Show W n afi HAT wl wal fl W to beat W r aar 9 md and fal leai WH H uvan me ike nutria ous values of the BANANA explains how our most satisfying food fruit helps to maintain health at all ages by C HOUSTON GOUDISS 6 east street new york city BEFORE the discovery of the vitamins and before we knew so much regarding the dodys blodys mineral requirements interest in food was centered around proteins carbohydrates and fats fruits which in general supply little protein and fat and widely varying amounts of carbohydrates received scant consideration as a source af essential nutrients but with our steadily in creasing knowledge of vitamins and of the importance to the body of a long list of essential mineral elements fruits have assumed a commanding place in nutrition and those who follow the primary rule of a well balanced diet find and serve fruit twice tivice daily have been rewarded with increased health and vigor in addition to their minerals and vitamins fruits are valued because of their bulk or cellulose which helps to insure regular health habits tho the most economical fruit many homemakers consider that fruits as a class are among the m more 0 r e expensive items included in the food budget but that statement Is far too general and indicates a lack of information 1 14 t concerning the comparative nutritive values of the different kinds of fruit for example it has been said of the delicious and economical banana that it gives more nutritive as well as money value than almost any other food fruits in general are frequently divided into two classes they are known as flavor fruits when they contain 80 per cent or more 1 of water and as food fruits when the water content is less than CO 80 per cent bananas are a fiodi fruit of the first order I 1 ripe bananas are rich in carbohydrates and furnish the body with splendid energy values with a minimum tax on the digestive system double fuel value when fully ripened this fruit p provides quick energy because a certain amount of its sugars are almost immediately absorbed by the body on the other hand several Z al hours must elapse before the remaining sugars are completely assimilated thus eating bananas provides a continuous supply of energy for a considerable period they not only help to promote rapid recovery from fatigue but also furnish a continuing i supply of energy which keeps one from becoming hungry again too soon after a meal the edible portion of 0 one ne aver age sized banana weighs about 3 ounces and provides calories it takes almost the same weight of white potato to yield the same number of calories A bananas a protective food bananas take an important position among the protective foods because they are a good source of four vitamins A B C and G and contain a total of 11 minerals they leave an alkaline ash following digestion fully ripened bananas are easily digested and are mildly laxative JL valuable in childs diet bananas deserve a prominent place in the childs diet from infancy to maturity some baby specialists prescribe mashed ano and strained ripe bananas as one of the first solid foods to be introduced in the infants diet the ripe banana is considered to be especially valuable at the time when sugar is withdrawn from the formula and the baby is given whole milk for the first time the calories in the bananas take the place of the calories previously received from the sugar and thus weight gains are steadily maintained help children gain weight because of their high caloric value plus their content of minerals and vitamins bananas may well be used regularly throughout childhood bananas and milk make an excellent food combination because the milk supplements the fruit with protein fat minerals and vitamins this combination is often used as a supple supplementary supplements menta ry lunch for underweight children and carefully conducted stu studies dies have indicated its usefulness in helping youngsters to gain weight almost all children like the taste of bananas and they do not seem to tire of this bland and pleasing fruit and though the banana is regarded as a solid food it can if desired be mashed and whipped into liquid form and combined with milk to make a healthful and nourishing beverage ev crage ideal for the elderly if elderly individuals are to maintain top health fruits should be given g iven a prominent place in their het but many fruits are avoided by individuals past mid die age either because their acid taste is displeasing or because they present difficulties in mastication ripe bananas however practically melt in the mouth be ing easily digested they are arc a fortunate choice for elderly persons providing necessary energy values with a minimum of 0 diges tive effort most versatile Ver salilo fruit bananas are always jn in season and are usually most inexpensive it is desirable of course that only fully ripened bananas be eaten raw that is because their constituents vary with the degree ot of ripeness bananas are picked when they are green and hard and the carbohydrate bo content is almost entirely rely starch As they ripen tho the starch is converted into easily digested sugars in fully ripened bananas those in which brown flecks ap appear P car on the tha yellow skins the starch has almost entirely disappeared and the flavor has been developed to its highest point the all yellow banana is also ripe enough for eating and it is likewise firms firm enough for cooking partially ripe bananas those which are yellow 1 with a green tip may be cooked and served as a vegetable or as dessert considering their availability ease of digestion high food value and economy bananas deserve to be classed as one of th the staple foods in every well planned dietary v a houston goudiss 1033 27 |