Banana Story
Man cannot survive only on Bananas, Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes.
Banana is richer in some components compared regular potatoes.
However, potatoes are rich in proteins.
Sweet potatoes are sweeter and rich in Vitamin A (rather carotene).
So the best way to eat is to mix the three in various combinations.
CHNOPS consist of 98% of the living matter and Oxygen is about 65% by weight.
Carbon
Hydrogen
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Sulfur
I add Calcium to this list since we are vertebrates
Macro Elements
Sodium
Potassium
Chlorine
Magnesium
Manganese
Micro Elements are
Iron
Zinc
Cooper
Selenium
There are only 11 elements necessary for living and no food contains all.
When banana is cultivated in excess the excess material is converted to chips and I have no problem with that.
Banana is a fruit with low glycaemic index.
Glycaemic Index is the index that measures the availability of sugars or calorie after ingestion.
It is a ranking index.
It measures how quickly sugar is released. It also measures how quickly the blood sugar rises up.
Both fiber and fat content may determine the rapid or slow availability of sugars.
Cooking also increases the availability of free sugar.
While potatoes are high in GI bananas are low in GI.
Eating potato chips and banana chips is the worst way to consume food.
Both as a medical student and a medical man I did not know these facts even though I was very much interesed in nutriention.
I almost finished a book on Exotic Fruits and Vegetables of Ceylon and an introductory chapter in basic nutrients was considered necessary. So this is how compse that introduction.
In our time Tuberculosis and Nutritional deficency coexisted. Tuberculosis was called wssting disease and the B. C. G. Vaccines was the only solution to mitigate both nutritional deficiency and devastating illness, Tuberculosis.
How many ways to eat bananas.
1. Fresh Banana
2. Cooked Banana - Ash Plantain
3. Banana fritters
4. Banana chips
5. Banana with Toast Bread
6. Add volume to Mixed Fruit Salad
7. Banana with ice cream
8. Banana in a milk shake
I could not think of 10.
9. Forgot Banana Bread in CEYLON at Mesna Tea Center
10. Banana on top of Yoghurt at Kheels
But my favourite was Soursop with vanilla ice cream.
