Aha! Gotcha, this isn’t what the title suggests at all, or actually this is precisely what the title suggests. It is a blog about the fruit – Banana. This is a fun and health post about one of my favorite fruits – the common ordinary everyday banana. Hopefully you will leave here today with a little more knowledge about a very simple yummy and delicious fruit.
That yellow thing you peel and eat, the banana, is a fruit. Here in America we eat more bananas than apples and oranges combined. In some parts of the world, bananas keep millions of people alive.
Although extremely popular, the banana is mysterious; nobody knows how they evolved or from where they originated. Cultural lore suggests that in ancient translations of the Bible, the “apple” consumed by Eve is actually a banana. Entire Central American nations have been said to rise and fall over the banana.
To me, the saddest thing about the banana of today is whether it will survive. As the result of commercial enterprise the (Cavandish) banana with its very own specific reproductive system, is a genetic duplicate of the next, and therefore all are susceptible to the same blights. Today’s yellow banana is increasingly threatened and there is as yet no cure.
In the past year, scientists began focusing on the banana varieties still found in nature. Wild bananas can still reproduce by seeds and are constantly confronted with fungi. It is the hope of researchers to discover resistance genes that can be transferred to the now seedless varieties.
When it comes to nutrition, Bananas reign. They are rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber – A source of energy. They contain iron, which helps those suffering from anemia. Iron stimulates the growth of hemoglobin in the body. Bananas contain potassium; reducing high blood pressure and preventing bone loss by lessening the damage done by foods containing high levels of sodium/salts (found in the typical modern American diet). Vitamin B6 also helps to balance blood-glucose levels, reducing mood swings often associated with PMS.
Bananas are excellent for those suffering with ulcers, as they can help lower gastric juice levels and build a protective coating in the stomach and in reducing heartburn symptoms.
Bananas contain tryptophan, serotonin and norepinephrine, which can lessen depression and also help a person to relax. The B vitamins found in bananas help calm and soothe the nervous system, vitamin B6 in particular which can reduce the symptoms of irritability and sleeplessness. Bananas are an excellent first choice for solid food for infants, as they are easily digestible and non-allergic.
Bananas also help to lessen cravings for sugar and other unhealthy sweet snacks. They are helpful in preventing age-related macular degeneration and strokes. Even the peels serve a few useful purposes. They make a great fertilizer in the garden, especially for roses. Bury a few peels near the bush, and the peels will normally cause the roses to thrive. Pimples can be dried out naturally by rubbing the inside of the banana peel on the affected area on the skin.
I snapped this photograph looking down inside before removing the ice cream!
As for myself, I love bananas. They are the first item that goes into my fruit smoothies. I also use them as creatively as possible in other dishes. Recently I happened upon something new and different – Banana Ice Cream, truly unique because the only ingredient in the ice cream is the banana, nothing else. I think it’s one of the few foods that one can make ice cream without having to add any other ingredients.
HOW TO MAKE BANANA ICE CREAM!
I tried this for myself. Save up those bananas that are beginning to be not quite but almost too ripe to eat. Peel the banana, cut into small bite size pieces, place on a tray and freeze for a few hours.
Remove from the tray and place the banana pieces in a powerful blender or mixer. And blend. Add only a few pieces at a time. This does take a while.
There is enough fat in the banana and water that has been frozen in the bananas along with the natural sugar that by blending it long enough you end up with “Banana Ice Cream”.
If you love bananas you’ll love this healthy treat! The taste is so incredibly ice cold creamy and yummy it really is banana ice cream!
Hope everyone enjoyed my post today If you love bananas try the ice cream. It is delicious!
Have a happy, healthy day today, Penny
The Why About This 
Thanks for sharing this fine and simple recipe. Will try it out. The information on banana is also great. lol!
Thank you Celestine. I’m not exaggerating when I say the ice cream is delicious (if you love bananas!) 🙂
thanks for sharing recipe .. love bananas and it’s a staple fruit in my country.. will surely try this out! (:))
Oh I am so glad to hear that, let me know how it turns out, it is delicious! 🙂
I love bananas – bananas splits are my favourite 🙂
Mine too, and banana splits, you just mentioned another favorite of mine. Sometimes food is both fun and delicious isn’t it! 🙂
Great post Penny!! I like bananas, but not anything flavoured with banana, I’m strange, I know! My dad absolutely adores banana sandwiches! Gona try that ice cream though, I’ll see if I can make it for him as a surprise!
I remember a few years ago the E.U wanted to bring in a ruling that bananas had to be grown straight (think they’re were talking about genetically altering them so they didn’t bend) Think it was for packaging and transporting- they’d be easier to stack. Never heard of anything so silly, but thankfully they don’t seem to have gone through with it! 🙂
Yes indeed on that one! (straight bananas? I have so many places I could go with that!) The trick with the ice cream is slow and easy, using at least 3 frozen bananas! Let me know if you give it a try. 🙂
I couldn’t do without my morning banana! I put the skins in my tree ferns and they love them!
Me neither, Tree ferns, excellent, I’ll remember that, thanks. 🙂
I don’t knowthe science behind it, but they thrive on banana skins!
All that matters in the whole scheme of things! 🙂
A very different type of post for you and I love it!
Thanks LuAnn, I sort of snuck it in. I figured if I made it fun and friendly, I could provide some healthy information about nutrition that the readers might enjoy, so glad you liked it, with much affection, Penny
I love the photo of the banana mixture in the blender… oddly pretty! I also like reading everyone’s comments about bananas, made me smile 🙂
Me too re: the comments. Actually between you and me I was totally fascinated by the design the ice cream made in the blender. I had everyone in the household come take a look, and then felt the need to photograph it! 🙂 Glad to see someone else saw the unique attractiveness of an unexpected creation! Thank you letizia 🙂
Excellent post !
Thank’s Stefan. If it doesn’t cool down here soon I really am going to go Bananas! 🙂
Bananas get a bad rap for being high in carbs, but my doctor said that bananas contain a different sugar than other high-carb fruit such as pineapple and therefore not a risk for people who need to watch their sugar intake. I was happy to hear it, because I put bananas in my fruit smoothies also. And I love banana-chocolate chip muffins. MMmm!
Healthy, yes, excellent! The Mmmmm factor with bananas priceless! Right there with you! 🙂
Love this Penny! And love bananas too! My daughter and I go through at least two bunches a week and I always put one in my morning smoothie…can’t wait to try the ice cream…thanks!
Meryl we do too in this households. Bananas are a staple for us also. Let me know how that goes, I had a few mishaps the first few times as I think I’ve mentioned to a few other commenters. (too big of a hurry – too many frozen pieces in at once. :)) But it is so worth the results! 🙂
I just had a banana on my oatmeal, then I came to your post, Penny! Great minds think alike, but your ice cream sounds good. I’ll have to try that sometime! TGIF! 🙂
Yes we do don’t we? lol, There have been so many hot days here in southeastern Washington recently that anything I can do to cool myself down is a good thing. Discovering the banana ice cream turned into a great surprise, cooling and delicious (and healthy too!) 🙂
I can’t wait to try banana ice cream 🙂
Do try Maggie, it is delicious. I will admit that I was in too big of a hurry the first few times I tried this (the banana bits – too many at once – would turn into a big solid clump in the blender), so it is slow and easy, other than that pretty easy! 🙂
slow and easy… got you!
When I was still working as a GWC in Dept. Store, I always buy a bunch of bananas because my mother told me it really is a healthy food. My work required a lot of standing so I need more Potassium, and only banana fruit can give that ingredient to me. Now I know how to make ‘banana ice cream,’ it really intrigued me to make this menu one day! For me, it’s amazingly unique!
Thank you Mack. Yes bananas are one of the “good” ones. It helps that they also taste really really good. Thank you for your comments today, I enjoy having you visit! 🙂
Bananas are a must in our house. My husband likes them a little less ripe than I do, so in the morning he always sets out the most ripe one for me. A small, but sweet thing he does for me.
After working out, I’ve found bananas to be great for preventing muscle cramps.
Thank you Marney, for adding the new info about banana’s helping to prevent muscle cramping after a workout. Very good to know! I think you husband is a sweetie. It’s those little things, you know! 🙂 And thanks for the visit – I appreciate it very much! 🙂
I’d love to know what you put in your smoothies, too! 🙂
Definitely my pleasure to share. Usually my smoothie (not precise here) has a couple handfuls of fresh or frozen berries (my favorites are strawberries, blueberries, black berries and raspberries)of course the banana (I always try to have a few frozen on hand), a half of a cup of uncooked oatmeal and 3/4 cup (approx) of natural yogurt! It’s my very tasty way of ensuring I get all those phytonutrients I might not otherwise get depending on my meals for the rest of the day!:)
making banana ice cream is so easy
Yes it is. And really tasty! The best part. 🙂
Best get out there and buy some bananas. All sorts of interesting stuff I didn’t know in here – will definitely try the peel for a rose bush I have that is suffering quite a nasty demise. Might even try it for pimples – who’d have thought?!
I love it when I come upon some new information that I wasn’t aware of myself. Can’t wait to pass it on. Helping with pimples I know to be true as there is a teenager in this household that has used the method herself, Thank you for stopping by Susan, I appreciate the visit. 🙂
Really enjoyed that Penny! I like my bananas too 🙂
Thanks Ruth, I appreciate you and always enjoy your comments. Glad to know I’m not the only fan of the banana! 🙂
Banana is one of my favourite fruite too
Isn’t it wonderul Cate? A bright yellow package just waiting to be opened for us to eat! 🙂
I like bananas. Has been a while since I have had any. I keep looking at them as I go through the fruit aisle. What does put me off though, is the last time I had a banana, it was barbecued and that made it so squishy and gooey that every time I look at one, it makes me think of that (the same as blue food colouring makes me think of peppermint custard – I’ll explain that some time). I tend to eat apples – pink ladies are my favourite, clementines, and green grapes. I will have a banana at some point and it will change in my mind again.
I understand that one completely. I’ve been ‘turned off by a few foods for the same reason. I honestly don’t think I’d care for barbeque bananas.(can’t wait for the explanation re:blue food colouring/peppermint custard :)) I love apples also. Pink ladies are delicious. Here in the state of Washington, lots of apples. my favorite of those local grown is called “honeycrisp”. Just the right everything that an apple should be. Sweet but not too sweet, crispy, juicy and refreshing. Grapes are just the perfect little package of flavor I think? Perhaps in the near future the banana might appeal to you again, I hope so, until then an apple a day…my friend,:)
Not sure if we have Honeycrisp here, will have to try and find out. Just thinking about them makes my mouth water LOL. Or that could be the 27º/81º temperature. Not used to it right beside the coast. A couple of months ago, I was sitting in the dark watching a film and eating grapes, and I took one out that seemed solid so I put it to one side. When I finished watching the film and turned the light on, it turned out to be a snail shell. I took it back to the shop I brought it from, and they were terrific. They gave me a refund and another punnet on the spot, then a few days later, a letter of apology and a £5 voucher – considering the grapes were £1.98, I think that was pretty good. The apology letter explained that they do not use pesticides, so on extremely rare occasions, something gets through control.
I don’t tend to eat them in the dark now hehe
Yes well um… thanks so much for the imput. I’m thinking I won’t be eating grapes in the dark anymore either! lol, Great story. Even greater is how the shop responded to you. Also I’m thinking I’d rather get an occasional unexpected creature than a dose of pesticides! 🙂
I think I would too
I decided this weekend to buy some bananas and thought I would eat one before thinking about it 🙂
So now bananas are on my list again
Hey I missed this comment earlier, glad to see bananas are back on your list! Proud of you for just doing it! 🙂
Thanks :-D. Enjoying them now. I also found you on Facebook, but there’s no way to add you on there 😦
You know I’m still trying to figure that out, hopefully will be resolved soonest, I have been playing catchup in some of the linking things with myself and my blog, so hopefully soon, as in real soon! I will make sure you know when it’s ready! 🙂
Okay 🙂
I have a banana every morning, but was amazed to hear that they’re endangered.
The icecream sounds yummy !
Thanks for the idea.
Yes. They are in serious trouble Victoria. I am hopeful! Truly when I heard about this I had to try it for myself. It really does taste like ice cream. Only with of course a wonderful banana flavor! Hope you get the chance to give it a try. 🙂
Mmm That looks super healthy and delicious! Great title. Had me guessing for a minute.
Hi Tina, anytime I can combine something the body “needs” with something tasty & simple I do it. The best of both worlds. About the title? I just love playing with words, I think you do too! 🙂
wow! banana Ice Cream
Yeah who knew, and only bananas. I couldn’t get over it. I really like all things banana so had to try it out. It is really yummy! 🙂
Love nanners and will try the ice cream.
Yes, let me know how it goes. It took a few trys. I put too many pieces in (too big of a hurry) and it clogged but in the end was well worth it. Good Luck! 🙂
YUM! I am so glad to hear how good they are for us. They are always on my grocery list ( organic ones). ~ Wendy
Nope, can’t go wrong with a banana Wendy, 🙂
Must try the banana ice-cream!
G’nite Penny 🙂
Please do Rosy, you’ll love it! 🙂
I guess it’s about time for me to go to the grocery store. Thanks for all of the wonderful information.
Your very welcome, I had fun with this actually so I am glad you enjoyed this post. Thank you so much!
So interesting Penny! Thank you for gathering all this great info. Did not know the banana is an endangered fruit! Oh no ~ love bananas! I never made this ice cream but can see how it would work because I used to freeze my bananas and just put them in the blender with some vitamin/protein powder and a tiny bit of water and it was like a thick-shake. When I didn’t have banana on hand and used other frozen fruit – it was not nearly as creamy! Going to freeze a ripe one right now!! Yours looks so yummy! Much Love Penny ~ Robyn
Thanks Robyn, I had fun with this one. The plight of banana’s is actually really really bad, large companies have been trying to downplay the situation. Thanks, it reallllly tastes good too! Much love, Penny
ok – got my nanas in the freezer… so hope they can protect this fruit! I’m “fructose intolerant” and cannot have much of any fruit – but bananas are evenly balanced between glucose and fructose – so I’m allowed to indulge!! Good that you are building awareness here Penny!! xo
You crack me up, “nana’s in the freezer lol” I’m glad you’re allowed to indulge with bananas. Thanks, I figure if I do this in a light hearted vein I can sneak good things in healthwise (also need-to-know things being done commercially) Trying to find the right mix. So people will learn while they enjoy. A bit of a challenge but one I enjoy Robyn! xxx
you are doing an excellent job — your posts are always funny and-or interesting/educational and VERY well written! Will let you know how my nana-cream is tomorrow 🙂 xo
Okee-dokee, it is definitely slow going, a little at a time and it does take at least 3 bananas, then theres the whole churning motion (like an ice cream maker only done with a high speed blender). It didn’t go so well when I put too many in at once, the whole thing froze up on me. Good luck, I think its fun and worth it though. 🙂 xx
I have a Vitamix – monster blender – -should be fine but I only froze 2… hmmm? Will check it out – can add a few strawberries too maybe?
Oh that’s a great thought. I like the idea, let me know so I can try it out also, yum!
We love bananas in my house
🙂