The health benefits of unripe plantain are worthwhile and cannot be overestimated.
Unripe plantain is also known as cooking banana has been a delicious food for most people especially those from African Continent, with the intriguing belief that the food is rich in iron.
Introduction on the health benefits of unripe plantain
The Health Benefits of unripe plantain cannot be over-stressed. Notwithstanding, Plantain generally is enriched with essential minerals, vitamins, and phytochemical components which makes it ideal for consumption.
The health benefits of unripe plantain cannot be complete without considering its nutritional value.
The nutritional values of unripe plantain
A Serving Size of 1 medium (179g) raw unripe (green) plantain contains:
| Calories | 220 |
| Carbohydrates | 57 grams (g) |
| Fibre | 4 grams (g) |
| Fat | 0.5 grams (g) |
| Protein | 2 grams (g) |
| Vitamin A | 360 micrograms (ug) |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.44 milligram (mg) |
| Vitamin C | 45 micrograms (ug) |
| Potassium | 739 milligrams (mg) |
| Magnesium | 66.2 milligram (mg) |
| Zinc | 0.3 milligram (mg) |
| Iron | 1.1 milligram (mg) |
It is essential to note that the nutritional values might slightly change after cooking.
According to a 2015 study published in the Journal of Food Science and Technology, flour made from plantain peel is a very good source of antioxidants, dietary fibre.
The unripe plantain can be used for different dishes and can be prepared for porridge, roasted, boiled, or taken with other meals.
Unripe plantain is used for chips or processed as flour. Plantain flour is lower in calories than regular all-purpose flour.
This versatile crop is low in fat. Its low-fat content makes it perfect for people suffering from cholesterol-related ailments like diabetes and obesity.
11 health benefits of unripe plantain you must know
- Promotes healthy heart
- Unripe plantain is essential for stronger bones and teeth
- Unripe Plantain is essential in Ulcer condition
- Good For Weight Management
- Can Help In Managing Diabetes
- Unripe plantain boosts Sexual Performance
- Beneficial For Brain Health and memory
- Helps fight constipation and improve bowel movement
- Treatment of Anaemia and Neuritis
- It helps in mopping up free radicals
Boosts Immune System
Unripe plantain is enriched in protective nutrients including vitamin A, B6, and C, which help strengthen your immune system and fight against free radicals. It mimics the action of glutathione.
Free radicals lead to diseases like premature aging diseases and cancer with a regular intake of unripe plantain which is a good source of vitamin C and a good antioxidant.
In the same vein, constant intake of plantain can help to develop the immune system due to vitamin A constituent
Promotes healthy heart
The heart is an essential blood pumping machine in the body and when unhealthy can affect the total system physiology.
Is no doubt that unripe plantain contains some amount of serotonin which is also known as the happy chemical in the body it can serve as a vaso-dilator or vaso-constrictor depending on the form and its binding receptors.
It promotes blood flow and reduces the risk of homocysteine which involves a disease condition that leads to coronary artery diseases and stroke.
Potassium contained in plantain also plays a vital role in preventing heart attack and hypertension.
In the same vein, plantain fiber helps in decreasing cholesterol levels, thus decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disorders.
Unripe plantain is essential for stronger bones and teeth
The medicinal or health benefits of unripe plantain can be seen in the bone where it functions in strengthening both bones and teeth.
This wonderful plant has a high calcium constituent and thus makes it aid in strengthening our bones and also enhances stronger muscles, teeth, and nails.
For a strong bone, you need an unripe plantain meal.
Unripe Plantain is essential in Ulcer condition
It is an excellent food for anyone suffering from ulcers.
Unripe plantain contains probiotics and other phytochemicals that can help heal wounds in the wall of the intestines.
Although ulcer is caused by helicobacter pylori, the probiotics cannot kill the bacteria rather it helps in reducing the acidic content of the stomach and equally promote healing to the wounds caused by the bacteria.
Good For Weight Management
Unripe plantain is rich in fiber and complex carbs (resistance starch), which digest more slowly, thus keeping you more full and satisfied for longer after eating. Its high fiber content makes it a great constipation reliever. And it also eases bowel movement.
Also, it provides relief from hemorrhoids and other digestive conditions like diverticulitis
And therefore you’re less likely to go hungry or snack in-between meals, which makes it an excellent weight management food.
Can Help In Managing Diabetes
In relation to weight management, unripe plantains are low in sugar compared to ripe ones, thus making it a fantastic food for anyone managing diabetes.
Also, its high fiber content can help regulate blood sugar, in addition to that, its low-fat content is essential for the enhanced binding of insulin to its receptors.
Unripe plantain boosts Sexual Performance
Unripe plantain can boost libido in both men and women. If poor libido level is a worry for you, then you must eat plenty of unripe plantains. Studies have proven that it can enhance sexual performance.
It also increases the quality and quantity of a man’s sperm and enhances egg development in women, thus, it boosts fertility.
Beneficial For Brain Health and memory
Unripe plantain is beneficial for healthy brain function because it’s a rich source of Vitamin B6.
Vitamin B6 is a key nutrient responsible for generating important neurotransmitters, which transmit information from one cell to another.
Helps fight constipation and improve bowel movement
If you have issues passing out waste, then you need to turn to unripe plantain.
Plantain consumption can greatly help in preventing constipation.
A good amount can make bowel movement better and easier, which in turn, would ease your constipation worries.
Plantain is very rich in fiber which makes it good for consumption as it will help to prevent conditions that irritate the bowel and also prevent constipation, bloating, and other related health conditions associated with improper
Treatment of Anaemia and Neuritis
Plantain contains the mineral iron (when unripe) and vitamin B6 which plays a major role in the adequate production of red blood cells in the body and as well prevents anemia and neuritis which manifests when they are deficient in the body.
It is advisable for those suffering from anemia and neuritis to eat enough plantain as it will serve as a cure and also as a preventive measure.
It helps in mopping up free radicals
Free radicals in the body can be because of alcohol, tobacco, smoke, or any other precipitant that may cause cell damage or degeneration.
One of the natural of mopping free radicals that can lead to diseases like premature aging diseases and cancer is a regular intake of vitamin C, which is a good antioxidant. Unripe Plantain is one of the best vitamin C foods around.
Where to find unripe plantain?
Plantains can be found in different regions around the globe however, they are believed to have originated in Southeast Asia.
Two groups of plantains are thought to have a common origin: the horn plantain and the French plantain.
Both types grow in India, Africa, Egypt, and tropical America. The French plantains also occur in Indonesia and the islands of the Pacific.
Fortunately, plantains can also be found easily in the local stores, supermarkets, and grocery stores.
How many weeks does it take plantain to mature?
It takes 56 to 80 weeks for plantain to mature and it takes about 16 weeks to 32 weeks for the fruit to develop and mature.
The development, growth, and maturity of plantains are dependent on different factors ranging from but are not limited to species, climate, method of planting, and the region.
Understanding these would give you a better insight to know and prepare for the time of harvest.
Conclusion on the health benefits of unripe plantain
The health benefits of cooking bananas are not limited to the ones listed above however, there has not been enough scientific backing on some of the importance of unripe plantain to health. The different health attributes of unripe plantain are worthwhile.
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Chibueze Uchegbu is a certified medical physiologist with a great passion for healthy living.
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