How many types of bananas are there and which are the most nutritious?

Among cultivated and wild species, there are almost a thousand types of banana spread around the world, all identified by the scientific name Musa. They have the most diverse sizes, from the small Musa sapientum, the Brazilian golden banana, which does not exceed 10 centimeters and 50 grams, to the exaggerated Musa ingens, which grows in the forests of New Guinea and reaches almost 1 kilogram in its 50 centimeters of length. length. Some historians suspect that the banana is the oldest fruit on the planet. Its most likely origin is Southeast Asia. By the hands of the Romans, the exotic novelty arrived in Europe in the 1st century BC In Brazil, it landed along with the luggage of the Portuguese, although there are reports of native species here. The fact is that the fruit has adapted to the climate, soil and taste of Brazilians, who consume 27 kilos of bananas per year, 16 more than the world average. It’s hard to say which type is the healthiest. “The nutritional value varies slightly for each species, but all bananas have similar characteristics.

They are very energetic fruits, low in fat and rich in carbohydrates, vitamins A, B1, B2, C and several minerals”, says nutritionist Ana Catarina Perez Dias, from the Federal University of São Carlos (Ufscar). The starch that the fruit has provides prolonged energy for athletes, while the high levels of potassium prevent cramps. “Not to mention that bananas are sources of soluble fiber, important substances for lowering blood cholesterol levels and preventing intestinal cancer,” says Ana Catarina. No wonder the banana is the most popular fruit in the world. The annual production of 70 million tons is concentrated in the tropical region of the planet and Brazil is the third producer, behind India and Ecuador.