With the Muslim holy period of Ramadan now here and the Jewish fast day of Tisha b’Av (Ninth of Av) just around the corner, eating better and more healthy meatless food is on many peoples minds. In addition to frequent meatless recipes on Green Prophet, including one on special foods for the period leading up to the Ninth of Av fast day; and another with tips on 10 Best Ways to Eat More Halal, our food tips have called on eating plenty of bananas, a so-called ‘miracle fruit’ that is said to help cure many ailments in both mind and body. Bananas are featured in an informative article by Ibn Al Qwaim in his web blog, HealthyMuslim.com.
With so much health news circulating around about the health benefits of eating at least one average sized banana per day, the big question that arises is just how beneficial is this long, yellow fruit that when eaten green more resembles a vegetable and when ripe is more like a fruit?
This question is particularly important for people suffering from depression, which may be at least partially caused by lack of enough sleep and not eating a proper diet.
Regarding eating bananas to help combat symptoms of depression, the old saying: “a healthy mind in a healthy body” is especially relevant regarding bananas that contain many B vitamins, including vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, as well as C.
The fruit also contains beneficial amounts of potassium or vitamin K as well as beneficial amounts of magnesium and a certain amount of dietary fiber. For depression sufferers, whose bodies are often worn down from lack of proper nutrients, the vitamin B6 found in bananas contains the amino acid tryptophan that helps the body make serotonin, a brain chemical that regulates moods.
But despite this, one cannot say that bananas themselves will cure a person who is suffering from depression; even a mild form of this all too common ailment. Bananas are very beneficial anyway as they also provide certain nutrients and antioxidants to help protect the body against ailments such as heart disease.
Bananas are cultivated in various parts of the Middle East; including the Jordan Valley, the Nile River valley, Israel’s Carmel mountain side (western slopes) and in the Tigress River valley regions in Iraq.
It should not be construed though that due to bananas containing these healthful ingredients they will cure people of conditions like depression. In reality, eating bananas themselves is not a cure-all for conditions like depression. What eating bananas can do is provide essential nutrients to help our bodies fight conditions like depression.
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Cold Tarator Soups for the Nine Meatless Days before the Ninth of Av
Image of banana blossoms from Shutterstock
