HISTORY: Bananas are America's number one fruit. An average American eats 28 pounds per year. Bananas grow from bulbs or rhizomes; they sprout shoots annually on plants, not trees. Bananas contain no fat, cholesterol or sodium. Chiquita and Dole split top sales for the banana market at 25% each; Del Monte controls 15%. (www.corsinet.com/trivia/banan as.html)

There are more than 500 varieties of bananas. The most commonly sold in the U.S. is the Cavendish, which was developed to resist disease, insects, and windstorms better than earlier varieties. Bananas are not grown commercially in the U.S. India and is the world's largest producer, then Brazil. Most of ours come from S. China. Bananas were officially introduced to the U.S. at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition, wrapped in foil and sold for 10 cents each. (corsinet.com)

According to East Indian legend, the banana was the fruit referred to in paradise as coming from the "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil," and they theorize that Adam used a banana leaf, not a fig leaf, to cover himself. (www.innvista.com/health/foods )

Plants can grow to 40 feet high and hold as many as 200 bananas. Banana clusters are called hands and each contains 10 to 20 "fingers." Bananas begin by growing downwards, but then grow towards the light so the tips point upward. Fifteen hands can weigh about 90 pounds. If you put a ripening banana in a closed container with green tomatoes or an avocado, the other fruits will ripen much quicker. (www.innvista)

HEALTH BENEFITS: Bananas contain potassium, which helps to maintain normal blood pressure and heart function. Bananas protect the stomach lining from forming ulcers; their fiber helps with elimination; and potassium may help promote bone growth or, at least, help prevent thinning bones. (The World's Healthiest Foods at www.whfoods.com.)

Bananas can also help with anemia, since they are high in iron; hangovers, since they can calm the stomach; morning sickness by keeping blood sugar levels up; and the inside peel is good for stopping the itch of mosquito bites. (corsinet.com/trivia)

After age 50, the average person experiences some muscle loss. Muscles appear to break down to neutralize acid residues left by foods we eat, but potassium carbonate can slow muscle loss. Potassium may also lower risk of stroke, bone loss, and kidney stones. (Nutrition Action Healthletter, May 2008)

NUTRITION: An average sized banana has 108 calories and contains Vitamin B6

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