Let's go Bananas - fun facts about bananas
- kirabusiness0419
- Aug 12, 2024
- 2 min read
Bananas are an all time favourite in almost every household. It is the best snack option for work, school and obviously the hike we take every two years. Not only is a banana the most consumed fruit around the world but it is also one of the cheapest and since we are talking numbers, it is the fifth most traded agricultural product in the entire world. Originating from the jungles of SouthEast Asia, this fruit has made a huge impact on our everyday diets.
It is said that the fruits name originated amongst African communities, derived from an Arabic word "Banan" which translates to "finger". There are many different kinds of bananas growing around the world but there is a very specific one that's being sold in ever retail store and it is known as the Cavendish bananas and these bananas are typically known as dessert bananas.
The banana industry has a long and dark road it followed due to the increase in demand. Unethical labour conditions to unsustainable farming causing erosion and the depletion of many biodiversities. There are now companies such as fair trade working for a more sustainable future so we are able to consume our yellow friends on the daily and recharge our serotonin levels. As we know bananas grow in tropical regions where the sun is screaming hello and the air is incredibly humid.
Not only are bananas incredibly delicious but they carry so much health benefits for our bodies. Bananas contain lots of fibre and are a great source of vitamin B. The yellow fruits are a great way for us to sustain our energy levels longer and is consumed by athletes to help them get through the day, the training session or what I enjoy doing is eating a banana before a night out to ensure I can sustain my people skills for as long as possible. Bananas are used in desserts and sweet treats, starting from puddings and ending all the way to a morning smoothy to start the day. They are creamy and thick and can be used to bulk up a lot of sweet recipes.
Bananas tend to have a curve in them and that is due to the way that they grow. Instead of growing downwards, their "noses" grow upwards towards the sun! Bananas are so great they even defy gravity itself. Bananas also have potassium and can be a source of vitamin C.
References:
Banana link, n.d, All About Bananas and why Bananas matter, Banana Link, n.d, https://www.bananalink.org.uk/all-about-bananas/#:~:text=Their%20origin%20is%20placed%20in,the%20Arab%20for%20'finger', 04/08/2024
The editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2024, Banana, Britannica, 23/07, https://www.britannica.com/plant/banana-plant , 04/08/2024
Australian Banana Growers, n.d, Bananas- a short history, Australian Banana Growers, n.d, https://abgc.org.au/our-industry-old/history-of-bananas/#:~:text=Bananas%20are%20believed%20to%20have,the%20Philippines%20and%20New%20Guinea, 05/08/2024
Fair trade, n.d, Bananas, fair trade, n.d, https://www.fairtrade.net/product/bananas, 05/ 08/2024
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