The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1912-02-03
THE UNDERyALUED BANANA.


The dictum that fruits should be
eaten ''in their season" finds its lin
itations as regards variety Ia the
temperate zones at certain periods
of the year. There is, however, one
fruit which is readily available fresh
in American markets at practically
all seasons, although it grows best
from November to April in its trop-
ical or semitropical home. 1t is un-s
fortunate that an article of diet
which meets certain nutritive re-
quirements so well and is so easily
obtained at reasonable cost as the
banana should be the subject of
much misunderstanding among botn
physicians and laymen. For despite
the fact that over forty million
punches are reported to have been
brought to the United States last
year, it is popularity stated in many
quarters that the banana is difficult
of digestion and may give rise to ali
mentary distress.
A close consideration of the COM
position of the banana may serve to
elueidate the situation. The fruit is !
brought to our northern markets
green and is ripened by artificial Z
heat. This process can be fastened
or delayed within certain limits ac-
cording to the momentary demands
of the trade. The color of the peel
gives evidence of the degree of ripe
ness. The green banana contains.
~ .fx{.
about Is per cent OF protein and
20 to rs per cent of carbohydrate
almost entirely starch. In the ripe
banana, with veiiow-brown peel the
edible part contains somewhat less
i16 to 10 per cent Of carbohy-
drate; but that which remains is
now almost entirely In the form Of
soluble sugars. Broadly speaking
then, the ripe bahama is about one
fifth sugar; the green. oae-fifth
starch. Most OF the remainder Of the
edible pulp is water informed isT-
degrees of ripeness present starch
and sugar in reciprocal proportions
varying between the limits set
: above.
Inasmnch as bananas are common
" eaten uncooked. it is obvious THAI
more or less raw starch viii be in
gested if the fruit is not ripe, i. e,
if the skin has not be an TO shriv n
} and darken. Raw starch may be
singularly Irritating to the aliment-
airy tract of man and is at best poor
lily utilized; whether II be ingested
s in the form of uncooked potatoes
chestnuts, bananas or other native
/ starchy foods. No one would advise
: the use of uncooked potatoes. vel
d many people 'eschew thorough,
d ripe banana in the belief that thi,
II wholesome fruit is rotten" whet
IL the skin becomes darkened. whereas
l. they eagerly eat the yellowgreei
st stareh-bearing fruit at a stage of In
le complete rlpenesss Green" ha
n nanas. like green" apples. are un
4 wholesome 80 long as the starch hn
IS not been adequately converted Int
,e sugars In the ripening process Bu
At the delicious and innocuous rip
N banana should not be made TO suf
r. fer in its dietic reputation beeaus
IS. OF the ignorance or tho consumer
8. Here Is a chance for popular educa
n ton, says the Journal Of tho Amer
~ lean Medical Association in n recen
or editorial.
g. Experience shows that the thor
f. oughly ripo banana Cor the lees rip
H. fruit, after eooklng) Is nndeaervin
re OF the unfavorab1e reputation whiel
re II has won In certain quarters. ]