HEALTH BENEFITS OF EATING BANANA FLOWERS.

 

Banana flower (also called banana blossom or inflorescence or jantung pisang in Malay) is an edible floral bud that appears at the end of a banana bunch. It’s used across Southeast Asian, South Asian and African cuisines and also appears in traditional medicine. Nutritionally and pharmacologically, banana flower offers several documented and plausible health benefits:

Nutritional profile (typical)

• Low calorie, high water content.
• Good source of dietary fiber (both soluble and insoluble).
• Contains micronutrients: vitamin C, vitamin E, B-complex vitamins (small amounts), potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron.
• Rich in antioxidants: flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannins.

Clinically relevant benefits and supporting mechanisms

1. Improves digestive health and relieves constipation

• High fiber content increases stool bulk and regularity; traditional use and modern studies report improved bowel movement frequency.

1. Helps control blood glucose

• Fiber delays carbohydrate absorption; animal and limited human studies show reductions in fasting blood glucose and improved glucose tolerance. Useful as an adjunctive dietary strategy for glycemic control (not a replacement for medical therapy).

1. Supports cardiovascular health

• Fiber, potassium and antioxidant content contribute to improved lipid profiles and blood-pressure modulation in animal and small human studies. Some trials report reductions in total cholesterol and triglycerides.

1. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects

• Flavonoids and phenolic compounds scavenge free radicals and reduce inflammatory markers in vitro and in animal models—potentially lowering chronic inflammation-related risk.

1. May help with anemia and menstrual complaints

• Traditional medicine uses banana flower to reduce excessive menstrual bleeding and to treat anemia. Nutrient content (iron) plus compounds that may modulate bleeding have shown benefit in some small clinical studies among women with excessive menstrual bleeding or postpartum hemorrhage when used as part of diet or extract therapy.

1. Potential antimicrobial and wound-healing properties

• Extracts demonstrate antimicrobial activity in laboratory studies and promote wound contraction in animal models; translational human evidence is limited.

1. Supports lactation (galactagogue effect)

• Cultural use and a few observational studies suggest banana flower intake may increase milk supply in some lactating women; controlled evidence is limited.

Dose, preparation and practical use

• Common forms: fresh florets cooked (stir-fry, curries, salads), steamed, boiled; dried powder; juice or extracts used in supplements.
• Typical culinary serving provides fiber and micronutrients; ethanolic or aqueous extracts used in studies are concentrated and not equivalent to eating a cooked flower.
• To reduce bitterness and pale inner layers, peel outer bracts and soak or cook the inner florets; acidic soaking (lemon/vinegar) prevents discoloration.

Safety and cautions

• Generally safe as food for most people. Possible allergic reactions are rare but can occur in those sensitive to other Musaceae family plants.
• If taking anticoagulant drugs, discuss regular consumption with a clinician because of potential effects on bleeding reported in some traditional uses.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women using concentrated extracts or medicinal doses should consult a healthcare professional—culinary use is widely practiced, but therapeutic dosing lacks robust safety data.

Evidence strength and research gaps

• Many benefits are supported by in vitro, animal studies and small human trials; high-quality randomized controlled trials in humans are sparse. Benefits as part of a balanced diet are plausible and consistent with known nutrient functions; therapeutic claims require more clinical evidence.

Practical takeaway

• Including banana flower as a regular vegetable adds fiber, antioxidants and micronutrients that support digestion, may assist glycemic and lipid control, and contributes to overall dietary variety. For medicinal use (e.g., concentrated extracts to treat heavy menstrual bleeding or diabetes), rely on clinical guidance and view current evidence as preliminary.

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Opposition ready for snap polls anytime, says Hamzah

 Ex-opposition leader says the bloc is unfazed by speculation of an early GE16, and that its machinery is prepared.

Larut MP Hamzah Zainudin played down the recent return of 6,252 former leaders to Umno, saying this would not guarantee support at the polls.

PETALING JAYA:

 The opposition is prepared to face a snap general election (GE16) in the event that Parliament is dissolved before the end of its term, says Larut MP Hamzah Zainudin.

The former opposition leader said the bloc’s machinery was prepared for an early GE16 at “any time”, Utusan Malaysia reported.

Hamzah also said the opposition was unfazed by speculation of a snap election, adding that its focus was on going to the ground and holding programmes at the grassroots level.

“When (the government) announces Parliament’s dissolution, we will show how prepared we are to face GE16,” the former Bersatu deputy president added.

He also played down the recent return of 6,252 former leaders to Umno, including former minister Khairy Jamaluddin, saying this would not guarantee support at the polls.

“If it’s true, good for them. But we must remember that the number of voters out there is far greater than that number,” said Hamzah, who left Umno for Bersatu in February 2019.

The opposition bloc has been leaderless since Hamzah’s resignation as its chief earlier this month. PAS, which currently chairs Perikatan Nasional, is set to take over the post but has yet to name a successor.

Hamzah’s resignation followed his sacking from Bersatu in February. - FMT

Transport disruptions signal deeper systemic flaws, says PN

 Opposition coalition says it has serious concerns about the reliability, preparedness, and management of the country’s transport infrastructure.

A breakdown in the baggage handling system at KLIA Terminal 1 on Saturday resulted in delays of up to four hours for arriving passengers.

PETALING JAYA:

 Perikatan Nasional (PN) claims the recent disruptions in the country’s transport system are indicators of deeper systemic weaknesses that require a comprehensive approach.

In a statement, PN secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said the latest incident – a breakdown in the baggage handling system at KLIA Terminal 1 on Saturday which caused delays of up to four hours – raised serious concerns about the reliability, preparedness, and management of the country’s transport infrastructure.

He said the disruption was part of a broader pattern of recurring problems affecting systems under the transport ministry’s purview, pointing to the recent service interruptions involving the Kelana Jaya LRT line and the Putrajaya MRT line, as well as other technical faults which led to delays and temporary suspensions that impacted thousands of daily commuters.

“When disruptions occur across multiple modes of transport – whether at airports, urban rail systems, or related transport operations – it points to broader challenges in operational management, maintenance standards, system resilience, and the effectiveness of contingency plans.

“Public transport infrastructure is a critical national asset that must operate consistently, efficiently, and reliably – especially KLIA, which serves as a key international transport hub and a gateway for tourism, trade, and investment.”

He urged the transport ministry to provide a transparent and comprehensive explanation for the issues involving agencies under its purview.

Takiyuddin said the ministry must also disclose the actual causes of these failures, including whether preventive maintenance regimes were adequate, whether system upgrades were proceeding smoothly, and whether existing contingency plans were truly effective in addressing operational disruptions.

He also called for accountability if weaknesses, negligence, or management failures contributed to the incidents.

“The public deserves assurance that corrective measures are being and will be implemented firmly and effectively,” he said.

Transport minister Loke Siew Fook yesterday called for an emergency meeting with the relevant agencies after the breakdown in the baggage handling system at KLIA Terminal 1.

Loke said the meeting would review the SOPs governing breakdown management at Malaysian airports, with a specific focus on response time, passenger communication, and contingency protocols.

He said although the baggage handling system was restored that same evening, “a technical fix does not close the matter and the incident points to something that must be addressed at a deeper level”. - FMT

US begins Philippines war games in thick of Middle East conflict

 Drills feature live-fire exercises in the north facing the Taiwan Strait as well as in a province off the disputed South China Sea.

More than 17,000 soldiers will take part in the 19-day Balikatan exercises, joined for the first time by a significant Japanese contingent. (EPA Images pic)

MANILA:

 Thousands of American and Philippine troops, joined for the first time by a significant contingent of Japanese forces, began annual military exercises Monday set against the backdrop of the Middle East war.

The war games will feature live-fire exercises in the north of the country facing the Taiwan Strait, as well as a province off the disputed South China Sea, where the Philippines and China have engaged in repeated confrontations.

The Japanese military, which is contributing 1,400 personnel, will use a Type 88 cruise missile to sink a target ship off northern Paoay, Philippine exercise spokesman Colonel Dennis Hernandez said.

More than 17,000 soldiers, airmen and sailors are taking part in the 19-day Balikatan, or Shoulder to Shoulder, exercises – about the same number as last year’s edition – including contingents from Australia, New Zealand, France and Canada.

“Balikatan… represents an opportunity to showcase our ironclad alliance with the Philippines and demonstrate our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” US exercise spokesman Colonel Robert Bunn said ahead of Monday’s opening ceremony.

Bunn added that US troop levels he described as “one of the largest deployments” in years would be unaffected by the ongoing Middle East war his country is waging, while declining to provide specific numbers.

Balikatan comes as Iran and the United States, along with Israel, are just days away from the end of the two-week ceasefire that halted the Middle East war, ignited by surprise US-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb 28.

The conflict has sparked a global energy crisis that has left import-dependent Philippines reeling.

The drills also come as Beijing ramps up military pressure around Taiwan, which it considers part of its territory and has threatened to use force to seize.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said last November that given his country’s proximity to the self-ruled island and its surrounding waters, “a war over Taiwan will drag the Philippines, kicking and screaming, into the conflict”.

In February, US, Japanese and Philippine aircraft patrolled over the Bashi Channel separating the Philippines from Taiwan to test what Manila called their “ability to operate seamlessly together in complex maritime environments”.

Marcos considers Manila’s 1951 mutual defence pact with Washington a bedrock of national security and has been building up security ties with Western nations to deter China.

Over the past two years, Manila has signed visiting forces or equivalent agreements with Japan, New Zealand, Canada and France, deals aimed at facilitating their participation in joint military exercises in the Philippines.

Bunn said American forces would have the option of firing Tomahawk and NMESIS anti-ship missiles, without confirming they would.

Integrated air and missile defence systems will also be put to the test, including technology for countering drones, Philippine spokesman Hernandez said.

Week-long naval exercises will also take place in so far unspecified waters off the main Philippine island of Luzon, he added.

Japan is deploying a tank landing ship, a destroyer, and a helicopter destroyer, while the US will use a cutter and a dock landing ship.

They will join two Philippine frigates and another from Canada. - FMT

Book writer accused of running down his race by exposing Malay parents unsupportive of PTA’s role

 

SOMETMES truth is so difficult to swallow so much that mathematics and history writer Megat Hisemudin Megat Kasim was demonised for ragebait and sucking up to DAP being for this two-liner on his Facebook page:

The Chinese save money for education (but) many Malays are deceitful even with PTA (Parents Teachers Association) money. The Chinese consider education to be a “hundred-year-old tree”.

As expected, rightists bombarded his post with accusation of running down his own race with one commenter claiming that “those who evade paying PTA fees are not many”.

“There is no need to ‘highlight’ this. Comparing the weaknesses of one’s own race by praising other races doesn’t even raise awareness within the Malay race. In fact, it widens the gap between races,” snubbed one commenter.

Another commenter chided the trained civil engineer for “making blanket generalisation (pukul rata) of the Chinese and Malays”.

“There are Malays who’re contributing as educators, for example in PASTI (PAS-run kindergarten) and schools in Terengganu and Kelantan … that’s why East Coast education is the best of the best every year,” claimed one presumably PAS loyalist.

One disgruntled parent denied the poster’s claim given “I’m Malay and have toiled to settle all (PTA) fees when some Chinese parents are calculative in paying as they expect free education”.

For context, Megat Hisemudin was delving on the allegation of of a school in Senawang, Negeri Sembilan withholding the SPM results of a star candidate for not paying a PTA fee.

This followed a viral TikTok clip claiming that the pupil only received an empty envelope without the official certificate during a ceremony.

However, the matter was put to rest by the state Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun who attributed the matter to “a slight misunderstanding and confusion of information between the pupil, the school and the PTA after the Pupil Excellence Awards ceremony”.

This is when one commenter who claimed to have been a PTA president concurred with Megat Hisemudin that “in fact, many (Malay parents) are deceitful for I went through it”.

Another who claimed to be a PTA committee member in a secondary school made up of 80% Malay, 10% Chinese and 10% Indian pupils revealed that PTA collection only stood at 38%.

“Very sad … finally transferred the child to international (school). Sad story for Malaysian education but the child can’t wait for the reform,” lamented the Chinese father.

As one Chinese mother put it, the poster’s has good intention to spark awareness “so that the Malays can develop in a more positive and progressive direction”.

“Truth can be bitter. Married and divorced until the child finally follows the father/stepmother … But the mother and biological father have each re-married many times,” observed the presumably teacher herself of a real-life story.

“Handed the child over to the grandparents to take care but didn’t provide for the expenses … till the grandpa who’s old has to work as a security guard so the grandson has money to spend in school.

“Not to highlight but the feeling of both hurt and pitying Malay children and worrying about the future of Malaysia. Hope my words don’t offend anyone. What I’m stating is a true story.”

Interestingly, Megat Hisemudin who himself had his primary education at SJKC Chung Hwas Parit in Perak before pursuing his tertiary education at the National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan acknowledged in a subsequent FB post that he was “whacked left, right and centre for belittling my own race”.

“However, only with this kind of satire will we be able to wake up from our slumber,” he concluded. 

- Focus Malaysia