Bananas probably originated in the Malay Peninsula about 4000 years ago and may be one of the world's oldest fruit. The banana is recorded in Alexander the Great's conquest of India where he discovered the fruit in 327 B.C. Indonesian migrants brought the bananas to Africa where it continued to thrive. The Banana Republics are not named for the clothing store but for the countries of Ecuador, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala, which grow bananas for export. Bananas are one of the world's leading fruit corps with an annual production of 55 million tons.
Potassium is necessary for the body's water balance and muscle irritability.
Phytochemicals give color, flavor and smell to plants. All plants contain phytochemicals but the exact compounds may not yet be identified in each plant. While all fruits and vegetables contain phytochemicals, they will not have the same kind or amount. The research on phytochemicals and their importance in health is still emerging. This increases the importance of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables every day to take advantage of the known nutritional components plus the benefits of phytochemicals.