11 health benefits of Eating plantain And how to prepare it with catfish

Plantains contain a good amount of your daily recommended amount of vitamin C in a single cup. This vitamin acts as an antioxidant which may help boost your immune system. As an antioxidant, it may protect your body against free radical damage that’s associated with aging, heart disease, and even some types of cancer.
Plantains are a carb-rich food and a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They also contain antioxidants that fight free radicals. With good levels of vitamin C, they can also support immune function. Likewise, their vitamin B6 content may reduce cardiovascular risk and improve mood.

Catfish is low in calories and packed with lean protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. It’s particularly rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fats and vitamin B12. It can be a healthy addition to any meal, though deep frying adds far more calories and fat than dry heat cooking methods like baking or broiling.

Health Benefits of Plantain:

It’s an Energy Giving food
Plantain is a good source of carbohydrate especially when ripe; therefore it is an energy giving food. And the good news is that the carbohydrates it contains are considered as “complex carbohydrate” which includes starch, fiber, and sugar.

The breaking down and absorption of such carbohydrates are slow which gives fullness thereby reducing appetite and making one lose weight. Therefore the constant eating of plantain provides your body with enough energy.

2. Treatment of Anaemia and Neuritis
   Plantain contains the mineral iron (when unripe) and vitamin B6 which plays a major role in the adequate production of red blood cells in the body and as well prevents anemia and neuritis which manifests when they are deficient in the body. It is advisable for those suffering from anemia and neuritis to eat enough of plantain as it will serve as a cure and also as a preventive measure.
3. Helps in Digestion
   Plantain is very rich in fiber which makes it good for consumption as it will help to prevent conditions that irritate the bowel and also preventing constipation, bloating and other related health conditions associated with improper digestion and also reduce appetite by increasing fullness. Plantain consumption can greatly help in preventing constipation.
4. Helps in Treating Diabetes
   Unripe plantain, when compared with the ripe one, has low sugar which makes it a good diet for diabetic patients because it cannot trigger or worsen their already high blood sugar level. Psyllium contained in plantain can help to control blood sugar, therefore constant eating of unripe plantain can aid in the prevention and treatment of diabetes.
5. Prevention of Ulcer
   Unripe plantain also contains manganese, potassium, and leucocyanidin which is one of the phytochemical properties found in food, its presence in the plantain makes it a source of food for those who suffer or wishes to prevent an ulcer. It as antiulcer properties because it helps to promote as well as increase the secretion of mucus in the stomach, and much more. The dry form of plantain provides ulcer healing and reduces the risk of developing gastric ulcers. Plantain goes a long way treatment and prevention of ulcers when taken regularly.
6. Promotes Sexual Health
   Because of the nutrients contained in plantain, it contributes greatly to sexual health performance. Regular eating of plantain helps in improving male fertility.
   It boosts sexual health and it helps increase libido, and the vitamins and other minerals it contains helps to improve the general health as well. For good sexual performance, you need more unripe plantain with ginger and garlic.
7. Helps in strengthening stronger bones
   Unripe plantain which is very rich in calcium and that makes plantain to aid in strengthening our bones and also enhances stronger muscles, teeth, and nails.
   A meal with an unripe plantain helps in preventing diseases like osteoporosis which means the weakening of bones and also causes fractures. For you to have a strong bone, you need to start eating plantain regularly.
8. Promotes Healthy heart
   Unripe plantain contains some amount of serotonin which expands the arteries, promotes blood flow and reduces the risk of homocysteine which involves a disease condition that leads to coronary artery diseases and stroke.
   Potassium contained in plantain also plays a great role in preventing heart attack and hypertension. Also, fiber contained in plantain aids in decreasing cholesterol levels, thus decreasing the risk of heart disorders.
9. It Helps in Reducing free radicals
   Free radicals in the body can be a result of alcohol, tobacco, smoke etc…one of the natural of treating free radicals that can lead to diseases like premature aging diseases and cancer is a regular intake of vitamin C which is a good antioxidant.
   Plantain is known to one of the best vitamin C foods around. Therefore it is very essential for one to consume plantain regularly as it helps in fighting free radical damage.
10. Develops The Immune System
    Plantain contains a whole lot of vitamin A which is another antioxidant that helps your immune system to function properly. Vitamin A has a great role in enhancing the growth of the cell and improves the health of the skin.
    Therefore constant intake of plantain can help to develop the immune system due to vitamin A contained in it.
11. Helps in Weight Loss
    Plantain which contains a lot of fiber which makes one feels satisfaction even for a long time after eating the food.
    Plantain is also low in fat. It is advisable for people trying to lose weight to eat plantain regularly as it will be of great help in weight maintenance.
12. Helps in Menstrual discomfort
    Plantain which is rich in potassium and vitamin B6 will help greatly in relieving menstrual pain. Eating plantain aids in controlling the symptoms of premenstrual such as bloating and depression. Also the presence of vitamin B6 in plantain lowers the risk of miscarriages in women.
    Due to presence of vitamin B6 and potassium in plantain, eating it regularly most especially for women helps in menstrual discomfort.

Nutritional Values of Plantain

Plantain contains minerals and vitamins, as well as other essential nutrients which include potassium, carbohydrates, vitamin c, iron, rich in fibre, magnesium, calcium, vitamins A and B6, and more.
It is also good to know that some of the nutritional values of nutrients in plantain vary as it contains more of these essential nutrients when unripe than when ripe.

STEPS TO PREPARE PLANTAIN AND CATFISH PEPPER SOUP

INGREDIENTS:

1. Catfish
2. Plantain
3. Maggi
4. Garlic (optional)
5. Ginger and black or fresh pepper
6. Saint leaf or bitter leaf
7. Oil
8. Wash catfish with salt and hot water to remove the slime. Ground all spices together with the pepper. …

2. Place pot with water on the stove. Peel plantain, shape and quantity as desired. …

3. Add catfish, seasoning cube, salt , scent leaf , bitter leaf (2tablespoon)and allow to boil for five minutes.

Conclusion
Eating it regularly especially when unripe is beneficial but notwithstanding, plantain generally is power packed with essential minerals, vitamins and phytochemical components which makes it good for consumption and medicinal as well.