This is what those obnoxious strings on bananas are for!

Do you hate those little strings on your bananas and do you pull them off before eating like we do? And do you sometimes wonder what on earth the use of those weird little things can be? Wonder no more, because we’ve got the answer!

Banana

Bananas are the perfect snack, as they contain loads of fibre, which is good for your digestion. They also contain potassium and other vitamins and minerals. Some people try to avoid banana, as they are rich in carbs and calories, more so than other fruit. Bananas also lack vitamin C, which other fruits do have. However, bananas are a great snack due to their fibre, especially when you work out. Bananas can prevent muscle cramps and the carbs give you a healthy energy boost.

Strings

First of all, the strings have a name; they’re called ‘phloem bundles’. The phloem in a plant ensures the transport of nutrients throughout the entire plant, from the leaves to the actual fruit. Phloems are important factors in the growth and health of a plant. So the strings aren’t just useful to the banana itself, they’re also completely edible!

Edible

There’s no need at all to pick the phloems off before eating your banana. If only they tasted a little bit better… Scientists say that, in theory, it’s possible to create bananas without phloems. However, since many bananas are dying out because of illnesses, it’s much more important to create bananas that are resistant to illnesses.

Phloems

Phloems might not be very tasty, or perhaps that’s something you imagine, but they are quite healthy! Besides their important function in the growth of bananas, they also contain many vitamins, such as potassium, fibre, vitamin A and vitamin B6. Once the banana has been harvested, these vitamins remain in the phloems, making them quite healthy.

Brown

A recent study has shown that bananas covered in brown spots are even healthier than spotless ones. So, it’s really actually those that we should be eating. Eating an overripe banana has a couple of benefits you would never expect. Research has shown that eating a brownish banana has incredible health benefits. We’re pretty impressed by them, so we’ve put them into a handy little list for you:

Flecked bananas…

• reduce your chances of getting cancer! They contain an ingredient that destroys cancer cells.
• regulate your blood pressure! When bananas have become overripe, they contain more potassium, which stimulates a stable blood pressure.
• cure constipation!
• alleviate menstrual cramps!

We’ll never throw away flecked bananas again in our lives! What do you usually do with bananas that have gone brown?