Creamy, fleshy, sweet and satiating, bananas are a treat of sorts, particularly when you are hungry and aching for a natural sugar fix. Bananas have a lot going for them and there is every reason to bite into this heavenly fruit with relish and gusto.
In this article I’ll go over some nutrition facts about bananas and why you should include them in your diet. I have bananas often and I find them to be a great addition to my regular diet.
Read on to see how and why you should include them in your diet too…
Health benefits of Bananas
Bananas contain Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C. They are extremely rich in potassium, have reasonably good amounts of iron along with plenty of dietary fiber. This makes an excellent food to help you control your appetite.
A reasonably large banana contains a whopping 460+mg of potassium providing almost 10-15% of the body’s daily requirement for potassium. Studies show that taking in sufficient quantities of potassium greatly reduces the risk of stroke. The potassium in bananas also prevents high blood pressure as insufficient potassium intake is linked with high blood pressure levels.
In addition to the above, potassium also reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases significantly. Potassium plays an invaluable part in the health of the heart as it regulates heart beat. It also contributes to bone health. Potassium from bananas may also safeguard the body against calcium loss through urine caused by high salt diets that are typical of the West. Thus, bananas protect the body from kidney stones.
Potassium plays an important role in maintaining fluid balance in the body. In case of mineral and nutrient loss through diarrhea, bananas are a great way of replenishing lost potassium.
Bananas have a benevolent effect on the stomach because it is a natural antacid that suppresses the release of acids in the stomach. Thus, it is an effective shield against ulcers.
People who suffer from constipation must befriend the banana because an average sized banana can provide almost 16-22% of the body’s daily requirement of fiber. Besides, bananas are easy to digest.
Bananas have low Glycemic Index which means they release glucose slowly into the bloodstream. This explains why athletes are partial to banana shakes before an intensive workout. Children too benefit from bananas in their lunchboxes. Since they give the bloodstream an instant sugar fix, bananas also act as mood enhancers.
Reports suggest that bananas can slow down age related macular degeneration which leads to vision problems in adults.
Bananas improve calcium absorption from food and thus keep the bones and teeth safe.
Bananas are beneficial for the friendly bacteria in the colon. Raw bananas are exceptionally high in compounds that boost the population of probiotic bacteria in the stomach. The presence of friendly bacteria has a beneficial effect on digestion and calcium absorption. Simultaneously, the risk of developing indigestion and colon cancer are reduced.
Bananas contain compounds that protect the body from kidney cancer.
Vitamin B6 in bananas strengthens the body’s immune response.
How to eat
The best way to eat ripe bananas is straight out of their jackets.
In Asian cultures, raw bananas are cooked and eaten with rice.
Banana smoothies are satisfying and quite delicious.
Bananas may be added to other fruits to make delicious fruit salads.
Chopped bananas may be added to almonds, raisins and walnuts to make oatmeal more delicious and nutrient rich.
NOTE: If you are worried about weight gain, bananas must be eaten in moderation. A small banana contains almost 100 calories. I don’t recommend eating more than a single banana on any given day.
In Conclusion
Bananas are delicious, convenient and nutrient rich. Considering that bananas yield so many benefits and are perennially available, there’s every reason to go bananas over bananas, isn’t there?
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