interesting banana facts

September 21, 2009 | In: Food facts

There are more than 500 varieties of banana in the world.

The word ‘banan’ is Arabic for finger.

Eating a banana can cheer you up. Bananas are the only fruit to contain the amino acid, tryptophan plus Vitamin B6 which together help the body produce seratonin, the natural chemical which alleviates mental depression.

Wild bananas originated in Asia and have been cultivated for more than 4,000 years.

Although referred to as banana trees, they are not trees at all but a perennial herb.

High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Due to high content of potassium and low content of sodium, bananas minimize the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.

The average American consumes over 28 pounds of bananas each year.