Bananas: God's Greatest Gift to Sense and Stomach?

Is there any other fruit capable of producing nearly as many connotations and references as the banana? Ba-nan-na. That syllabic triumvirate brings rushing to the average person's mind not only imagery of the fruits vivid yellow hue of its peel, but also that fragrance that is immediately recognized as belonging to the banana and nothing else on earth. Yes, there really is no other bouquet in the world that can in any way, shape or form be confused with the delicate scent of a freshly peeled banana.

Beyond the olfactory and visual stimulations that the mere mention of the word banana can bring, however, are many others. For instance, looking at a banana for many people of a certain age will instantly generate a reference to the peppy Jamaican strains of a song made popular by Harry Belafonte. Who can hear the openings strains of "Day-O!" and keep the image of the banana out of their minds? Going further back, some senior citizens undoubtedly think of the bizarre and grammatically bewildering title of a song that begins with a positive statement leading to a negative reply to the question of whether the singer has any bananas. Of course, another age group entirely flashes back to a Saturday morning TV show featuring characters named after an ice cream parlor dessert featuring a banana sliced in half.

The banana split goes to prove how versatile a fruit it is. How very few foods can feel right at home either surrounded by the frigid concoction known as ice cream or set ablaze at your table in the form of Bananas Foster. Indeed, few other fruits enjoy the benefit of tasting just as good raw it does fried over a high heat. The banana is certainly one of the most versatile of all foods, much less of all fruits.

And how many foods that are nutritionally good for you also happen be delicious? The banana is a low-calorie food that is high in potassium and gives athletes a quick boost of energy to help them while running or cycling. In addition to those health benefits, the banana is fantastic source of fiber; fiber that is unusually soluble, and therefore provides benefits both in the form of helping to lower cholesterol and to help ease the unpleasantness of those suffering from diarrhea.

Yes, truly, the banana is a magical gift from nature, one of the most nutritionally helpful and delicious foods to be found. Is it the bright colorful hue that has led it to also become a cultural inspiration? Or is the sweet, unmistakable taste that has caused the banana to eclipse nearly every competitor as an item to turn to for song and fun? Perhaps, but there are no doubt more than a few people who would argue that the banana has ascended to a place of honor above all other fruits based on its shape, which can prove to be particularly useful for certain activities under certain conditions, which shall remain uncommented upon in this essay.