Bananas contain a large amount of potassium and owe their shape to the phenomenon of phototropism. They are loved by both humans and monkeys, although monkeys open bananas the opposite way than we do.
1
From a botanical point of view, bananas are berries.
2
Bananas are mainly cultivated in the intertropical zone.
Banana plantations can be found in Africa, North and South America, Asia and the Pacific.
3
Bananas usually reach a length of 10 to 15 centimeters.
However, some bananas can be as long as 30 centimeters.
4
It is not true that there are parasites – lamblia – in the tip of bananas.
The dark tip of bananas is simply a remnant of the inflorescence.
5
Most bananas are grown in India.
The next largest crops are in China, Indonesia, Brazil, and Ecuador.
6
Bananas are harvested before they reach maturity.
It is caused by the length of the transportation. Bananas need to be harvested early to keep their appetizing look.
7
Humans and bananas have 50% identical DNA.
8
The inside of banana peel can relieve burning and inflammation after an insect bite.
9
Today’s bananas differ from their predecessors.
The classic banana was the Gros Michel variety. It was sweeter and creamier. Unfortunately, due to a catastrophic blight attacking this variety in 1965, growers were forced to change the variety of fruits they produced.
10
Green bananas contain a large amount of starch.
As bananas turn yellow, the starch turns into sugar, and the fruit gains flavor.
11
Bananas are composed of water in 75%.
In comparison, cucumbers contain 96% of water.
12
Bananas can lower cholesterol levels.
Thanks to their pectin content, they can positively affect blood composition. In a study conducted on rats, when supplemented with banana fruit fiber, a diet rich in cholesterol did not cause an increase in blood cholesterol levels.
