The truth is – the banana tree, from fruit to leaf to stem, provides numerous advantages to human health. Read on as we detail the many ways in which banana stem can improve your health and well-being, but first, an overview of what banana stems actually are.
All You Need To Know About Banana Stem
Banana stems are unique among plant stems because they actually refer to the flower stalk of the banana plant. The herbaceous plant’s spine is formed by the strong stalks that grow from the ground. The edible part of a banana plant, the stem, has a crispy exterior and a subtle flavor. On the other hand, it has a sugary flavor with a lingering bitterness. So, it’s accurate to say that the stalk is the banana plant’s main stem.
The banana plant only produces one huge cluster of flowers before it dies. When the bananas have reached full size and gone through the ripening process, the stalk is often removed from the plant. Therefore, this stalk is used for its edible qualities and is known as the banana stem.
Top 10 Health Benefits Of Banana Stem
Banana stems include a lot of beneficial nutrients like fiber, vitamins, potassium, and antioxidants. Regular consumption has been shown to reduce body weight and improve glucose management. Some of the extraordinary advantages of banana stem for health are listed below.
1. Banana Stems Help In Weight Loss
Banana stems are great for those trying to lose weight since they are rich in fiber. This helps by making you feel full for longer, which in turn reduces your hunger levels. Moreover, it boosts metabolism and has almost no calories.
Ginger peels should be mixed into banana stem juice. Adding this blend to your diet can do wonders for your body’s ability to process food and burn calories.
2. Banana Stems Improve Your Digestion
The fiber in the banana stem can help to bulk up stools and improve the function of the digestive system. This may help to reduce the risk of digestive disorders, such as constipation and irritable bowel syndrome.
3. May Help In Keeping Diabetes Under Control
People with diabetes can drink juice made from banana stems because it doesn’t have any sugar in it. Also, because they have a low glycemic index, banana stems are very good for people with diabetes to eat.
Furthermore, Banana stems have a lot of vitamin B6, and it is thought that they can help people with diabetes. Vitamin B6 is a cofactor that is used in a lot of chemical reactions and changes how things work. So, not getting enough of it can lead to Parkinson’s, diabetes, autism, cancer, and many other health problems.
Studies that have linked diabetes and vitamin B6 have found both problems and benefits. Studies on the fruit fly Drosophila have shown that not getting enough vitamin B6 may cause diabetes. Also, the stem contains vitamin B6, which helps make haemoglobin and insulin.
4. Effective At Detoxification
The juice of the banana stem helps in flushing out toxins from the body. It is a diuretic, and one of the most effective ways to cleanse your system from ailments. Banana stem juice controls and balances the amount of acid in the body. So, it helps to ease heartburn and other problems with the digestive system.
5. Kidney Stones And UTIs Can Be Treated By Using Banana Stems
At the moment, doctors often tell people who have stones to add banana stem to their diet.
When you mix cardamom with banana stem juice, it helps relax the bladder and keeps painful kidney stones from forming. Kidney stones can’t form if you drink a glass of banana stem juice mixed with a few drops of lime juice every day. It also helps Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) patients feel less pain and discomfort.
The stem juice is a good way to get rid of small kidney stones and also helps you pee. If this juice is mixed with cardamom, it calms the bladder and helps with cystitis.
Cystitis is an infection of the urinary tract that makes the bladder hurt. Women are more likely to have it. Most of the time, cystitis heals on its own. But in the worst cases, antibiotics would be needed to treat it.
6. May Lower Blood Pressure
According to CDC, approximately half of the entire American adult population, i.e., ~47%, suffer from hypertension. Banana stem contains potassium, which is a mineral that plays a role in regulating blood pressure. Consuming foods rich in potassium can help to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of hypertension.
7. Banana Stems May Boost The Immune System
Banana stem is a good source of vitamin C, which is an essential nutrient that helps to support the immune system. Vitamin C helps to protect cells from oxidative stress and may help to reduce the severity and duration of colds and other infections.
8. Banana Stems May Improve Cardiovascular Health
Banana stem contains several nutrients that may help to improve heart health, including potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B6. These nutrients help to regulate heart rhythm, lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart disease.
9. Banana Stems Reduce Bad Cholesterol
WHO reports say that high cholesterol levels cause one-third of all cases of ischaemic heart disease around the world. Also, about 2.6 million deaths a year are thought to be caused by high cholesterol levels. The CDC says that between 2015 and 2018, about 12% of American adults had cholesterol levels of more than 240 mg/dL.
The banana stem has many benefits, including the fact that it can help keep cholesterol levels in check. It has a lot of iron and vitamin B6, which are important for increasing the number of red blood cells and lowering the amount of LDL cholesterol.
10. Banana Stems May Have Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Banana stem contains antioxidants and other compounds that may have anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation is thought to be a contributing factor in the development of several chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. Consuming foods with anti-inflammatory properties may help to reduce the risk of these conditions.
Now that you’re aware of the many ways in which banana stem can improve your health, it’s time to get specific about how to incorporate it into your diet.
What Are The Best Ways To Consume Banana Stem?
Banana stems can be eaten in a variety of ways, including but not limited to:
Raw: Banana stem, when thinly sliced, makes for a refreshingly crisp addition to salads and other foods.
Cooked: Banana stem is edible when cooked and can be prepared in a number of ways such as boiling, frying, or grilling. Diced or sliced, it complements or replaces other vegetables in stir-fries, soups, and curries.
Juice: The juice extracted from a banana stem makes for a tasty and healthy drink. You can make a refreshing drink by blending the stem with water, straining the resulting juice, and sweetening it with sugar or honey to taste.
Pickled: To make a pickled banana stem, simply slice it thinly and soak it in a solution of vinegar, sugar, and spices for a few hours or overnight. You can nibble on pickled banana stem or use it as an ingredient in other meals.
The stem should be properly washed prior to consumption to remove any dirt or debris that may be present.
Take Away
Banana stems are used by many people due to their low price, useful medicinal properties, and practicality as a food source. Even though we talked about the great benefits of banana steam and would recommend it to everyone, some people are allergic to bananas and may feel bloated, gassy, or crampy.
Everyone has a different capacity and tolerance for meals. Therefore, in case of possible post-consumption side effects, it is strongly advised to seek the advice of a specialist.
