What fruits have you eaten in the past month? Chances are you’ve had a banana. When asking kindergarten and first grade children what kinds of fruit there are, we get apples, oranges, and bananas. And yet, less then a half century ago, few people in the United States had heard of bananas.
Bananas are a staple of the American diet, providing a whole host of benefits along with an excellent taste. While we may more or less take them for granted, Bananas have an incredible history that is sometimes marred in conflict, trade disputes, and even war. Despite this, bananas continue to be in every grocery store at affordable rates.
Lets take a moment to examine the banana in closer detail. Along with describing exactly what a banana is, we will look a the nutritional, culinary, political, and individual pros and cons associated with this peculiar fruit. Having racked up quite the history so far, you may be amazed by what you learn as we consider the pros and cons of bananas.
The Pros of Bananas
Packed with essential vitamins and minerals, bananas can provide incredible energy, are low cost, easy to ship, and quite versatile in general. With all of these aspects combined into a single super fruit, bananas serve a crucial role in the American diet.
1. Great Source of Essential Vitamins and Minerals.
What is the first food you think of when you are told you need more potassium? Chances are, it is a banana. Despite the fact that avocados, sweet potatoes, white beans, yogurt, and dark leafy greens as well as spinach has more potassium then a banana, people still reference the banana.
Besides being arguably tastier and more satisfying then everything listed above, bananas are more then just a great source of potassium. They are also great for magnesium, fiber, and host of other nutrients that our bodies need. Because of the quick acting carbohydrates provided by bananas, they are an excellent source of food for runners, weight lifters, and anyone about to work out.
2. Can Feel Filling When Eating.
Bananas have their role in dieting and eating healthy as well. We all know that there are foods out there that have a lot of calories but offer little in the way of satisfaction. Bananas on the other hand are different. They are satisfying to eat, can take a little while, are tasty, and can fill you up. They are an excellent dessert option after dinner, and a fantastic fruit to have when starting your day in the morning. All in all, the banana is there for you when you need something satisfying and at around 100 calories.
3. Bananas Can Be Made Into A Number Of Different Dishes.
No matter what stage your banana is at, it can be used to cook tasty foods. Under ripe bananas can be found in a number of eateries. An excellent addition to meat, the sweetness of the banana is downplayed and instead it adds excellent body, flavor, and texture to more complex dishes. Whether sweet or savory, the under ripe banana has a great deal of potential.
When perfectly ripe, the banana can be carried pretty much anywhere without fear of it leaking out. While other fruit may ooze over things when left without a protective cover, the banana does a really good job of keeping itself safe until its time to eat. If not directly eaten, then it can be added as a fruit dessert topper to add some body and sweetness to your dish.
Overripe bananas often find themselves into dishes where they can contribute their sweetness to make something normal even better. Two popular examples of overripe banana recipes include banana nut pancakes and banana bread.
4. Relatively Inexpensive in Supermarkets Across The United States.
Bananas are easy to ship and do not require extended refrigeration like other vegetables out there. In fact, as you may have learned for yourself, exposing bananas to that level of cold only speeds up the rate that they ripen. Because they are easy to grow and transport, bananas are incredibly cheap across the United States. At prices far below even locally grown fruits and vegetables, it is hard to turn down something that per pound and dollar value has more nutrients and vitamins then anything else.
5. Every Part of the Banana Tree Is Useful.
If we consider the banana tree for a moment, then we are presented with a truly useful plant. While we are all familiar with the fruit of the banana tree, other parts of the tree are frequently used for their unique properties. For example, the flowers from banana trees often find their way into local cuisine and dishes. The leaves of the banana tree are sleek and make excellent disposable dishes for food that do not impart their flavor onto what is cooked. The trunks of the banana tree also find their way into a number of different dishes. Finally, the fiber of the banana tree can be used in textiles as well.
The Cons of Bananas
With so many benefits, its may be hard to see how there could be cons to growing and eating bananas. However, when taking into consideration the kinds of nutrients bananas don’t deliver for their calories, the effects bananas can have on those trying to lose weight, the disgust reaction that comes from eating too many bananas, and the implications of banana production in developing countries, there are in fact a range of cons associated with their use. With that in mind, lets cover some of them now.
1. Contain Practically No Protein or Healthy Fats.
While an excellent source of carbohydrates and quick energy, bananas do not contain any measurable amount of protein or healthy fats. They can also cause quick spikes in blood sugar levels. Now for healthy people, this isn’t much of a problem. For those experiencing problems with insulin levels, uses related to blood sugar spikes, and trouble managing their blood sugar, then bananas are the last thing you want to be eating.
2. Not Good For Weight.
For the above reasons, bananas are a bad idea if you are trying to lose a substantial amount of weight. Because they do not provide protein or healthy fats and instead just provide carbohydrates, they may make dieting goals more challenging to reach.
3. Can Quickly Become Too Much.
It is not uncommon for people to have a disgust reaction with bananas. This comes from eating them regularly or attempting to eat too many at once. Once this aversion kicks in, it can take days or weeks for it to go away. During that time, your bananas may go bad and have to be thrown away. While inexpensive, it is still a waste of money.
4. Destruction of Local Production In Favor Of Large Scale Operations.
Plantations used to be small scale. However, with the industrialization of the industry and the coming of bananas to the United States, all of this changed. Instead of smaller family businesses, larger corporations moved in and made the process more efficient. While it benefits consumers in the United States and in other developed nations, it hurts local populations trying to find a source of employment.
5. Smaller Salaries Abroad For Plantation Workers.
The end result of the industrialization of banana production is poorer salaries for workers in the fields. With no incentives to pay workers more, many companies will use the labor and cycle through workers, with no thought to fair wages or compensation due to injury. In the end, a middle class is stopped from forming and the country as a whole is pushed further away from becoming a developed nation.
What Exactly Are Bananas?
Strangely enough, bananas are considered a form of berry. It is an edible fruit that is produced by a range of large flowering plants. Within the genus Musa, these plants produce a wide range of hanging fruits, clustered tightly together.
In the United States and abroad, we eat one of two popular banana types known for being seedless. In general however, bananas in the Musa genus can range in size, color, and firmness. While native to the tropics of Australia and Indomalaya, they were first thought to be domesticated in what is now Papua New Guinea. Now they are grown in over 107 countries. In the United States, the only place where they can be grown effectively is in Hawaii.
While we know of bananas as ‘bananas,’ they are also known as plantains. While there is no horticultural reason for why these there are two different names, this a practical one. The bananas that we eat are more often referred to as dessert bananas, while starchier bananas are often called plantains. Still, the terms can be used interchangeably when referring to one or the other.
So Where Does That Leave Us?
Bananas are available everywhere. They are full of nutrients and vitamins, they are inexpensive, and they are tasty. They have an incredible number of uses and they are the perfect source of food for those exercising. All of this comes at the cost of decreased standards of living for those producing the bananas. In addition, with an increasing number of Americans labeled as overweight and obese, the bananas are the last thing people want when looking to lose weight while managing their calories and getting all their other vitamins and minerals. In the end, whether you like or dislike bananas is ultimately up to you.