Banana Florets

Also Known As : Banana flowers, Kele ke phool, Banana blossom, Kehel mal, Ngapyaw phoo, Puso, Shang chao fua

Descriptions
details

Vegetarian

Taste Profile

They have a starchy, bitter taste.

Usage Tips

Banana florets can be stored wrapped in transparent plastic to prevent them from drying.
Banana Florets are best used fresh.
They can be added to soups, salads, stir-fries, meat and vegetable stews.
They can be with some dressing and topped with chopped macadamia nuts.
The fresh flowers can be sliced and served raw.
Dried form of banana florets can be soaked in cold water for ten minutes and rinse before use.

Description

Banana plants were first cultivated by South East Asians. Banana flowers are deep magenta in color and hang like tear-drop-shaped pendants at the end of banana clusters. The leaves enclose the large, purple colored, scented flowers. They grow in tropical climates and can be found year-round. They would blossom into bananas when left on the tree. Its inner pale-colored bracts are used for food dishes. Banana florets can be sliced and eaten raw in salads. It is considered as a vegetable in many parts of the world, especially in Southeast Asia. It is an exotic ingredient in Thai cuisines.

Health benefits

Banana florets possess ethanol that helps to prevent pathogenic bacterial growth. It helps to treat infections and cure wounds as well.⁽¹⁾
They help to overcome diabetes and anemia. They are rich in fiber and help to reduce blood sugar levels. Iron in them helps in the production of red blood cells.⁽¹⁾
They restrict constipation during pregnancy and promote lactation in lactating mothers.⁽¹⁾
They have antioxidant properties that help to fight free radicals in the body. It is also beneficial to treat health problems like cancer and premature aging.⁽¹⁾
Banana florets help to increase progesterone which helps to reduce the excessive menstrual bleeding.⁽¹⁾
Magnesium content in them improves the mood and lessens anxiety.⁽¹⁾
They are a good source of soluble and insoluble fiber that promotes gastrointestinal health.⁽¹⁾

Selection Guide

Look for banana florets that are firm with tightly packed leaves. They are available in fresh and canned form in grocery stores. They are also available in preserved form.

Note

Methanol extracts of banana flowers have inhibitor properties that stabilize the free radicals, resulting in many chronic conditions, together with cancer and cardiopathy. Its Ethanol-based extracts inhibit the expansion of morbific bacterium like B subtalis, escherichia, and Bcereus, that heal wounds and forestall infections. Its ester extract inhibits the expansion of the protozoal infection parasite Plasmodium falciparum in vitro.⁽²⁾

Resource & Links

(1) https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/health-benefits-of-banana-flower/

(2) http://bananabenefitsformen.blogspot.com/2018/04/side-effects-of-banana-flower.html

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