‘Forget iron pills, eat plantain to boost your blood level’

Several studies carried out on Telfairia occidentalis, which is commonly known as fluted pumpkin or ‘ugwu’, have proven that a diet containing ‘ugwu’ extract can significantly improve blood levels by boosting the packed cell volume (PCV).

Now, experts say that an alternative to Ugwu in stimulating the production of haemoglobin in the red blood cells is fruit and peel of plantain. Eating plantain is not the only way the fruit can help to keep individuals healthy, it can also help boost the red cell count in the body, so helping in cases of anaemia.

Anaemia is a condition where there is a decrease in the number of red blood cells or haemoglobin in the blood, leading to fatigue, paleness and shortness of breath. Haematocrit or packed cell volume is a measurement for assessing anaemia.

In a new study, researchers said that following the administration of the extracts of unripe plantain flour and pulp, there was an increase in red cells count and haematocrit level, which was significant at a higher dose of 400 mg/kg as compared to the control group.

The unripe plantain pulp had a better increase in red cell count when compared with the plantain peel, whereas the plantain peel showed a much effect in increasing the haematocrit level as compared to its pulp.

According to them, unripe plantain pulp and peel contain chemical substances that stimulate the production of red blood cells possibly by stimulating erythropoietin formation and secretion. Erythropoietin is a glycoprotein hormone that stimulates stem cells in the bone marrow to produce red blood cells.

The researchers had evaluated the effect of extracts of unripe plantain pulp and peel on the blood and liver of 30 Wistar rats that were grouped into five groups of six animals each. They were given 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of plantain fruit pulp extract or peel extract. The blood and liver were checked at the end of 14 days.

Peel at a dose of 200 mg/kg had a non-significant increase in red blood cell count when compared to the control, however, at 400 mg/kg, there was a significant increase in red cell count. A high dose (400 mg/kg) of both fruit extracts significantly increased the haematocrit level as compared to the control.  There was a non-significant increase in haemoglobin concentration in the treated rats as compared to the control.

The 2021 study in the journal, Biology, Medicine, & Natural Product Chemistry, said both the extracts of plantain pulp and peel at 400 mg/kg showed a significant increase in red cell count and haematocrit level as compared to the control.  But they may not be associated with liver toxicity.

Previously, research has proven that bananas also can help boost blood levels. They found significant differences in haemoglobin levels of students in the first and second grades in Prodi Kebidanan Metro who lived in the dormitory before and after consuming ambon banana.

The results showed an average haemoglobin level before consuming bananas at 12.51 g/dl and the average haemoglobin level after consuming bananas was 12.89 g/dl, so the average increase in haemoglobin levels was 0.39 g/dl. The study is the June edition of Enfermería Clínica.

Previously, experts had linked its blood stimulating capacity to banana’s high iron content. Along with iron, it also makes for a good source of folic acid which is a B-complex vitamin that is required to make red blood cells.

They also indicated that bananas can boost brain power, are beneficial for depressive symptoms and in lowering blood pressure. In a cross-sectional study of 24,673 adults in the Chinese population, researchers had explored the association between banana consumption and depressive symptoms and given evidence that banana consumption might have effects on depressive symptoms.

The data of this cross-sectional study were collected from the Tianjin Chronic Low-grade System Inflammation and Health (TCLSIH) Cohort Study that was initiated in 2007.

Moreover, bananas contain lots of potassium, good content of potassium for people with high blood pressure. The combination of high potassium and very low salt makes fruit bananas useful for people with high blood pressure. Potassium content in Ambon banana works similar to antihypertensive drugs in the human body.

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