When peeling cavendish bananas, lady finger bananas, or namwa bananas, many people often notice long white fibers attached to the banana and tend to peel them off, thinking they spoil the eating experience or are useless. However, these white strands play a vital role in the fruit's growth and are edible, so there is no need to remove them.
The white strands found on the banana flesh are part of the "phloem bundles," which function like "veins" in the fruit, responsible for transporting nutrients, minerals, and water from the stem to nourish the banana until it fully matures. Without these transport bundles, the banana fruit could not develop to become ripe and sweet for us to eat.
The white strands attached to the banana flesh are edible, so there is no need to peel them off. Although the texture might be slightly sticky or different from the banana flesh, these strands are part of the transport bundles playing a crucial role during the fruit's development.
Benefits of bananas go beyond their sweet taste and soft texture; they are a source of carbohydrates, fiber, potassium, and vitamin B6. The white strands attached to the banana flesh are also edible, so there is no need to spend time peeling them off. Next time you peel a banana, unless texture bothers you, you can eat the white strands along with the flesh as usual.