Introduction
Bananas are one of the most popular fruits in the world, and for good reason. Not only are they delicious and convenient, but they also offer a variety of health benefits. According to Eat This Not That, a dietitian-approved website, bananas can have major effects on your health. From improving digestion to providing essential vitamins and minerals, bananas are a great addition to any diet. In this article, we will explore the major effects bananas have on your health and how you can incorporate them into your diet.
Major Effects Bananas Have on Your Health, Says Dietitian — Eat This Not That
Bananas are a popular fruit that are packed with essential vitamins and minerals. But did you know that they can also have a major impact on your health? According to dietitian and nutritionist, Dr. Sarah Krieger, bananas can have a positive effect on your overall health. Here are some of the major effects bananas have on your health.
1. Bananas are a great source of potassium
Bananas are a great source of potassium, which is an essential mineral for maintaining healthy blood pressure levels. Potassium helps to regulate the amount of sodium in your body, which can help to reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure. Eating a banana a day can help to keep your blood pressure in check.
2. Bananas can help to regulate blood sugar levels
Bananas are a great source of dietary fiber, which can help to regulate your blood sugar levels. Eating a banana can help to slow down the absorption of sugar into your bloodstream, which can help to prevent spikes in your blood sugar levels. This can be especially beneficial for people with diabetes.
3. Bananas can help to boost your energy levels
Bananas are a great source of natural energy. They contain natural sugars, such as fructose and glucose, which can help to give you a boost of energy when you need it. Eating a banana can help to give you the energy you need to get through your day.
4. Bananas can help to improve your digestive health
Bananas are a great source of dietary fiber, which can help to improve your digestive health. Eating a banana can help to keep your digestive system running smoothly and can help to prevent constipation. Bananas can also help to reduce bloating and can help to keep your gut healthy.
5. Bananas can help to reduce stress levels
Bananas are a great source of magnesium, which can help to reduce stress levels. Magnesium helps to relax your muscles and can help to reduce feelings of anxiety and stress. Eating a banana can help to reduce your stress levels and can help to improve your overall mental health.
As you can see, bananas can have a major impact on your health. Eating a banana a day can help to improve your overall health and can help to keep your body functioning properly. So, if you’re looking for a healthy snack, reach for a banana!
Bananas are the most popular fresh fruit in the United States and globally. Recent USDA data shows that we eat, on average, more than 13 pounds of bananas per person per year. That’s good news since the world’s largest herbaceous plant provides numerous surprising health benefits.
Here are some banana basics that reveal what’s under the peel and how that affects your health. Read on, and for more on how to eat healthy, don’t miss these 22 Meals to Melt Belly Fat in 2022.
While berries and citrus are often singled out as nutritional all-stars, a look under the peel of a medium-sized banana (7″ to 8″ long) reveals 110 calories, 30 grams of carbs, and 3 grams of filling fiber.
Bananas are an excellent source of vitamin B6 with 25% of your daily recommended intake. They also provide around 10% of your daily recommendations for potassium, vitamin C, and manganese.
Bananas are naturally fat-, cholesterol-, and sodium-free making them a smart addition to any diet along with other healthy foods.
Bananas also contain many bioactive compounds, according to research published in Food Quality and Safety, including carotenoids and flavonoids, that are known to have myriad benefits—from helping to maintain eyesight to reducing risk for heart disease and certain types of cancer.
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A medium banana is 110 calories and provides 30 grams of carbs and 3 grams of fiber. The fiber in bananas helps slow down digestion to help keep hunger and cravings in check. In addition to filling fiber, bananas contain resistant starch, a type of carbohydrate that provides digestive health benefits and helps to keep you fuller longer. (The greener the banana, the more resistant starch it contains.) Numerous studies have reported that resistant starch helps improve blood glucose, increases hormones that enhance satiety, and reduces the risk for chronic diseases.
What’s more, according to a study performed at the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, smelling certain foods when you are hungry can trick your brain into thinking that you’ve eaten and are satisfied. One of those foods is bananas. If that’s not enough to convince you that you can enjoy bananas while losing weight, smell one next time you’re hungry and it just may tamp down your appetite.
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As an excellent source of potassium, a medium banana has 422 milligrams of potassium while being sodium-free. According to the American Heart Association, eating foods rich in potassium, like bananas, can help manage blood pressure. The high potassium to sodium ratio helps to neutralize the blood-pressure-raising effects of sodium in your diet. Various studies show that those who have diets rich in potassium are less likely to have high blood pressure and have a reduced risk for stroke. Adults need 4,700 milligrams of potassium a day, so a medium banana provides nearly 10% of the daily requirement.
RELATED: Popular Foods With More Potassium Than a Banana
The internet is full of misinformation about how bananas may help protect against Covid-19, but while there is no evidence that is true, bananas do contain specific proteins that have antimicorbial and antiviral properties. Many bioactive compounds in bananas, like ferulic acid, lupeol, and leptin, have been identified as antimicrobial activities of parts of the banana plant.
Bananas have been used in ancient medicine to treat infections, from diarrhea to viruses like chickenpox and measles. What’s more, bananas are a good source of vitamin B6, which helps maintain a healthy immune system. Taken together, a banana a day is a healthy option to bolster your immune system.
Bananas provide nutrients that may lift your mood. The vitamin B6 they provide helps increase the feel-good neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. What’s more, other studies show that bananas are one of the few foods that provide the precursor to tryptophan, which increases serotonin in the brain. A study published in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics linked low blood levels of vitamin B6 to an increased risk for depression. Since many of us don’t get enough vitamin B6 in our diets, eating the tropical fruit daily may help turn your frown upside down.
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