Kloowhay |กล้วย | Musa acuminata
Family: Musaceae - Genus: Musa
Banana can be found near the vegetable gardens of the Thai Child Development Foundation, along the paths, in the food forest and around the kitchen area of Eco-Logic Thailand on Mount Never-rest.
Banana is not really a tree, because it has no bark and it is all fiber. Banana is defined as the largest herb on the planet.
Did you know that there are over 300 species of banana in the world, about 22 of which are grown in Thailand?
Bananas propagate by rhizomes, growing new shoots underground from the main stem. Most species are infertile, so you cannot cannot simply plant banana seeds or a banana to grow a whole plant. This is the result of years of selective breeding done by humans. The wild species of banana still do have black seeds, sometimes many and the fruit is not suitable for human consumption.
Banana can be harvested the whole year through.
BANANA TREE
The banana plant is the largest herbal flowering plant. All the above-ground parts of a banana plant grow from a structure called a "corm". Plants are normally tall and fairly sturdy, and are often mistaken for trees, but what appears to be a trunk is actually a stem. Cultivated banana plants can be around 5 meter tall.
BANANA LEAVES
The leaves of banana plants are composed of a "stalk" and a blade. Leaves are spirally arranged and may grow 2.7 metres long and 60 centimetre wide. They are easily torn by the wind, resulting in the ruffled look.
At our restaurant we use the leaves for decoration of the tables and to pack our take away lunches in.
BANANA FLOWERS
Banana flowers, if left on the tree, would blossom into bananas. They grow in groups of flowers called hands.
Banana flowers are edible and make an amazing salad.
BANANA FRUIT
The development of banana fruit is amazing.
The bracts of the banana flowers that roll back and drop off as the fruit stem develops. The first hands to appear are female flowers that develop into banana fruit.
Banana's are used in the Thai cuisine as a fruit when ripe, or as a vegetable when young and green.
BANANA STEM
The leaves of banana plants are composed of a "stalk" and a blade. The base of the stalk widens to form a sheath; the tightly packed sheaths make up the stem, which is all that supports the plant. The edges of the sheath meet when it is first produced, making it tubular. As new growth occurs in the center of the stem the edges are forced apart. The tender core of the banana plant's stem is also used as a vegetable in the Thai kitchen.
CULINARY USES OF BANANAS
The ripe fruit of the banana is usually eaten raw, without skin.
But it is not the only part of the banana that can be eaten. The peel of the banana can be used to make a drink.
The banana flowers make a wonderful salad. At Eco-Logic we only use the flowers of the wild bananas (the bananas from that plant have so many seeds that humans cannot eat them).
The stem of the banana plant is used as a vegetable in curries.
Click on the logo of the restaurant for recipes with bananas.
NUTRITION
Raw bananas (not including the peel) are 75% water, 23% carbohydrates, 1% protein, and contain negligible fat. A 100-gram reference serving supplies 89 Calories, vitamin B6, and moderate amounts of vitamin C, manganese and dietary fiber.
TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USE OF PAPAYA
NOTE: please take advice from a doctor if you are planning to use herbal medicine.
Every part of the banana plant has medicinal properties.
Flowers: can be used to treat dysentery, ulcers, and bronchitis. Cooked, flowers are considered a good food for diabetics.
Sap: Chemically, banana sap has astringent qualities. In traditional medicine, the sap is used to treat a wide variety of ailments, including leprosy, hysteria, fever, digestive disorders, hemorrhage, epilepsy, hemorrhoids, and insect bites.
Roots and Seeds: Treat digestive disorders
Peel and Pulp: Scientifically shown to have both anti fungal and antibiotic components.
Bananas are one of the best sources of potassium, an essential mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function. A
Because the banana is rich in non digestible fibers (including cellulose, hemicellulose, and alpha glucans) it can help restore normal bowel activity and help with both constipation and diarrhea.
Bananas have long been recognized for their antacid effects that protect against stomach ulcers and ulcer damage.
Bananas promote an overall improvement of the functional efficiency of kidneys. Benefits to the kidneys are again due to the high potassium content of bananas. A normal intake of potassium suppresses calcium excretion in the urine and minimizes the risk of kidney stones.
One of the fastest ways to cure hang-over is to make a dairy banana cocktail with milk and honey.
Bananas are known to calm an upset stomach and help rehydrate your body.
Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Depression: people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Brain Power: Research has shown that the potassium packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
And there is more.
Rerence and more information: The Health Benefits of Thai Fruits Part 1 - Samitivej Hospital
INTO THE WILD: a down to earth experience
For guests and visitors to Paksong we organize weekly tours "The Edible Forest" and Foraging weekends: Into the Wild. We work with local guides to take you in the jungle of Paksong. After foraging, we will cook a meal with the ingredients, using bamboo together with you!
Come and join and learn about the abundance of food that nature gives us!
INTO THE WILD!
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