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Banana Common Cold

Is it true that, if you eat banana in the night you can have cold?
(December 20, 2010)

Eating Bananas At Night

Fruits and vegetables are an important and often neglected part of the human diet. Fruits and vegetables provide the body with many small but important nutrients. Vitamins and minerals are gained from the consumption of these foods. Vitamins and minerals form the backbone of good health in the human body. The modern reliance on processed foods is often responsible for many health problems faced by humans.




Bananas are a particularly useful fruit for humans. Bananas contain plenty of fiber and are also a great source of potassium. Bananas also provide individuals with vitamin A and with iron, both of which are very important. Many people use bananas to settle the stomach and these fruits are recommended by doctors to patients who suffer from digestive problems. Bananas are also used by sportspersons when they wish to provide their bodies with a boost in energy. This is because this fruit has a unique combination of sugars in it. This gives the body an easily digestible source of sugar. Thus, the body can quickly process the sugar that it needs and absorb this to produce energy.

Bananas ripen off the tree and are often not suitable for consumption until they have been off the tree for several days. Individuals have their own preferences for how ripe they wish to have their bananas. Bananas are also available in different sizes and colors depending on variations in the genetic makeup of the plant. Larger bananas tend to be preferred by sportspersons while people consume different sizes based on their budget or on their level of hunger. A banana is a great snack; it is far healthier than junk food that is consumed by people who wish to fill in gaps between meals.

There is a considerable amount of debate about the best time to eat a banana. It is often said that eating bananas at night is not a healthy practice. There is some logic to why people are discouraged from eating bananas at night. Bananas provide the body with an energy boost. This is not necessarily the greatest idea when an individual is in the process of winding down before going to sleep. It may therefore be counterproductive to provide the body with energy that is not going to be used. The best time to eat a banana is the morning when the individual needs the energy boost to start the day. A banana can be eaten as a mid day snack as well which can help to reduce fatigue during a tiring day at work. Eating bananas at night should not cause any health problems per se. It is only the fact that there is an energy boost that is unnecessary at this time of the day. 

Another question that people often have is related to the effect of eating banana during cold. Bananas do not directly cause colds or make them worse. However, many individuals avoid eating banana during cold because of the effect that it has on the throat. Individuals suffering from colds tend to have mucus built up in their nose and throat. The slimy nature of banana that has been chewed tends to exacerbate this condition. People are known to have experienced worsened cough when eating banana during cold. This, as explained above, is not because of the fruit; it is because of the irritation that it causes in conjunction with the mucus that is already present in the throat.

This is another problem associated with eating bananas at night. Individuals who have mild colds or coughs may suffer from a coughing attack at night if they consume the fruit before they sleep. This is because their throat will be irritated by the process of eating which causes this adverse reaction to take place. Therefore, it is best to avoid eating bananas at night.

Another factor related to bananas is the best time to eat a banana in the life cycle of the fruit. Bananas that are fresh off the tree tend to be hard and not ripe. This is not suitable for human consumption as the individual’s digestive system may have difficulty in breaking down this food. The taste and consistency of the fruit is also not correct at this stage in the life cycle. Bananas tend to ripen quickly in warm conditions as it is originally a tropical fruit. Once the skin of the banana is slightly soft to touch, one can consume the fruit. There is also a window for the best time to eat a banana. Beyond this, the fruit will become too soft and will be slimy and may also have an offensive smell. Over-ripe bananas are often used for banana shakes and other dishes.

Bananas do not contain much protein within them. This means that they will not be useful to the body after a workout.  After exercise, the body seeks protein to build and repair muscles. Bananas, on the other hand, do provide good energy to the body. Therefore, the best time to eat a banana before exercise is about half an hour or an hour before the exercise. This will ensure that the fruit is already being digested when the process of exercise begins. Bananas are easy to digest; therefore the digestion process will not hamper the exercise. Instead, the readily available energy in the body will be a huge boon to the person as it will provide the power necessary to perform the physical tasks being demanded of the body. Some people also consider the best time to eat a banana before exercise as the time right before the exercise. This is also useful as it provides the energy boost half an hour or more after the exercise has begun. Many people feel this is useful as it boosts the body as the energy levels are falling away. The best time to eat a banana before exercise really depends on the individual’s need and also on the type of exercise that is being performed. For rapid heavy exercise, one can consume bananas half an hour or an hour before exercise. For long duration endurance exercise, one may consume bananas immediately before the exercise.
Submitted by A V on December 20, 2010 at 11:25

 

The banana is an herbaceous plant of the genus Musa. It is scientifically called Musaceae. Bananas have numerous health benefits. Let us take a look at some of them:
  • Bananas are a natural source of potassium. Potassium is an essential mineral in our body as it helps maintain the fluid and electrolyte balance in the body.It also normalizes heartbeat, sends oxygen to your brain, and regulates the body’s water balance. Bananas are rich in potassium and low in salt, thus they make the ideal fruit for people suffering from blood pressure and those who have to watch their salt intake.
  • Large sized bananas are a rich source of vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for the development of specialized tissue in the eyes. Vitamin B is also present in the form of thiamine, riboflavin,niacin, and folic acid. These vital nutrients help in calming the nervous system. A small amount of vitamin C is also found in bananas.
  • Bananas contain elements like potassium, magnesium, and calcium that are required to maintain fluid levels in the body and preventdehydration.
  • Bananas are a rich source of iron. Thus, they are an ideal fruit for people who have low hemoglobinlevels in their blood.
  • Bananas are rich in fiber and are good for people suffering from constipation.
  • Bananas can act as natural antacid. They help provide relief to those suffering from heartburn.
  • Banana contains three natural forms of sugar—sucrose, glucose, and fructose—combined with fiber. It is a rare combination and the fruit gives an instant and substantial boost of energy to the body.
  • Banana has tryptophan, a protein, which is used by the body and converted into serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical that helps induce relaxation and sleep.
  • Eating a banana can also help you to overcome or prevent a substantial number of illness or conditions, making it a must to addition to your daily diet.

The banana is considered to be a cold fruit. Eating a banana reduces your overall body temperature. So that increases your chances of catching a cold and cough easily.If you eat a banana in the night, it will increase phlegm, making you more prone to cold and cough. However, this also depends on your body’s immune system. If your immune system is strong, you will not really be affected by it.

Thus, from a strictly medical point of view, eating bananas at night will not cause a cold. However, if your immunity is in a weakened state or if you are already suffering from a mild cold, try to avoid eating a banana at night. The best time to eat a banana is in the morning as it is a rich source of nutrition and energy and will help to kick start your day.

Submitted by A M on June 23, 2010 at 04:39

 

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