Banana is quite a popular fruit across the world. You can eat it by adding its slices to your cereal, by blending it in a smoothie, or just as it is. Here are some of the health benefits of bananas and a few great reasons to include about four bananas a week in your diet.
There is no doubt that the banana is a nutritious and wholesome fruit, and as it comes cheap, it also goes easy on your pocket. According to research the health benefits of bananas surpass those of apples. One of the great benefits of bananas is that it is not only delicious to eat, but unlike the other fruits, it is available throughout the year. Also, since bananas come neatly packed in their own natural wrapper, they are very portable.
If you want a quick fix for drooping energy levels, there is no better snack than a banana. Banana’s three natural sugars, sucrose, fructose, and glucose combine with its fiber content to give an instant, sustained, and substantial boost of energy. Bananas can also help overcome and even prevent a variety of illnesses.
The Five Key Benefits of Bananas
- Let’s now take a look at the major health benefits of bananas.
Improves Heart And Nerve Health
Bananas contain a high dose of potassium and low levels of salt. This combination helps regulate blood pressure and also reduces the risk of heart diseases. Some studies have linked low potassium intake to high blood pressure and an increased risk of stroke.
Including a banana or two in your diet everyday can help you get the daily recommended dose of potassium.
Protects From Kidney Stones And Strengthens Bones
The potassium content in bananas is good for the health of your bones. As a result, eating these fruits on a regular basis can help prevent your bones from deteriorating.
A normal intake of potassium also suppresses calcium excretion in the urine and minimizes the risk of kidney stones. Consuming bananas can also neutralize the amount of sodium in your body, which ultimately prevents calcium from being washed out of your body.
Acts As A Mild Sedative
Bananas contain tryptophan, which is one of the 20 amino acids that form the building blocks of proteins. Tryptophan helps the body produce serotonin, which has a calming effect on the brain and acts as a mild sedative.
It should be noted that the only way your body gets its dose of tryptophan is through your diet, as it does not produce this substance naturally.
Provides A Good Amount Of Dietary Fiber
One medium-sized banana contains 16% of the daily recommended dietary fiber intake for a normal adult, which is quite substantial for a single serving of any food. Fiber improves laxation and fiber-rich diets have also been linked to lower risks of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Current medical recommendations suggest that adults should consume 20-35 grams of dietary fiber per day. Children over the age of two should consume an amount equal to or greater than their age plus 5 grams per day. Yet the average human eats only 14-15 grams of dietary fiber a day.
Fights Gastrointestinal Problems
Bananas are part of the BRAT diet, a diet many physicians and nurses recommend for children recovering from gastrointestinal problems, particularly diarrhea.
BRAT stands for the different components that make up the diet: Bananas, Rice cereal, Applesauce, and Toast. These are binding foods that make the stools harder. When eaten as part of the BRAT diet, bananas help in countering various problems of the gastrointestinal tract.
Banana is thus a natural remedy for many illnesses. When compared to an apple, a banana has four times more protein, twice the amount of carbohydrates, and three times the phosphorus content. It also has five times the vitamin A and iron content, and twice the amount of other vitamins and minerals present in the apple. Also, you can use bananas for cosmetic reasons. Add these fruits to face packs and masks for radiant skin.
Eat bananas regularly and experience all these wonderful health benefits of bananas firsthand. Pretty soon, you’ll be gushing about the benefits of these tasty fruits to your friends and family.