Bananas are one of the most commonly-found fruits in the world, with a dizzying number of health benefits. While the ripe ones fly off the shelves at supermarkets, there aren’t many takers for the raw ones, when in reality, raw banana is one of the most nutritious things you could gorge on. In some parts of the country, it is used as a replacement for potatoes. The Jain community, especially, is credited with using raw bananas in innovative ways. From fries to kebabs, raw banana can be adapted to suit every palate. And make no mistake; they are delicious. Those scoffing at the thought of banana “French” fries have never tasted one! But there’s more to raw bananas than playing second fiddle to potatoes.

Raw or green bananas are the unripe versions of the fruit with white, starchy flesh and a pleasing taste. Raw bananas belong to the genus Musa of bananas and plantains. From the ancient times, raw bananas have been valued for their ability alleviate and treat diseases like ulcers, infections, diarrhoea and even blood pressure. In this article, let’s look at the various health benefits of the green banana.

1 Good for Weight Loss

Swapping potatoes for raw banana makes a lot of sense because potatoes are high on carbs. Raw bananas, on the other hand, are rich in dietary fibre, which is great if you are trying to lose weight. Replacing potatoes in kebabs, wadas and fries with raw bananas is a great way to include some fibre in your system.

2 Good for Digestion

The rich fibre-content in bananas helps in easing stomach-related illnesses like constipation and improves digestion. Raw bananas are also rich in resistant starch, which passes through the digestive system undigested, cleaning out the stomach in the process.

3 Good for The Immune System

Raw bananas are rich in vitamin C, an essential nutrient also known as ascorbic acid. The vitamin is necessary for the repair and development of all the tissues of the body and also towards building a stronger immune system. In the monsoons when your immunity is at an all-time low, eating raw bananas will protect your body against infectious diseases.

4 Good for The Heart

Raw bananas are rich in potassium, which plays a big role in cardiac health. The nutrient helps trigger heart beats by helping the heart muscles move. Additionally, potassium also helps in regulating kidney functions, keeping your blood pressure in check. So if you care for your heart health, have a generous helping of raw bananas in your daily meals.

5 Good for Diabetes

Diabetics are warned against eating ripe bananas due to its high glycaemic index. But they can gorge on raw bananas unabashedly since it has a low glycaemic index value of 30, which helps prevents the rapid release of sugar into the blood stream.

If these reasons aren’t enough, raw bananas are great tasting! Versatile, healthy and delicious, the humble green banana checks every box for the perfect food. They can be whipped into a delicious subzi, steamed or fried. Apart from its white starchy flesh, even the green skin of the veggie can be turned into tasty treat.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 24, 2018 04:58 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).