If you work in the food industry and are looking for gluten free, grain free and low carb flour, green banana flour is a must. Green banana is also known as raw banana. This superfood is both healthy and flexible. It is gaining popularity because it is rich in nutraceuticals and has several health benefits.
Green banana flour is not a staple for many people. This is not true in areas where banana trees are native. Banana flour is often used instead of wheat flour in Jamaica, the Caribbean and Africa because it is cheaper.
Green banana flour is simply the result of unripe green bananas. It must be green, not just under-ripe, to reap the benefits! While not exactly a pleasant snack, they are healthy for a variety of reasons and dry out into a very effective flour substitute.
It’s not only a great gluten-free flour substitute; it is also used as a supplement to improve resistant starch.
While raw banana flour has a slight banana flavor, cooked banana flour has a more neutral, sweet and earthy flavor, making it suitable for both sweet and savory meals.
Here are some benefits of raw banana flour:
- May Improve the negative effects of metabolic syndrome
- Promote a healthy colon
- Could reduce insulin sensitivity
- Possibly helps with weight loss
- May lower cholesterol levels
Green banana flour can be found at health food stores or purchased online through Amazon or directly from suppliers. Try a basic Google search in your country to see what catches your eye.
Benefits of banana powder
Here are the benefits of raw banana flour:
Provides three distinct types of fiber
- Per cup, green banana flour contains 42-52.8 grams resistant starch. Green banana flour contains the most resistant starch of all foods!
- Resistant starch is a fermentable fiber that is not digested in the intestines. This fermentation process produces butyrate, a short chain fatty acid that our body needs. Additionally, resistant starch can reduce the glycemic load of meals, making them less taxing on your blood sugar.
- Many foods that contain resistant starch lose it during cooking or may not have a concentrated amount. Green banana flour is arguably the most effective and potent method of getting your daily dose of resistant starch due to its low heat processing and ability to supplement it uncooked.
- Resistant starch is useful in the treatment of obesity, type 2 diabetes and the prevention of colon cancer.
- Green banana flour also includes inulin and insoluble fiber, both of which work as prebiotics. One of the few downsides to this fiber trio is that it has a minor laxative effect.
Includes 5HTP
- Although 5HTP, or 5-hydroxytryptophan, is not usually found in meals, it is an effective supplement. It, like many antidepressants, helps stimulate serotonin synthesis in the brain.
- Unlike SSRIs, 5HTP has no harmful side effects or long-term risks. This makes green banana flour a great supplement if you suffer from melancholy, mood swings, anxiety, insomnia, or headaches.
A super food rich in minerals
Green banana flour is rich in key elements that your body will appreciate. Think about what other superfoods you add to your smoothie to get those vitamins, and maybe include a scoop of green banana flour next time. There will be lots of zinc, magnesium, phosphorus and manganese.
- Zinc is necessary for a healthy immune system, healing, cognitive function, and healthy skin/hair/nails, and is especially crucial for children as they grow.
- Magnesium is beneficial for muscle soreness, recovery, sleep, and pH balance.
- Phosphorus promotes the body’s natural cleansing activities, aids in cell repair, and keeps our hearts beating normally.
- Manganese has a good effect on our metabolism, which can simplify weight reduction and management, as well as improve calcium absorption.
Gluten and grain free by nature
- Bananas are usually non allergenic. It is suitable for paleo dieters, people on therapeutic diets such as the autoimmune protocol, vegan and vegetarian eaters, and most people who are not allergic to bananas.
- It’s a great option for gluten-free and grain-free flour substitutes. It lacks the anti-nutrients and gastric irritants found in wheat flour and is suitable for celiacs.
Banana flour can help you lose weight
- Green banana flour is a satisfying additive in food that also helps you meet nutritional needs due to its high fiber content.
May reduce the negative effects of metabolic syndrome
- A metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors that include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, obesity, and high cholesterol.
- The problem is that while each of these variables is dangerous, their combination makes the situation worse, potentially increasing the risk of diabetes fivefold. These problems can also lead to heart disease and stroke.
What are the benefits of eating raw bananas?
Below are the benefits of eating raw bananas:
Help with indigestion
Green bananas have a vital role to play in aid digestion and reduce gastrointestinal upset, such as soothing ulcers, due to high amounts of resistant starch and dietary fiber. They also help fight potential bacterial infections in the stomach.
Control and lower blood pressure
Raw bananas are high in potassium, which helps lower high blood pressure by relieving stress on our blood vessels and arteries. As a result, raw bananas can help prevent heart problems such as atherosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes.
Skin Benefits of Raw Bananas
Raw bananas are rich in vitamin B6 and vitamin C. These vitamins are good for skin and hair. The nutritious composition of raw bananas helps to improve our immune system and protect our skin from free radical damage. As a result, the benefits of raw banana peels have several benefits.
Recipe for raw banana flour:
If you’re looking for ways to use green banana flour, here’s a recipe that uses or replaces green banana flour with another flour:
Gluten-free brownies made with banana flour
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup organic honey
- 3/4 cup organic coconut oil
- 2 cage-free organic eggs
- 1 cup banana flour
- 3/4 cup organic cocoa powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Combine honey and coconut oil in a mixing dish.
- In a separate mixing dish, combine banana flour and chocolate powder.
- Mix the dry ingredients with honey and coconut oil.
- After that, add the eggs.
- Pour the batter into a 9 x 13 inch pan covered with coconut oil.
- Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center yields a few moist crumbs.
- Let cool slightly before slicing and serving the brownies.
- As baking times can vary, check the brownies after 20 minutes and use a toothpick to see if they are done.
How to use banana flour in cooking?
Green banana flour can be used as an alternative to flour in recipes that call for it as well as a supplement. Moreover, one of the most intriguing research conducted with green banana flour is its use to improve indigestible carbohydrates in pasta.
Could resistant starch be the secret to eating carbs with fewer calories and a lower total glycemic load? Maybe! The “enhanced” pasta also showed better antioxidant capacity, suggesting that green banana flour may help carbohydrates have a better future. It’s something I think we could all appreciate!
If you’re not interested in doing your science experiments at home, here are some more accessible applications for green banana flour.
Additional raw banana flour
- Green banana flour has a moderate, neutral flavor and texture comparable to cassava flour or coconut flour.
- It is usually off-white or greyish and can be raw or cooked.
- Just add 1-2 teaspoons to your smoothie, yogurt, happy balls, or any other raw food that could benefit from a little extra “superpower.”
- Remember that raw banana flour is more potent and contains more resistant starch.
Carry
Unripe and green bananas provide a plethora of nutritional benefits for the body. Raw bananas have long been used to cure illnesses such as diarrhea, ulcers and stomach infections, lower blood sugar, increase kidney function and even manage blood pressure. Moreover, raw banana has several benefits for hair and skin.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Is raw banana powder good for you?
Yes, because bananas are rich in vitamin B6, vitamin C, dietary fiber and manganese, banana powder can help support the cardiovascular system, provide energy, boost metabolism, support the liver/ kidneys and keep the nervous system healthy.
2. Does green banana flour raise blood sugar?
Resistant starch, which is present in green (unripe) bananas and does not cause blood sugar to rise, may help with long-term blood sugar control.
3. Can banana powder be used all over the face?
Since banana powder is lighter in color and is often used to highlight particular regions of the face, you can use it to set your makeup and highlight under eyes, nose, forehead, chin and contour.
References:
- What is Metabolic Syndrome? – WebMD
- MaribelOvando-MartinezaSoniaSáyago-AyerdibEdithAgama-AcevedoaIsabelGoñibLuis A.Bello-Pérez, March 2009, Unripe banana flour as an ingredient to increase indigestible carbohydrates in pasta