Plantan Or Banana: Which Should You Have?

Plantains, also known as plátanos, are closely related cultivars of fruit or dessert banana. In general, they are treated as vegetables in the kitchen much like fellow tropical produces such as potatoes, taro, breadfruit, yam, sweet potatoes, etc. Indeed, plátano are one of the staple sources of carbohydrates for larger populations. Plantain is so rich that it is consumed in almost every part of the world.

Plantain is quite different from dessert banana, being taller and larger and more drought tolerant. It is a perennial herbaceous plant that develops from the underground rhizome. Like bananas, it too flourishes well under tropical moisture-rich, humid low-lying farmlands. At maturity, the rhizome gives rise to flower (inflorescence) that is carried up along its smooth, elongated, un-branched stem, piercing through the center of pseudo-stem, finally emerging out at the top in between its leafy clusters.

Plantain relatively has more calories weight for weight than that in the table bananas. 100 g plantain holds about 122 calories, while dessert banana has only 89 calories. Indeed, they are very reliable sources of starch and energy; ensuring food security for millions of inhabitants worldwide. It contains 2.3 g of dietary fiber per 100 g (6% of DRA per 100 g). Adequate amount of dietary-fiber in the food helps normal bowel movements, thereby reducing constipation problems.

Fresh plátanos have more vitamin C than bananas. 100 g provide 18.4 mg or 31% of daily required levels of this vitamin. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin-C helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals. However, boiling and cooking destroys much of this vitamin in plantains. Plantains carry more vitamin A than bananas. 100 g fresh ripe plantains contain 1127 IU or 37.5% of daily required levels of this vitamin.

As in bananas, they too are rich sources of B-complex vitamins, particularly high in vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine). Pyridoxine is an important B-complex vitamin that has a beneficial role in the treatment of neuritis, anemia, and to decrease homocystine (one of the causative factors for coronary artery disease (CHD) and stroke episodes) levels in the body. In addition, the fruit contains moderate levels of folates, niacin, riboflavin and thiamin.

They also provide adequate levels of minerals such as iron, magnesium, and phosphorous. Magnesium is essential for bone strengthening and has a cardiac-protective role as well. Fresh plantains have more potassium than bananas. 100 g fruit provides 499 mg of potassium (358 mg per 100 g for bananas). Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure, countering negative effects of sodium.

At maturity, plantains are generally harvested unripe and right away carried to the market for sale. Look for firm, mature, deep green, well-formed plantains that feel heavy in hand. Do not buy overripe, damaged, split fruits, as they stay poor. Once at home, store them open at room temperature for up to 4-5 days. Once ripen, plantains too, like bananas, are very fragile and show signs of decay in short time span.

Plantains are inedible raw and should be eaten only after cooked. To prepare, just wash the raw fruit in cold water and mop dry using paper cloth. Using a paring knife, trim either ends. Then, cut the fruit into short lengths, split the skin superficially along the ridge and peel the skin gently away from the flesh to get firm flesh inside. Oftentimes, the whole fruit may be barbequed with its skin. Otherwise, its peeled flesh may be cut into thin slices, grated, chunks treated much like potatoes in many traditional African and West-Indian cuisine.

Plantains make delicious savory recipes, used in place of potatoes in grills, mashed, bake, or fries. In South-Indian Kerala state, plantain chips (vaazhakka upperi) seasoned with salt and pepper, is a popular snack. Tostones (plátano, fried twice), prepared in a similar way are again a popular snacks in the Caribbean and Latin Americas. Its flower head (inflorescence) and interior icicle-white, tender stem (vazhai thandu in Malayalam) too are eaten in various kinds of recipes in South-Asian regions.

Sopa de plátano is a popular Caribbean soup preparation that used green platanos, garlic, cilantro, and cheese. Mashed plantain served with fried onions is a national breakfast dish of Dominican Republic. Mashed platanos are served with rice, eggs, beans, poultry, fish, etc., in these regions. In some African communities, plantain is pounded into a form in which it is eaten with stews or soups such as egusi soup or okro soup.

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Clot-buster Treatment Raises Hope For Stroke Patients

An alternative treatment for strokes, mechanical thrombectomy, which can bring patients ‘back to life’ on the operating table is now available. The revolutionary technique, which is already used across the United Kingdom, UK works for more people and is far more effective than Orthodox.  The procedure involves carefully removing the devastating blood clots which cause strokes from deep within the brain using a three-foot long wire.

Until now, doctors have mainly used drugs to dissolve the blood clots – but the chemicals can have severe side effects, and do not work at all in about 15 per cent of patients with the most severe strokes.

A stroke is when poor blood flow to the brain results in cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding.

They result in part of the brain not functioning properly. Patients treated with the new procedure have an 80 to 90 per cent chance of success, compared with 30 per cent using clot-busting drugs.

A study published in the ‘Lancet’ last year showed 50 per cent of people treated this way had shown neurological recovery within 24 hours, compared to just 21 per cent treated with clotbusting drugs. The treatment has until now been given to only 600 patients a year at a handful of hospitals across England.

However, Chief Executive of the NHS England, Simon Stevens, announced its use would be expanded to 24 hospitals.

Doctors at St George’s Hospital in South London, which has been trialling the technique since 2010, have reported patients who were completely paralysed by a stroke entirely recovered as soon as they received the treatment. Dr. Joe Leyon, an interventional neuroradiologist at St George’s, said last year: “It’s fair to say they have been brought back to life when they get these functions back in a moment.’

Crucially, it has to be used within six hours of the stroke to be effective, and until now, St George’s has been the only hospital to offer the treatment 24/7. Mr Stevens said the new services are to be phased in later this year, with an additional 1,000 patients set to benefit in the first year. Health Education England will also start training more highly-skilled interventional radiologists to carry out the technique, the report stated.

The technique involves a wire stent, which is a small mesh tube. It is fed through an artery in the groin up to the brain, where it grabs the clot and removes it entirely.

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How Oranges Prevent A Host Of Diseases

"An Apple a day keeps the doctor away", so goes the popular saying. However, more and more people are beginning to realize that equally true is the same " An orange a day keeps the doctor away". There are thousands of reasons why eating an orange a day is a good idea; they are low in calories but full of nutrients, they promote clear, healthy skin and can help to lower our risk for many diseases and conditions as part of an overall healthy and varied diet. Orange trees are the most cultivated fruit trees in the world.

One medium orange (approximately 154 grams) contains 80 calories, 0 grams of fat, 250 milligrams of potassium, 19 grams of carbohydrate (14 grams of sugar and 3 grams of dietary fiber) as well as 1 gram of protein. One orange provides 130 percent of your vitamin C needs for the day, 2 percent of vitamin A needs, 6 percent of calcium and 0 percent of iron.

Oranges also contain thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, selenium and copper. Because of their high vitamin C content (over twice the daily need) oranges are associated with boosting the immune system. Oranges also contain choline, zeaxanthin, and carotenoids. Choline is an important nutrient found in oranges that helps with sleep, muscle movement, learning and memory. Choline also helps to maintain the structure of cellular membranes, aids in the transmission of nerve impulses, assists in the absorption of fat and reduces chronic inflammation.

Maintaining a low sodium intake is essential to lowering blood pressure, however increasing potassium intake may be just as important because of its vasodilation effects. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, fewer than 2 percent of US adults meet the daily 4700 mg recommendation.

Also of note, a high potassium intake is associated with a 20 percent decreased risk of dying from all causes.

According to the American Heart Association, eating higher amounts of a compound found in citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit may lower ischemic stroke risk for women. Those who ate the highest amounts of citrus had a 19 percent lower risk of ischemic stroke than women who consumed the least. According to a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, consuming bananas, oranges and orange juice in the first two years of life may reduce the risk of developing childhood leukemia.

As an excellent source of the strong antioxidant vitamin C, oranges can also help combat the formation of free radicals known to cause cancer. While an adequate vitamin C intake is necessary and very beneficial as an antioxidant, the amount necessary to consume for therapeutic purposes for cancer is beyond oral intake. High fiber intakes from fruits and vegetables are associated with a lowered risk of colorectal cancer.

The fiber, potassium, vitamin C and choline content in oranges all support heart health. An increase in potassium intake along with a decrease in sodium intake is the most important dietary change that a person can make to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease, according to Mark Houston, M.D, M.S, an associate clinical professor of medicine at Vanderbilt Medical School and director of the Hypertension Institute at St. Thomas Hospital in Tennessee.

Studies have shown that type 1 diabetics who consume high-fiber diets have lower blood glucose levels and type 2 diabetics may have improved blood sugar, lipids and insulin levels. One medium orange provides about 3 grams of fiber. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends 21-25 g/day for women and 30-38 g/day for men. The antioxidant vitamin C, when eaten in its natural form (as in an orange) or applied topically, can help to fight skin damage caused by the sun and pollution, reduce wrinkles and improve overall skin texture.

Oranges should be picked at their peak of ripeness because unlike some other fruits, they do not ripen or improve in quality after being picked. Oranges should be stored at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. While it is hard to find good fruits and vegetables in the winter, it is the perfect time to buy citrus. Winter is the peak season for oranges and other citrus fruits. There are many different types of oranges available such as navel, mandarin, cara cara, blood oranges, Valencia and Seville oranges just to name a few.

High potassium foods such as oranges and bananas should be consumed in moderation when taking beta-blockers. Consuming too much potassium can be harmful for those whose kidneys are not fully functional. If your kidneys are unable to remove excess potassium from the blood, it could be fatal. Those with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) may experience an increase in symptoms such as heartburn and regurgitation when consuming highly acidic foods such as citrus fruit. However, individual reactions vary.

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"There Is No Meningitis In Lagos" - Health Commissioner

There is no case of meningitis in Lagos State, Commissioner for Health Dr Jide Idris said yesterday.
Reacting to the claim of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that two persons have died of the disease in the state, Idris described the report as “false and misleading”, adding that it can create “unnecessary panic among residents”.
The commissioner said: “The report carried by some newspapers and online platforms is untrue and does not represent the reality of the situation in Lagos State as at today.
For the avoidance of doubt, there are two main types of meningitis. The epidemic prone meningitis which is referred to as Cerebro-spinal meningitis (CSM) is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria Meningitis and its occurrence is seasonal or cyclical depending on the level of herd immunity and climatic conditions.
“The second type of meningitis is Non-Epidemic Meningitis. This type of meningitis is usually caused by a virus or other bacteria, but not by Neisseria Meningitis. The Non-epidemic meningitis occurs without any seasonal pattern or periodicity.”
He said the two deaths from the suspected nine cases of meningitis at Massey Street Children Hospital reported by the Disease Surveillance Notification Officer at Lagos Island Local Government in Week 13 of this year were not confirmed to be caused by CSM.
The nine cases, he said, presented with clinical features of meningitis, but laboratory tests proved that they were either due to Haemophilus influenza or Streptococcus pneumoniae and not Neisseria meningitis.
His ministry, the commissioner said, was also notified last week of a three-year-old boy presenting clinically as meningitis at a registered private facility in Lagos but the laboratory investigations did not confirm CSM.
“The blood culture yielded no growth but the urine culture yielded Klebsiella and not meningococcus.  The patient is already responding to treatment. None of these cases presented with a history of recent travel to any area with an outbreak of meningitis and neither were visits from such areas recorded with the aforementioned cases,” he said.
Idris reiterated the government’s resolve to prevent and control the spread of the epidemic, urging the public to support such efforts by reporting suspected cases to public health facilities or by calling these lines: 08037170614, 08023169485.
The commissioner stressed the need for high standard of personal and environmental hygiene, such as washing of hands with soap and water frequently, avoiding direct contact with the discharges from an infected person and covering of mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing to prevent contracting the disease.

“It is strongly advised for people to avoid overcrowding in living quarters, provide cross ventilation in sleeping and work-rooms and other places where many people come together and get vaccinated with CSM vaccine when you are travelling to areas where meningitis outbreaks have been reported”, he added.
Health workers, he said, had been placed on alert on the disease and surveillance teams consisting of epidemiologists and are also intensifying their surveillance and monitoring activities.

Idris added: “Health workers are also advised to avoid close and prolonged contacts with suspected and probable cases of CSM, ensure proper disposal of respiratory and throat secretions of cases, report suspected or probable cases and observe universal precaution and make use of personal protective equipment when in contact with such cases. There is no need to panic. We will continue with our surveillance activities, constantly review our records and brief the public from time to time”.

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Diarhoea: Tears As Queens College Buries Orphan Pupil

Tears flowed at the Atan Cemetery, Yaba, Lagos State (Nigeria) on Thursday, as one of the victims of the Queen’s College diarrhoea outbreak, Praise Sodipo, was buried.

Representatives of the school’s management, colleagues, family and friends of the victim paid their last respect to the 14-year-old, who died at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, last Friday.

Some of the mourners broke down in tears when the coffin was opened for all to see late Sodipo, who was dressed in her school uniform.

The Senior Secondary School one pupil was buried around 11am.

Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Education has admitted blame in the death of the three pupils of the school, saying the incident could have been prevented if proactive steps were taken.

Many pupils of the school were admitted in the sickbay after eating spaghetti and drinking water said to have been contaminated.

Two pupils – Vivian Osuiniyi and Bithia Itulua –  who were in Junior Secondary School two and three respectively, reportedly died as a result of the epidemic.

The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, had led a team to the school and ordered an investigation into the incident, just as the then Principal of the school, Dr Lami Amodu, denied the epidemic, blaming the report on haters of the school.

Amodu was later transferred from the school.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Jide Idris, a few weeks later released a statement saying health records from the school’s sickbay indicated that a total of 1,222 pupils presented themselves at the school’s clinic on account of abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and diarrhoea.

The statement noted that 16 pupils were admitted to various hospitals. While two were confirmed died, one was on admission at the Intensive Care Unit of LASUTH.

Sodipo, who was the pupil in the ICU, died on Friday, bringing the number of deaths to three.

It was learnt that the victim’s family took her remains from LASUTH mortuary around 10am on Thursday.

The hearse bearing the body was accompanied by the family to the Atan Cemetery where sympathisers had converged.

The group observed a short service of songs, led by a minister at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of Refuge Parish, Pastor Joseph Ekato.

Ekato condoled with the family and prayed to God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

The coffin was subsequently lowered into the grave.

Her guardian, Lawrence Otun, said she was only eight when she lost both parents who were ministers at the RCCG. She was their only child.

He said she was enrolled in Queen’s College four years ago, being the only pupil to be admitted on merit from Osun State.

He said, “The sickness started from the school, but they refused to inform us. It was when my wife went to pick her for the midterm break that she discovered that the girl had been terribly sick and was admitted to the sickbay. She took her to a hospital.

“We were treating malaria when a doctor advised that we do a scan. The scan showed she had liver enlargement. The doctor referred us to Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba. Because it was late, my wife brought her home.

“When I, however, saw how she was breathing, I quickly rushed her to a private hospital around 11pm where she was placed on a drip till the following morning. We were advised to do another scan.

“The new result showed that she had perforated intestine due to chronic typhoid said to have been caused by the contaminated water in the school.”

He explained that she was transferred to LASUTH in an ambulance and was admitted.

A surgery was later conducted at the hospital.

Around 1pm on Saturday, she was reportedly transferred to the ICU, where she was placed on oxygen.

Otun said the illness got worse as she started convulsing and went into a coma, adding that she was placed on a life support.

“We spent over four weeks at the hospital; I couldn’t go to work. Despite all that, she still did not make it,” he added.

A family friend, Steven Babatunde, described the victim as brilliant and intelligent, adding that she was a mentor to some teenagers in her local church.

“The girl could have become a great leader in the future, but her life was cut short by the carelessness of some people. The former principal and the Federal Government must pay for this,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Education has said some lapses caused the death of the three pupils of the school.

The Director of Basic and Secondary Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Jonathan Mbaka, told journalists on Tuesday during an interview that the monitoring team of the education quality assurance inspected the school prior to the outbreak.

He said, “I must confess that there were lapses in the ministry concerning the report filed by the Education Quality Assurance team.

“The report was submitted to the directorate of that ministry. But the directorate didn’t pass the report to other departments for action. They just kept it in the office.

“Unfortunately, it was this week that I was able to get access to that report. It is a little lapse on our part. But it is a procedural issue and when procedure has existed for too long, to change it becomes an issue. No one expected such to happen; other reports had been kept like that and nothing happened.”

Mbaka, who also faulted the former principal of the school for denying the incident, noted that it was after the new principal came into office that the government knew there was a crisis in the school.

“The challenge we had was that the facts were not coming to us. I can inform you that I have visited the school three times. When I visited the school, I postponed the resumption for two weeks when I saw what was on ground.

“We have discovered that there is a failure in the system. This has opened our eyes to a lot of things. And we have agreed that after this issue, we will visit each of the unity schools for assessment. With this, I believe that we will not have a repeat of such,” he added.

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, in a statement, condoled with families of the victims, saying the government was addressing the problem.

He urged the pupils doing examinations in the school to continue to come from home, adding that the school would soon resume normal academic activities.

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