Food is an amazing thing isn’t it. 

It can look quite insignificant in a fruit bowl, or the fridge. 

But look closer, and you will see a whole world of uniqueness, of beauty and of nourishment. All designed in perfect balance and harmony.

I was having a lesson from an old farmer this weekend on growing bananas.

He came over and helped me clean up the banana plants I already had, cut and plant some suckers for regrowing and generally lectured me on the care and maintenance of banana plants.

His classic quote was, “are you a Round Up girl?” He suggested I manage the weeds around the bananas with Round Up. A Monsanto herbicide with a pretty bad reputation.

As we grow everything on our property organically, I laughed it off. He is in his eighties and this has been his way for sixty something years! No harm intended. But it certainly got me thinking. Here I am preparing to grow one of the most amazing foods available and if I was doing it commercially, I would in fact (unless I was one of the growing numbers of organic farmers out there) be spraying with chemicals and other nasties to maximize crop production and keep them looking pretty.

But where’s the goodness?

Give me a spotted organic banana any day over a perfect looking, chemical laden one!

Lets look at some of the magic of Bananas.

They control blood pressure, strengthen bones and because of the high potassium levels, they help stop diarrhea.

They are high in vitamin C, A1, B6, B12 as well as potassium and magnesium. With their high potassium levels they are the perfect companion for the green leafy foods you are eating to get your calcium. Without potassium, your body can’t readily use that wonderful calcium you are loading up on. (That’s why “drink your milk for strong bones” is a myth!).

Just as nature intended, a banana a day keeps the bone specialist away!

High potassium also makes them the perfect brain food, by eating one when you study you will stay more alert! It is the ultimate happy food, as it contains tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

It always disturbs me when I hear people say they don’t eat bananas as they are too high in carbs, or are a high glycemic food. You don’t have to eat 30 a day. Just one is good and remember, not all carbs are created equal.

Because Bananas very high in the all important B vitamins, they can help to calm our nervous system. Yep that’s what we all need with our incredibly busy lifestyles. Stress is not pretty at the best of times.

Did you know that according to Japanese Scientific Research, fully ripe bananas with dark patches produce a substance called TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor) which has the ability to combat abnormal cells. The more dark patches it has the higher will be its immunity enhancement quality. The riper the banana, the better the anti-cancer quality.

If you are still not convinced of the magic of the humble banana, it will even help fix hangovers and morning sickness! Bananas calm inflamed stomachs, help balance and boost blood sugar.

So next time your at the farmers markets or your local organic co-op, grab a bunch, if you’ve got room why not play at growing some. Which ever way you choose to source them, make sure you get some of that wonderful goodness into you..

Just to make the most of the most amazing food, Bananas, heres a great recipe:

Just in case you are really in the mood to play heres another one of my favourites: Banana cream pie.