Show WHAT chatto to EAT and WHY tae ike nutritious values oi of the BANANA explains how our most satisfying food fruit I 1 t helps to maintain health at all ages by C HOUSTON GOUDISS 6 east street new york city the discovery of the vitamins and before we knew B BEFORE s so 0 much regarding the blodys mineral requirements I 1 interest n in food was cente centered red around proteins carbohydrates and fats fruits which in general supply little protein and fat and widely varying amounts of carbohydrates t e s rec received e iv e d scant consideration as a source of essential nutrients but with our steadily increasing 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 and serve fruit twice 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 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 concerning the comparative nutritive values of the I 1 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 jha than n almost any other foo food d fruits in general are frequently divided into two classes they are known as flavor fruits when they contain 80 per cent or more of water and as food fruits when the water content is less than 80 per cent bananas are a food fruit of the first order ripe bananas are rich in 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 provides quick energy because a certain amount of its sugars are almost immediately absorbed by the body on the other hand s several hours must elapse before the remaining sugars are completely assimilated thus eating bananas provides a continuous supply of energy y for a considerable period they not only help to promote rapid recovery from fatigue but also furi furnish aLli a continuing supply of energy which keeps one from becoming hungry again too soon after a meal ineal 7 the he edible portion of one aver age sized banana banan a weighs about 3 ounces and provides calories intakes it takes almost the same weight of white whit potato to yield the same number of calories 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 easi digested and are mildly laxative valuable in childs chads diet bananas deserve a prominent place in the childs diet from infancy to td maturity some baby specialists prescribe mashed 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 JL help Ch children ildron gain weight because of their high caloric value plus their content of minerals and vitamins bananas may well bemused be used regularly throughout childhood bananas and milk make an excellent food combination because the milk supplements the fruit with protein tat fat minerals an and d vitamins this combination is is often used as a supplementary lunch for underweight children and carefully conducted studies have indicated its useful usefulness iness in 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 ideal for or the elderly if elderly individuals are to maintain top health fruits should be given a prominent place in their diet but many fruits are avoided by individuals past middle middie age either because their acid taste is displeasing or because they present difficulties in mastication ripe bananas however practically melt in the mouth 0 be e ing easily digested they are a fortunate choice for elderly persons providing necessary energy values with a minimum of digestive effort most versatile fruit bananas are always in season a and nd 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 of ripeness bananas are picked when they are green and hard and the carbohydrate bo content is almost entirely starch As they ripen the s starch t a r c h i is s co converted n averted into easily digested g e s t e d s sugars ug a rs in fully ripened bananas those in which brown hecks flecks appear on the 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 like likewise wisTa firm enough for cooking partially ripe bananas those which are yellow with a green tip may be cooked and served as a vegetable or as dessert considering their availability ease ot if digestion high food value and economy bananas deserve to be classed as one of the staple foods in every well planned dietary a C fourton goudiss 1938 27 |