The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-10-03
BANANAS FOR BABIES
A mother writes:

I am curious to know whether
others have noticed the efficacy
that I have observed from ba-
mana feeding for infants. Not
only do the babies thrive, but a
certain type of eczema disappears
as if by magic when bananas are
introduced into the diet. All three
Of my babies had weeping eczema.
With the first I had dreadful
time. The trouble did not seem
to respond to any treatments pre-
scribed by competent physicians.
Not until the baby was IA months
old did I learn from your column
of the value Of ripe banana In In.
FAINT feeding. Then In a very short
time the eczema cleared up. With
the second child the eczema ap-
peared at the age of two months.
I followed your instructions in
feeding banana, and had the same
successful results. Eczema ap-
peared OH my third baby at the
age of three or four weeks. To
the horror of my relatives who
thought it almost infanticide I
administered banana. Again 1t
worked. All the children now have
beautiful skins frequently COM
mented upon by strangers. OF
course, in the case of the last
baby I gave only minute quanti-
ties of we'll ripened banana pulp
and at intervals of several days.
But it always agreed with her
perfectly.
In the Brady Baby Book, copy Of
which will be mailed on request II
you inclose a dime and stamped en-
velope bearing your address, I adj
wise
At the age Of four months begin
feeding the baby banana Be
sure the banana is quite ripe
At first give only spoon
full or less day :.
Whether banana feeding will cure
infantile eczema I don't know. Per-
haps other mothers of young infants
so afflicted will try it out and tel
US whether 1t Is as efficacious as the
believes.
A trying state Of undernutrition ir
infants and young children, variously
called chronic intestinal indigestion
celiac disease, maraSmuS, malnutri.
ton, often responds remarkably vel
to liberal allowance of ripe banana
Perhaps there is no other remed!
so valuable in the treatment Of thu
constipation and diarrhea, associated
with the condition above mentioned.
For some unknown reason there il
a popular prejudice against banana
as a food for infants or children
Probably this prejudice is due to tn
unpalatability and the unsuitable.
Of green banana. All bananas ar
harvested while green and shippe'
before they are ripe. Only when tn
banana is thoroughly ripened is
really palatable and as digestible as
is nutritious. When banana is rip
enough to feed a baby the skin
brown with some spots still golde
yellow; the pulp is soft but nc
mushy. Ifathe skin Is not quite brow
it is not yet ripe enough. II banana
used when the skin Is only yellow.
should be boiled or baked for feedin
an infant or invalid. But If 1t is thor
oughly ripe it is most effective whe
fed raw. With ripening, the starc
in banana is converted to sugar. an
this change Is not complete until tn
banana is Golden velloW f1ecked wit
brown spots, or almost entirely brown
OF course, the black marks fror
bruises should be distinguished fror
the brown spots Of ripening.
The excellent results from feedin
banana to puny, malnourished In
fants and children are probably Il
part due to the vitamins "a, B. 9, I
and even a limited quantity of D
in this nourishing, strengthening foot