Red Banana – Health Benefits, Uses and Important Facts

Most people know about the yellow banana, but not many know about its cousin, the red banana, which has red skin. The red banana, which is also called the Colorado banana, Musa acuminata Dacca banana, Cuban banana, red Spanish banana, or lal Kela, is from India and Southeast Asia. It is now widely grown in the U.S., New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. In India, a lot of these are grown in Karnataka and the districts near it. The Kamalapur red banana is only grown in the village of Kamalapur in the state of Karnataka. You can get them all year long. When ripe, a red banana is soft and tastes sweet. These bananas are sweeter and less acidic than yellow bananas.

What is red banana? 

Musa acuminate, which is also known as "Red Dacca," is a type of banana that comes from southeast Asia. Few bananas are smaller and plumper than the regular Cavendish banana, which has a reddish-purple skin. Other bananas are much bigger. This fruit is mostly exported from East Africa, Asia, South America, and the United Arab Emirates, where it is grown. In Central America, they are the most popular fruit because they are a powerful aphrodisiac. In India, this type of banana is a sign of fertility.

The purple-red fruit, pseudostem, petiole, and midrib are all the same colour on the red banana plant. With 6-7 hands and 80 fruits per bunch, each bunch weighs about 20–25 kg. Red banana is about 16 to 18 cm long. It is the most popular fruit in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and it is very valuable. It is also grown in large amounts in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and in  Western and Central India. It thrives in a subtropical climate with a lot of sunlight, plenty of water, and little wind. Red bananas are ready to eat a few days after they are picked and can last longer than yellow ones.

Other names of red banana:

In the local languages of India, red bananas have many names, such as "Lal Kela" in Hindi, Chenkadali" in Malayalam, "Sevvazhai" in Tamil, ""Raktakadali" in Sanskrit,  and "Yerra Chekkarakeli" in Telugu. You eat them the same way you eat yellow bananas. It can also be baked, fried, or toasted. It is also used to make tasty desserts and fruit salads. Dried raw red bananas can be bought in stores.

Difference between red and yellow bananas:

Bananas that are red are similar to bananas that are yellow. They both have a lot of calories and carbs and are good sources of dietary fibre. Even though red bananas are sweeter than yellow bananas, they have a lower GI score.

Health benefits of red banana:

Helps people lose weight

Red bananas are a good source of fibre and important nutrients, making them a healthy addition to a weight-loss diet. Being low in fat and calories makes you feel full for longer, keeps you from overeating, and stops hunger pangs. Aside from that, fibre is good because it improves the bacteria in the gut, lowers inflammation, and lowers the risk of obesity and related health problems like diabetes and heart disease.

Boost Energy Levels

There are a lot of natural sugars in red bananas, such as fructose, sucrose, and glucose, which give you energy right away and get your metabolism going. These sugars are broken down slowly, giving you energy that lasts throughout the day so you can do your usual things. Red bananas are great for breakfast because of this.

Manages Diabetes

A red banana with a low GI of 10 and lots of dietary fibre can help keep blood sugar from jumping up quickly. It also slows down the work of alpha-amylase and glucosidase enzymes, which help make glucose and keep diabetics' blood sugar stable. Also, diabetics can eat red bananas as a healthy snack because they are easy to digest and have a lot of fibre in them.

Rich source of Antioxidants

The antioxidants in red bananas are stronger than those in yellow bananas. Free radicals can damage cells, but antioxidants stop that from happening. They also lower the risk of getting heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Carotenoids, anthocyanins, dopamine, and vitamin C are some of the most important antioxidants found in red bananas.

Fortifies Immune System

Red bananas are full of vitamins C and B6, which are important for a strong immune system. Vitamin B6 in red bananas is an important part of the immune system because it helps the body make more white blood cells and immune antibodies, which can help fight off pathogens.

Augments Digestive Health

Most people know that red banana helps the digestive system in several ways. Red banana is full of prebiotics, which help to feed the good bacteria in your gut. Red bananas have prebiotic fibres like fructooligosaccharides and insulin that help with gas, constipation, and making the gut microbiome more diverse. Aside from this, one serving of red banana has 3 grammes of fibre, which helps regulate bowel movements, reduce inflammation, encourage the growth of good bacteria, and lower the risk of inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn's disease.

Boosts Mood

Not only can red bananas help you feel better physically, but they can also help you feel better emotionally. Vitamin B6 helps the body turn tryptophan into serotonin, the "feel-good" hormone that helps improve mental health and deal with problems like depression and anxiety.

Keeps blood pressure in check

Potassium is an important mineral for heart health because it helps keep blood pressure in check. Potassium and magnesium in red bananas help open up the blood vessels, speed up the flow of blood through the body, lower blood pressure, and lower the risk of heart disease.

How to eat red bananas?

Red bananas are best when they are ripe and can be eaten the same way as regular bananas, after they have been peeled. They can also be added to breakfast cereals, oatmeal, and desserts like fruit salads, smoothies, pancakes, ice cream, and pudding. Banana bread, cakes, and muffins are also tasty baked treats. You can also make savoury snacks or dry sauces with raw red bananas.