Mood-Boosting Banana Bread!       

The evolution of banana bread – Green Banana Flour-  great for your guts

A reminder on why you need Green Banana Flour in your pantry.

Help keep your large intestines juicy and cancer-free

Resistant starch is a carbohydrate found in Green Banana Flour, and a carbohydrate our digestive tract cannot break down.

The small intestine is where we normally absorb the nutrients from the foods we have ingested, into our bloodstream.  However, resistant starch makes it past our small intestine and into the large intestine.  Our large intestine is where the majority of water and electrolytes are absorbed – specifically in the cecum and ascending colon.

The cecum and ascending colon is where the fermentation of insoluble fibers such as the resistant starch in Green Banana Flour takes place.

The healthy bacteria of our lower gastrointestinal tract, colloquially known as our “gut” love the rare opportunity it gets to feast on resistant starch- unless you are eating lots of potatoes, legumes, lentils, or green banana flour, it is a rare opportunity for this bacteria!

Resistant starch provides the gut bacteria deep in your colon with the fuel it needs to survive and nourish your intestinal lumen- that fuel is Butyrate. Butyrate encourages blood to flow into the vessels of the large intestine, keeping the tissues of your large intestine healthy- rich with blood flow, oxygen and nutrients, assisting to prevent cellular damage within the colon, protecting you from cellular atrophy which can lead to cancer.

Improves bone health via enhanced mineral absorption

Inulin is another complex carbohydrate that is fermented by the microflora and is known to increase colonic absorption of minerals.  As mentioned above, the fermentation of these substrates in the large bowel to short-chain fatty acids (Butyrate) is the main reason for this increase in mineral absorption.

This Increased absorption and capacity of antioxidants and minerals – including magnesium, especially calcium aids in preventing Osteoporosis

Inulin is also known to quell carbohydrate cravings!

And the fact that we have all been waiting for…

 5HTP (5 Hydroxytryptophan), a precursor for serotonin

HTTP-5 (hydroxytryptophan) which is a feel-good neurotransmitter called Serotonin found in the central nervous system (CNS), gastrointestinal tracts of the digestive system, blood and platelets 5-HT is also one of the bioactive components found in fruits such as a banana.

Serotonin plays a vital role in the healing of wounds, inducing sleep, appetite, sexuality, and mood (anxiety, happiness, fear, aggression, and alertness)

In summary, serotonin has a high impact on the general well-being of humans. Inadequate levels of serotonin in the human biological system result in insomnia, eating disorders, depression fibromyalgia, anxiety, and migraine headache and post menstrual syndrome (PMS), and hormone dysfunction. Inadequate serotonin levels in the body system could lead to changes in hormones, stress, poor digestion of food body metabolism and an unbalanced diet.

Levels of serotonin in a human biological system can be improved by exercising, high water intake, and eating tryptophan-containing food such as Green Banana Flour- eggs particularly the yolks, cheese, pineapples, salmon, NON-GMO soy products, nuts, and seeds.

So, there you have it!    Gluten-free, Guilt-Free- in fact, it’s so guilt-free,  green Banana flour literally, biochemically boosts your mood and suppresses hunger?!  What’s not to love?

Just make sure your green banana flour comes from unripe bananas- not ripe! My preference is Natural Evolution.

Try my Mood Boosting Green Banana Bread recipe today!!!

Ingredients:

2 Large ripe bananas- roughly mashed

1/3 cup Coconut oil- heated.  (no less- you need the moisture)

1 ¾ C Green Banana Flour

¼ Cup raw organic honey (@flower_of_life_honey)

2 medium organic eggs

1/3 cup coconut milk (or almond)

1 good tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking powder

1tsp Vanilla extract

1 tsp Cinnamon

Topping, sliced banana, or walnuts, or raisin- whatever you like.

Method:

Preheat oven 180C.

Grease and line a rectangular baking tray

In a large bowl, whisk oil and honey, followed by the eggs- beat well.

Then whisk in the mashed bananas and coconut milk

Stir well to combine.

Add remaining ingredients and fold to combine well.

Pour batter into a prepared baking tray and bake for 30 mins or until toothpick comes out clean.

Set aside to cool slightly before enjoying.