There’s something about the banana, something no one expects. It’s just a fruit, right? The kind of thing you throw in a lunchbox and forget about. But here it is, gripping a cold, metallic implement of death. The gun doesn’t make the banana violent. It’s the world that made it this way. The gun is the only thing that makes sense anymore for this potassium powerhouse.
This is no longer a fruit meant to be eaten or ignored.
The design was made with our meme deep fryer tool and it’s a metaphor for everything that’s been shoved down, forced to rot in a corner. Also here are 10 interesting facts about bananas:
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Bananas are technically berries: This is because, unlike most fruits, bananas develop from a flower with only one ovary and have soft, fleshy fruit (no pits or hard seeds).
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Bananas are radioactive: Bananas contain potassium, and a small amount of that potassium is the radioactive isotope potassium-40. Don’t worry, though, it’s so little that it’s completely harmless. In fact, it’s used to measure radioactivity in objects.
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There’s a “Banana Crisis” happening: Most bananas are grown from a single variety called the Cavendish banana. These bananas are facing a major problem with disease, specifically the tropical race 4 fungus, which could wipe them out in the next few decades. This could lead to a shortage of bananas worldwide unless new varieties are developed.
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Bananas were first cultivated in Southeast Asia: Although they’re now grown worldwide, bananas were originally domesticated in Malaysia and the surrounding islands around 7,000 years ago. They’re one of the oldest cultivated crops in human history.
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Bananas can help improve your mood: Bananas contain tryptophan, an amino acid that the body converts into serotonin (the neurotransmitter responsible for regulating mood and promoting feelings of happiness). So, next time you’re feeling down, grab a banana!
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Bananas are a natural energy booster: Bananas are packed with complex carbohydrates, natural sugars like glucose, fructose, and sucrose, as well as fiber. This makes them an excellent source of quick, sustained energy (which is why they’re a popular snack for athletes; see our Violence and Bananas shirt).
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The peel is edible: While you probably don’t see people eating the peel often, it’s actually full of nutrients! Banana peels are high in fiber, antioxidants, and even contain tryptophan. In some countries, people cook and eat banana peels in dishes like curries or smoothies. You can also just blend it along with other ingredients when making health smoothies.
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The world’s most consumed fruit: Bananas are technically the world’s most popular fruit, even beating apples in some regions. Over 100 billion bananas are eaten globally each year!
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The banana plant is technically a herb: The banana “tree” you see isn’t actually a tree at all. It’s a giant herb. The trunk is made of tightly packed leaf sheaths, not wood, making it one of the largest herbaceous plants in the world.
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