Banana Grit | 04 Jan 2021
Why in News
Recently, scientists at the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) at Pappanamcode in Kerala have come up with a new product, Banana Grit or Granules, developed from raw Nendran bananas.
- CSIR is the largest research and development (R&D) organisation in India.
Key Points
- About Banana Grit:
- Banana Grit and its byproduct can improve gut health and is an ideal ingredient in a healthy diet. The concept was introduced to utilise the presence of resistant starch in bananas.
- Starch is a white, granular, organic chemical that is produced by all green plants. It is a soft, white, tasteless powder that is insoluble in cold water, alcohol, or other solvents.
- In humans and other animals, starch from plants is broken down into its constituent sugar molecules, which then supply energy to the tissues.
- Banana Grit and its byproduct can improve gut health and is an ideal ingredient in a healthy diet. The concept was introduced to utilise the presence of resistant starch in bananas.
- Significance:
- By diversifying the products sourced from Banana, farmers can fetch better prices for their harvest.
- It will help in maintaining health and well-being.
- Nendran bananas:
- Chengazhikodan Nendran Banana, also known as Chengazhikode Banana, is among the most popular traditional fruits cultivated in Thrissur district, Kerala.
- This variety of Nendran Banana is famed for its characteristic taste, bunch shape and fruit colour.
- The crop is mainly cultivated in organic mode and the crop duration is 13-14 months.
- The Chengalikodan Nendran banana grown in Kerala got Geographical indication (GI) Tag in 2014.
- GI refers to any indication that identifies the goods as originating from a particular place, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of the goods is essentially attributable to its geographical origin.