The banana is the most consumed fresh fruit worldwide and in the United States. According to recent USDA statistics, each American consumes more than 13 pounds of bananas per year. That’s excellent news since the biggest herbaceous plant in the world has many unexpected health advantages.
These fundamentals about bananas explain what’s underneath the peel and how it affects your health.
- Bananas are Nutrient-Rich
While fruits like berries and citrus are called superfoods, a medium-sized banana (7 to 8 inches long) has just 110 calories, 30 grams of carbohydrates, and 3 grams fiber. As a great source of vitamin B6, bananas provide 25% of your daily needs, including 10% of manganese, vitamin C, and potassium. Bananas are a wise addition to any diet and other nutritious foods because they are naturally free of fat, cholesterol, and sodium.
According to a study published in Food Quality and Safety, bananas also contain many bioactive components, including carotenoids and flavonoids, which have a variety of advantages, such as preserving vision and reducing heart disease risk and certain types of cancer.
- Bananas are Diet-Friendly
A medium banana contains 30 grams of carbohydrates and 3 grams of fiber and has 110 calories. Bananas’ fiber slows down digestion, which helps control hunger and cravings. In addition, bananas contain resistant starch, a type of carbohydrate that promotes digestive health and works to keep you filled longer. According to numerous studies, resistant starch lowers the risk of developing chronic diseases, boosts hormones that increase satiety, and helps to improve blood glucose levels.
Furthermore, smelling particular foods when you are hungry might fool your brain into believing that you have eaten and are full, according to research done at the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago. Bananas are one of those foods.
- Bananas Control Blood Pressure
A medium banana, which is sodium-free and a great source of potassium, has 422 milligrams of the mineral. The American Heart Association claims that consuming potassium-rich foods like bananas can help control blood pressure. A medium banana offers over 10% of the daily requirement for potassium, which is 4,700 mg for adults.
- Improve your Mood
The nutrients in bananas may improve your mood. Serotonin and dopamine, two feel-good neurotransmitters, are increased because of the vitamin B6 they offer. Furthermore, according to additional research, bananas are among the few foods that contain tryptophan, which raises serotonin levels in the brain.
Low blood levels of vitamin B6 increase the chance of developing depression, according to a study published in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. Consuming tropical fruit regularly may help eliminate your frown because many of us don’t receive enough vitamin B6 in our diets.