The banana really is one amazing fruit. Where else do you find a natural package of vitamins and minerals, packed together to taste so good, and sealed in its own peel?
Convenient, tasty, healthy and so clean and easy to prepare – just peel and eat.
Then we have the skin with its own attributes, and so good for the garden – they even tell me you can use them to shine your shoes!
The banana has been called “the fruit of the wise”. With all the minerals and vitamins in them that our bodies need, it only makes sense to make them a regular part of our diet.
If you have had the privilege of raising children – here is a food they all seem to eat. Whoppee!
Whether you are young, old, big or small, bananas make a tasty and healthy part of our daily food.
Are Bananas Healthy?
Bananas and Health
One of the key benefits of banana being included in our diet certainly involves the banana nutrients. There are other benefits to add to those though. Look at how convenient the banana is.
We often take fruit with us to events – the banana lasts the distance much better than most other fruit. It is extremely easy to eat, no matter where you are.
The banana tastes great. They are also an affordable fruit. As our economic times get tougher, a factor to bear in mind.
Banana Nutritional Information
The nutritional value of a banana isn’t as recognized as I first thought. In fact, there are a number of myths about concerning the banana so lets get to the facts.
Some peole think that the banana causes constipation. Bananas are actually high in fiber and at the same time as making them good for your cardiovascular health, fiber actually also helps avoid constipation. And, fiber also keeps your intestines healthy.
It is a diarrhea sufferer’s ally. A soothing substance that may stop the diarrhea and replace what you’ve lost, without causing constipation. It helps replace electrolytes, the very tiny electrical charges needed to power the body and maintain fluid balance.
Bananas contain potassium, riboflavin, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, vitamin’s A,B and C, thiamin, niacin, copper, pantothenic acid and zinc.
A banana is cholesterol free.
The plantain banana when cooked, rates at a slightly higher level on the nutritional scale for vitamins and minerals than fruit bananas. They are both similar in their protein and fibre content.
The way a banana is prepared is extremely important to the nutrient value. Cooking and drying can diminish nutrient value.
Calories in Bananas
People often ask – how many calories are in a banana?
That largely depends on the size of the banana. A raw, fresh, medium sized banana is around the 100 calories mark (weight for weight, about the same as cottage cheese).
A larger banana may have up around 135 calories.
There are other things to consider with bananas though. Bananas derive nearly 92% of their calories from carbohydrates, around 4% of their calories from protein, and 4% from fats.
A banana is filling and is ideal for children’s morning break or an after school energy boost.
Carbs in Bananas
If you are on a low carbohydrate diet in an effort to burn fat, you need to consider the carbohydrates in addition to how many calories are in a banana.
The body burns off calories from carbs more easily and quickly than calories from fat or protein. Bananas are an excellent food for weight loss.
Bananas can help children to learn better at school. The fuel your brain uses is glucose, just like your muscles. The glucose in your body comes directly from carbohydrate foods like bananas. The glucose in blood is used whenever you think or learn something new.
Bananas contain three natural sugars, fructose, sucrose and glucose along with fiber. This provides an instant and substantial boost in energy.
No other fruit contains more digestible carbohydrates than bananas.
Bananas are a quick and easy source of carbohydrates which is needed to provide energy for muscles and the brain.
What are the best food choices before sport? Food that is high in carbs. Carbohydrates top up the natural fuel used by muscles in sport. The banana is the favourite fruit of many active people. They are easy to eat, rich in carbohydates and help you to perform in your sport.
Potassium in Bananas
Bananas are high in potassium. From a muscle building perspective, your nerves need potassium to tell out muscles what to do. This is important to the weight trainer to build muscle. A diet rich in potassium is also said to reduce the risk of hypertension and stroke.
Bananas are also relatively free from sodium so they can be included in a diet to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
It is believed that potassium may help to counteract the increased urinary calcium loss which is caused by the high salt diet typical of our western civilisation.
Bananas contain pectin and malic acid. They are refreshing when eaten raw.
The vitamin B6 in bananas helps in teh synthesis of antibodies in the immune system apart from red blood formation, protein metabolism and functioning of the central nervous system.
Actually bananas are the best fruit source of vitamin B6.