Once bananas grew in the Malay Archipelago and nowhere else. Today, we get 80 million bananas a year from Central and South America and the West Indies. In the early part of the 20th century, immigrants to the United States marveled at two American foods - white bread and the banana.
And the banana is a marvel. It is a rich source of sodium and potassium, with an excellent balance of both. These minerals, when they dissolve in the body, form electrically-charged particles called electrolytes, necessary in sending nerve impulses to the muscles, including the heart. The ratio of potassium to sodium determines the flow of water and other liquids in and out of the cells.
The body needs three parts potassium to one part sodium. If there is too much sodium in the blood the body must excrete. The blood pressure may go up to force the sodium out of the kidneys and the body may retain fluids to dilute the sodium until it leaves the body. People who lose a lot of fluid, such as those with ileostomies, need to pay particular attention to getting enough potassium. Supplements are not the answer unless recommended by a physician.
This brings us back to our old friend the banana! A medium-sized banana has 451 mg of potassium plus an excellent ratio of potassium to sodium. Remember also that Bananas thicken stools. ONE WORD OF CAUTION: The day before urinalysis don't eat bananas. They also contain the chemical, nonepinephrine, which could interfere with certain tests.
