Plantain, also known as cooking plantain, is a common food in West African countries such as Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana. While much emphasis is placed on the health benefits of ripe plantain, little is known about the green plantain (Musa paradisiaca), which equally has immense health benefits.
Green banana is considered by some to be green plantain and serves as a source of vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and antioxidants.
Apart from the pleasure you will get from eating green banana as a meal, it also carries a good number of health benefits, which we will explore below.
1. Helps control diabetes
The level of sugar available in a green banana is very low compared to that of a ripe banana, making it an ideal food for diabetics.
READ ALSO: Sorghum, like green banana, is good for diabetics —Study
2. Helps increase libido
This is another immense benefit of a green banana. You can improve your sex life by simply eating green bananas regularly. The vitamins and nutrients contained in green bananas help increase sexual desire and overall performance during intimacy.
3. Good for pregnant women
Green bananas are very rich in calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B-6, phosphorus and magnesium. All of this helps the fetus by ensuring proper growth and development of the baby while inside the stomach.
4. Helps heal stomach ulcers.
One of the phytochemical properties contained in green bananas is leukocyanidin, which helps heal stomach ulcers. Apart from this, it also helps protect the walls of the intestine.
5. Helps in weight loss
If you are thinking about losing weight, you may need to try eating green bananas constantly before hitting the gym or opting for surgery. Green bananas are loaded with high resistant starch content, which greatly helps in weight loss.
6. Helps prevent constipation
Many people find it difficult to pass stool due to piles. But regular consumption of green banana, which is very rich in fiber, will help prevent constipation and make the evacuation of stool easier and simpler.
7. Helps form stronger bones and teeth.
If you intend to strengthen it, then regular consumption of green bananas may be the answer to your problem. Green bananas are very rich in calcium, which helps facilitate the formation of stronger bones and teeth.
READ ALSO: 7 health benefits of banana
8. It is heart friendly
Green banana is beneficial for the heart due to its richness in potassium, which helps prevent heart attacks and hypertension by controlling our body's heart rate.
Green bananas can be enjoyed in different ways. It can be prepared as porridge, boiled with vegetable sauce, fried in the form of French fries, etc.