Bananas contain an amino acid called tryptophan, which is essential for the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter linked to mood and a good night's sleep.
- Serotonin is a molecule that acts as a neurotransmitter and hormone and is present in many tissues including the brain , gastrointestinal tract, lungs , kidneys , and platelets.
- Serotonin was isolated in 1935 from the intestinal mucosa by Vittorio Espamer and owes its name to Maurice Rapport and Irvine Page who in 1948 identified its vasoconstrictor properties and defined it by merging the Latin word “ serum” with the Greek word “ tonic ”.
- If you usually eat bananas with black spots, you should know that your blood pressure will benefit, thanks to the potassium it contains, which helps keep it constant.
- Brown spots not only show that a banana has aged, but also indicate that the starch they contain has been converted to sugar. Ultimately, the more brown spots on a banana peel, the higher the amount of sugar the fruit contains.
- You can also think of brown spots as tiny immune system boosters: spotted bananas are so rich in antioxidants that they have been linked to cancer prevention. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a cytokine that helps fight tumors, is linked to those brown spots. At this stage, the fruit has lower mineral and vitamin content, but is rich in folic acid, potassium, and magnesium.
- A little tip for women : thanks to their high potassium content, eating bananas with black spots, i.e., very ripe, will help relieve muscle cramps caused by menstruation. Furthermore, thanks to vitamin B6 , you'll be able to minimize the effects of bloating and water retention.