A doctor has issued some unusual advice about eating a popular fruit, warning that many of us could be missing out on a whole host of health benefits. According to the expert, you should never remove the stringy parts of a banana.
These parts, which are called phloem bundles, actually contain a number of vital nutrients. Doctor Manuel Viso explained: “They are the blood vessels of the banana, where the nutrients are supplied.”
As reported by Spanish newsite La Vanguardia, when this part of the banana is thrown away, its high concentration of antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, vitamins and minerals is lost. This includes potassium, magnesium and tryptophan, a precursor of serotonin and responsible for a good mood.
In a video uploaded to his Instagram page, Dr Viso said: “Next time you eat a banana, don’t take away the albedo, eat it,” advises the expert. In this way, you can take full advantage of the benefits for the body that come from including this fruit in your regular diet.
His advice is backed by Nicholas D. Gillitt, vice president of nutrition research and director at the Dole Nutrition Institute in North Carolina. Speaking to the Huffington Post, he said these strings “likely” contain more fibre – an important carbohydrate that aids digestion and has also been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer
He said: “Although we have not specifically tested phloem bundles, it is likely that there would be a difference in its nutritional value. They likely contain more and varied types of fibre and structural components required for their function.”
Phloem bundles make up the plant’s vascular system. They distribute nutrients throughout the fruit.
However, Nicholas noted that you would need to eat a lot of the strings for it to make much of an impact. “They are, however, present in such small amounts compared to the rest of the banana, that unless you eat a large amount of them individually, they would not be expected to impact the overall nutrition profile of a banana,” he said.
But they are safe to eat. He added: “As part of the banana, of course (they are safe)! Now whether they are palatable is another question. In general, all parts of fruits are healthy – including the phloem bundles – if we find them palatable. But there is no evidence to suggest they are harmful.”
Aside from the phloem bundles, bananas have various health benefits. Their potassium content can not only serve as an energy boost but could help manage blood pressure and may reduce the risk of stroke. The fibre, antioxidant and magnesium found in bananas could also help support a healthy heart.
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