Benefits of unripened banana flour
It is recognised that foods that have a low glycemic index (GI) are beneficial to health and especially to those with Diabetes. A low GI means that the food is digested slowly and the nutrients it contains are released into the bloodstream over a long time period. This will make a food seem “more filling”.
High GI foods release sugars into the blood stream quickly and this can be a major issue for those with blood sugar problems, like Diabetes.
Most baked goods have high GIs due to the ingredients they contain. Biscuits are not high on the foods that should be eaten by those who should be eating low GI foods.
A recent study has shown that by replacing up to 50 percent of the usual wheat flour with flour made from unripened bananas, biscuits can become a food that may also be enjoyed by those with blood sugar and other health conditions.
The unripe banana flour is extremely high in undigestible starch and this is what makes the biscuits produced low in GI.
This study will obviously only be a starting point in the ongoing work to improve the quality of people’s lives whilst still assisting with health issues. Obesity is increasing globally and studies like this show that all people may be able to see their cookies and eat them too.
With the rain and damage in North Queensland over summer, bananas became very expensive for quite a while. It would not have been the time to be making flour from unripened bananas as there was more value in selling what was available as fresh fruit.
However, there is a potential for fruit that is intact, and not contaminated, but not suitable for sale, to be converted to this new type of flour before the fruit ripens. This would be an excellent example of sustainability, by using something that would only be going to waste otherwise.
The article was published first on line in LWT – Food Science and Technology. “Starch digestibility and glycemic index of cookies partially substituted with unripened banana flour” by E Agama-Acevedo, J.J. Islas-Hernandez, G.Pacheco-Vargas, P.Osorio-Diaz, L.Arturo Bello-Perez.
- Published in News
New Carbon Tax Guide
With the Carbon Tax package now on it’s way as of the 01 July 2012, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has been tasked by the Commonwealth government to monitor pricing as a result of the introduction of the package.
There is a distinct fear that there will be an increase in prices on products and services prior to the upcoming introduction of the Carbon Tax and therefore to reinforce the importance of ethical and correct pricing, the ACCC has just launched a Guide to assist businesses during this period and then after the 01 July 2012 introduction.
It is illegal to claim that a product or service is “green”, or related claims, this is known as “greenwashing”. It also illegal for businesses to increase prices on products or services, if there are no legitimate reasons for doing so. The same situation was in place prior to the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
The new Guide will provide all business types with an understanding of their rights and responsibilities, especially at this time.
ACCC chairman Rod Sims said, “Business costs increase all the time, and businesses are free to set their own prices. However, if a business chooses to raise their prices they should not misrepresent this as a result of the carbon price when it is not the case. The message is simple: if you are going to make a claim, you need to make sure it is right.”
The guide can be found in the new publications section on www.accc.gov.au
- Published in News