Things You May Not Know: The Banana

I am a big fan of bananas! They're my favorite fruit for a few reason; they are yellow, taste good, and a great source of potassium.

My friend sent me an email all about bananas, so I thought I'd share some little known facts about the most eaten fruit in the U.S.

1. Bananas are naturally radioactive. Scientists even have a measurement of radiation exposure called the banana equivalent. The most used example: a dental x-ray equals a 50 banana dose of radiation. Weird, but cool at the same time.

2. The banana we eat is called the Cavendish. The original banana "flavor" we consumed was the Gros Michel, but it got nearly wiped out by a fungus. There's even a type of banana that tastes like an apple!

3. That tree you've seen bananas grow on isn't really a tree. It is actually a root system with a stem that grows above ground. Who knew??

4. The best way to peel bananas (so you don't get those stringy things) is to peel it upside down. That's the way wild monkeys do it!

And my favorite fact:

5. Bananas have tryptophan and Vitamin B6 in them. Those two things combined help the human body make seratonin, which treats depression. Yep, it's like natural Prozac!

Now you know. Enjoy that banana and maybe win a bar bet or two.