Banana Fun Facts That Will Get You Energized

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Want to know more about banana? Well, here are some banana fun, crazy, and weird facts that will get you energized.

Think of a fruit that starts with B — you thought of banana. You are not alone. Think of a yellow fruit — it’s more likely you thought of a banana. Lastly, think of a long elongated fruit — once again, you thought of a banana.

While the name is easy to remember, banana is well-known because of its fancy looks, and of course, the taste. However, there are lots of things we don’t know about this fabulous fruit. So, from history to some strange ones, here are some interesting facts about banana:

Thanks, Alex!

The most significant archaeological evidence of the earliest cultivation of bananas points to New Guinea. However, many experts believe that Southeast Asian ancestors have also independently cultivated it alongside taro and yam.

In his expedition at around 327 BC, Alexander The Great tasted an unusual elongated fruit, and he loved it. He then introduced it to the western world. Shortly after the discovery of America, explorers took bananas to the world that pushed for worldwide cultivation.

EPC Export Most Bananas

Ecuador, based on the 2018 to 2019 data, is the largest exporter of bananas in the world. It supplied about 22% of the world’s bananas with an estimated earning of $3.3 billion.

Most of the bananas exported from Ecuador come from private farms and then sold to companies like DOLE, Del Monte, and Chiquita.

Read: Graham Banoffee Cake Recipe

The Philippines followed with an estimated $1.9 billion worth and adding 13.2% of the world’s supply. Colombia is trailing behind with a small margin with $1.6 billion worth of sales or 11% of the total supply.

Banana Health Facts

Banana can boost your immune system since it contains a reasonable amount of vitamin c. According to Health Exchange, a medium banana can already supply 10% of your daily vitamin c.

It is also rich in manganese for healthier skin. Research shows that manganese helps the body make collagen, a protein that protects the cells from aging. Since it is pulpy, it is also rich in dietary fiber that washes out toxins in the body.

Bananas are also fat-free, cholesterol-free, and virtually sodium-free.

Berry Banana

Botany is a super complex department and it packs wonders. It also brought us amazing facts about banana — it’s a berry. Botanically, berries are fruits with seeds and pulp that develop from the flower of an ovary. It has three parts: the skin (exocarp), the flesh (mesocarp), and the close part the envelop the seeds (endocarp).

So, banana is a berry along with grapes, cucumber, watermelon, pumpkin.

Banana and Humans are Similar

Some weird facts about banana are that some parts are similar to humans. When you see a farmer carrying a whole stem containing bananas, he’s actually carrying a “bunch.” Then, those rows, which you can typically buy in markets are called hands; and yes, a single banana is called a finger.

The bud of the flower located below are usually male flowers, and they don’t turn into fruit. In the Southeast Asian regions, that part is an important vegetable used in many dishes.

Banana Makes You Happy

Have you ever heard of the chemical serotonin? Well, this is a neurotransmitter that helps the body function properly. For people diagnosed as clinically depressed, serotonin levels are super low.

Though banana contains serotonin, snacking on them won’t increase the level to a significant amount. However, it is rich in Vitamin B6 that helps the body produce more serotonin. Also, it is rich in potassium, an electrolyte that supports cells in nerves, heart, and other body parts.

Mosquitoes and Bananas

We often hear that eating bananas will make you more prone to mosquito bites. According to folklores, when you eat a banana the smell ends up on your skin through sweating, and mosquitoes will chase you. Others noted that potassium attracts these tiny but dangerous insects.

While it is true that banana is attractive to mosquitoes it is not because of the smell. It is because it contains octanol, a substance that is super attractive to mosquitoes.

Octanol is used in mosquito traps.

Random Banana Facts and Trivia

• The scientific name for banana is musa sapientum, which means “fruit of the wise men”.
• It floats in water.
• The Gros Michel variety, which is the popular variety became extinct by 1960, because of the fungus called Panama disease.
• There is a group dedicated solely to this fruit. It is called the Banana Club and it’s always open for new members.
• Singers like Alicia Keys, Katy Perry, and Adele want banana in backstage when performing.
• Banana peel can relieve itching. Just rub a banana peel in that area and there will be relief.
• The largest consumer of bananas worldwide is Uganda wherein an average person consumes around 1 1/3 lbs (605 g) of the fruit daily.
• In 2018, a banana plant hidden in a Yorkshire van company’s office suddenly started to sprout fruit after being dormant for about 10 years.