A root crop vegetable. The shoot is less than 60cm above the ground. It is a tropical crop. The tuber is an edible and medicinal part of the crop.
Botanical name is Musa Sapentum. It is a tropical and subtropical perennial crop that is native to the caribbeans but now widely cultivated in most tropical and subtropical ecologies.
NUTRITIONAL PROPERTY
It has high content of carbohydrate, fibre, vitamins and minerals that are essential for good health. It is especially rich in beta carotene, a precursor of vitamin A
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF CARROT
1. General wellbeing
The beta carotene and vitamin A in carrot makes its consumption by humans very beneficial to the eyes and overall food health. It also helps to improve the immune system and general resistance of the body to infections
2. Antioxidant Properties
Carrot has a lot of antioxidants that help to ward off free radicals in the body. Free radicals are products of ineffective oxidation that leave a swarm of free radicals of oxygen that cause a host of diseases, including cancer and premature aging.
Consumption of carrot can protect against some diseases, especially cancer
3. Cardiovascular health and removal of bad cholesterol
The crude fiber content of carrot is high, hence it is also food for cardiovascular health. The fiber is also able to bind with cholesterol and eliminates it from the body in the process.
On a long term basis, regular consumption of carrot will lead to reduced pressure and improved circulatory system and cardiac health.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF BANANA
1. Reduction of blood cholesterol and control of hypertension
Due to its high crude fiber content of roughages, consumption of bananas gives peristaltic bowel movement and helps to reduce cholesterol.
It also reduces constipation and indigestion. It helps to control high blood pressure because of high levels of bad cholesterol which is removed from the bowel.
The high potassium helps in the electrolyte fluid balance between potassium and sodium to cause reduction in blood pressure.
In the blood, potassium and sodium are electrolytes that enter and leave the cell to regulate their functions including blood pressure. When there’s a preponderance of sodium ions, high blood pressure is precipitated which can only be counterbalanced by potassium.
Regular consumption of bananas, at least 4 fingers daily, is very helpful in regulating high blood pressure. Hypertension is normalized. This consumption can adequately control hypertension.
Diabetics should not take more than two fingers of banana daily.
