The humble banana is an excellent source of carbohydrates, fibre and potassium. They are good for health. How, Let’s check.
Bananas are highly nutritious and tasty fruits with numerous benefits and they come from the banana tree. Well, that’s quite obvious but what is interesting about a banana tree is that almost all of it’s parts – the fruit, the flowers, the leaves and the stem are edible, the roots are also used for medicinal purposes. So, it’s not surprising to see so many mouth watering recipes like banana chips, cakes, milkshakes, smoothies, curries etc being made out of it and it’s parts.
The tasty, mushy bananas make for a perfect snack when hungry as they contain carbohydrates that help you feel full, have proteins, are energy packed and are amazing sources of some crucial vitamins and minerals.
Let’s have a look at the nutrition provided by a typical serving of 100 gms of Banana:
|
BANANA NUTRITION CHART |
|
| 1 Medium Sized Banana : Amount per 100 gms | |
| 80-90 Calories | |
| Carbohydrates | 23 gms |
| Proteins | 1.1 gms |
| Fats | 0.3 gms |
| Vitamins | Vitamin B6, C (Major) |
| Vitamin A, E, K (Minor) | |
| Minerals | Potassium, Iron (Major) |
| Magnesium, Folate, Manganese (Minor) | |
The Benefits
- Bananas contain higher amounts of fibre, both soluble and insoluble which makes them great for our digestive system.
- They are also considered one of the best foods for high blood pressure because of their high potassium content that helps in regulating BP.
- The potassium also helps in regulating body fluid balance.
- Bananas contain antioxidants that fight cancer causing free radicals .
- Good quantity of carbohydrates make it an excellent pre-workout food. Hence, trainers and dieticians recommend eating them before one hits the gym.
- They are low in calories. This makes them good for weight loss.
The Disadvantages
- There aren’t any side effects if bananas are eaten in moderation.
- Eating a lot of these can trigger weight gain.
- It’s good if people suffering from migraines avoid over ripe bananas because of the increased presence of tyramine, an amino acid that can trigger migraine pain.
- Hyperkalemia is a life threatening condition caused due to high concentration of potassium in the body. It could be a result of any other disease or any medication. So, this is where, eating bananas or any other foods with high potassium must be completely avoided.
- Some people can be allergic to certain proteins in Banana that can cause rashes and swelling of the mouth and throat. Hence, in such cases, it’s best avoided.
Best Time To Eat
Pre-workout or Breakfast
Recipes
Banana Smoothies, Shakes, Chips, Salads, Pancakes, Cakes, Curries.
