Very few people in the world know about the health benefits of banana flower! It is interesting to know that most of us are aware of the health benefits of banana but have rarely heard about the flowers. People across the globe do not even consume banana flowers. It is mostly a diet in the Asian countries.
Banana flowers can be eaten raw as well as in cooked form. Just like the banana fruit, the flower are a rich source of iron and is beneficial for health.
Origin of Banana Flowers
The credit of planting banana trees goes to the nomads of New Guinea who first planted the tree and was also seen in the Andes Mountain. However, it is the Asian countries that actually know the health benefits of banana flower and how to consume the banana flower.
In countries like Thailand, these flowers are used in soup, whereas in Malaysia it is mostly used in salads and consumed in raw form. Indians prefer to eat this flower in cooked form.
The banana flower looks amazing. The outer portion of the flower is covered with a purple colour covering which looks like a huge shell. The small flowers are present inside the covering and have a bitter taste.
The banana flower is loaded with Iron, Vitamin C and Vitamin K which makes it ideal to be a part of our diet.
How To Select The Flowers and Store?
It is important to select the right flowers for consumption. Select fresh and soft flowers which do not have any cuts or turned brownish in colour. It is advisable to store it in refrigerator inside a polythene or closed container.
Let’s see Health Benefits of Banana Flower in detail!
Health Benefits of Banana Flower
1. Cures Anaemia
Anaemia is a disease which reduces red blood cells and the haemoglobin content in the body. Banana flowers are an excellent source of iron which is extremely essential to increase the haemoglobin percentage in the body.
It is advisable for patients suffering from anaemia to include either raw or cooked banana flowers in their diet regularly to see a substantial increase in the haemoglobin percentage in the body. Banana flowers therefore help to cure anaemia in a natural way.
2. Fights Free Radicals
Free radicals present in the body are considered to be one of the main reasons behind several health problems. It also reduces the resistance power and lowers immunity. Banana flowers help to fight against the free radicals and reduce chances of malicious disease like cancer. It also prevents early ageing due to its anti-ageing properties.
3. Excellent For The Skin
Banana flowers are packed with essential vitamins such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin K. All these vitamins are excellent for the skin which gives you a younger and healthy skin. Include banana flowers in your diet and get a beautiful flawless skin.
4. Mood Enhancer
Banana flowers have high magnesium content in it. This in turn helps to uplift your mood and you feel active all day. It also helps to control the anxiety levels in a person. Therefore, it helps to cure depression in a natural way.
5. Rejuvenates The Skin
Consuming these flowers on a regular basis deeply nourishes the skin. It rejuvenates the skin in a natural way and keeps it hydrated. Due to its anti-oxidant properties it helps you to get a clear and flawless skin.
6. Improves Lactation
The banana flowers are excellent for feeding mothers. It increases the milk in the breast and helps the mother to feed their baby. Therefore, feeding mothers must consume banana flowers daily.
7. Weight Loss
This flower is ideal for people who want to lose weight in a natural way. It is packed with essential nutrients and fibres which keeps you full for long day. It has zero cholesterol and zero fat which contribute to weight loss.
8. Healthy Uterus
Banana flowers keep any form of uterus problems away. Eat boiled banana flowers to get rid of uterus related issues. It is ideal to boil banana flowers in salt and turmeric and consume the same for increased effectiveness.
9. Prevents Constipation
If you are suffering from acute constipation, then banana flowers are the best for prevent constipation. These flowers are loaded with fibres which make the bowel movement easy in the intestine and help to flush toxins from the body. It is ideal to boil raw banana and the banana flowers together and consume the same several times in a day.
10. Controls Diabetes
It is one of the miracle flowers to bring diabetes under control. It reduces the sugar level to a great extend. Including banana flowers in your daily diet will reduce the sugar levels gradually. Do not expect results overnight, it is a slow yet effective process.
11. Reduces Menstrual Cramps
Menstrual cramps are nightmares for women. Even heavy flow is common in women. Banana flowers reduce the menstrual cramps and pain and also reduce excess bleeding. It is better to eat cooked banana flowers along with curd to prevent heavy flow and pain during the menstrual cycle.
12. Keeps Pathogens Away
Banana flowers have anti-bacterial properties and hence prevent any form of infections. The anti-pathogenic nature inhibits the formation of pathogens in the body, thereby raising the immunity levels. It has ethanol as one of its components which is excellent to restrict the growth of bacteria in the body.
13. Essential Minerals and Vitamins
Banana flowers are loaded with essential vitamins and minerals which are essential for the body. Therefore including these flowers in your diet daily will supplement the required vitamins and minerals in the body.
14. Neural Problems
Banana flowers have been found useful in neural disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. It helps to fight against the free radicals which are believed to be the source of these diseases and keeps you healthy and feet.
Banana flowers are also useful to eliminate heart diseases as they are rich source of anti-oxidants and flavonoids which keeps the heart healthy.
Conclusion
We have enumerated several health benefits of banana flower and it is ideal to include the flower in your diet. The banana flowers are sticky in nature and leave behind stains on the hand. It is therefore important to apply oils like mustard oil or coconut oil on your palms before extracting the flowers or while cooking them.
In India, these flowers are usually cooked with mustard seeds and curry leaves which make it a tasty and healthy dish. Both raw and cooked flowers have equal benefits and must be taken many times in a week, Eat banana flowers and stay healthy free of any diseases.
Hope you have found this article on health benefits of banana flower useful. In case of any suggestion or feedback please share the same in the comments section below.
Madam am I right in saying that there is a thick thread like stem in the banana flower which is bitter in taste and must be removed after opening the flower with knife end. Kindly clarify.
Anamika ji in banana flower there is a thread like which is hard and bitter in taste. Is it to be thrown out? Otherwise it will spoil the taste. Kindly clarify.
Hi,
Banana flowers are used in culinary in South India.The author has thrown light on new benefits on eating the flower.We believed that the flowers would supply enough fiber to the body along with preventing stone formation in kidneys and gall bladder.Definitely it is one of the best articles to read oneself and follow it. Every part of banana is beneficial to human beings, if you consider it positively.
How to cook. Pl post detailed process of cooking this amazing vegetable. To save my effort in reading this pl reply my comment.
Very