This renowned fruit has an impact on more than your taste sensations.
In the United States and around the world, bananas are the most popular fresh fruit. According to USDA data, Americans consume more than 13 pounds of bananas per year on average. That's great news because the world's largest herbaceous plant has a slew of health benefits.
Here are some fundamental banana facts to help you understand what's behind the peel and how it affects your health. Continue reading for further information on how to eat healthily.
Bananas provide numerous health benefits.
1. Banana is high in nutrients.
While berries and citrus are frequently cited as nutritional powerhouses, a medium-sized banana (7" to 8" long) contains 110 calories, 30 grams of carbs, and 3 grams of satisfying fibre under the peel.
Bananas are a significant vitamin B6 source, providing 25% of the daily required amount. They also contain around 10% of your daily potassium, vitamin C, and manganese requirements.
Bananas are naturally fat-free, cholesterol-free, and sodium-free, making them a nutritious complement to any diet.
According to a research paper published in the journal Food Quality and Safety, bananas also contain several bioactive components, such as carotenoids and flavonoids, which have various advantages, ranging from helping to maintain eyesight to lowering the risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer.
2. Bananas are suitable for your diet.
A medium banana contains 110 calories, 30 grams of carbohydrates, and 3 grams of fibre. Bananas' fibre helps to slow digestion, which helps to control appetite and cravings. In addition to the thread, bananas include resistant starch, a carbohydrate that has digestive benefits and enables you to stay fuller for longer. (The more resistant starch a banana contains, the greener it is.) In multiple studies, resistant starch has been found to enhance blood glucose levels, increase hormones that promote satiety, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
Furthermore, smelling certain foods when you're hungry might fool your brain into thinking you've eaten and are full, according to a Chicago Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation study. Bananas are one of these foods. Try sniffing a banana the next time you're hungry if that isn't enough to persuade you that you can eat bananas and lose weight. It might just be enough to satiate your hunger.
3. Bananas are good for lowering blood pressure.
A medium banana offers 422 milligrams of potassium while being sodium-free, making it a great source of potassium. According to the American Heart Association, eating potassium-rich foods, such as bananas, can help regulate blood pressure. The high potassium to sodium ratio in your diet helps counteract the blood pressure raising effects of salt. Several studies have found that people who eat a potassium-rich diet are less likely to have high blood pressure and lower stroke risk. A medium banana offers approximately 10% of the daily potassium requirement for adults, 4,700 mg.
4. Antimicrobial and antiviral activities are found in bananas.
While there is no proof that bananas can help guard against Covid-19, they contain particular proteins with antimicrobial and antiviral capabilities. Many bioactive chemicals found in bananas, such as ferulic acid, lupeol, and leptin, have been discovered to have antibacterial properties.
Bananas have long been used to cure various diseases, including diarrhoea and viruses like chickenpox and measles. Bananas also include vitamin B6, which aids in the maintenance of a healthy immune system. A banana a day, taken as a whole, is a healthy way to boost your immune system.
5. They might make you feel better.
Bananas include nutrients that may
help you feel better. They help enhance the feel-good neurotransmitters
serotonin and dopamine by providing vitamin B6. Furthermore, bananas are one of
the few meals that contain the precursor to tryptophan, which enhances
serotonin levels in the brain, according to other studies. Low blood levels of
vitamin B6 were associated with an increased risk of depression in a study
published in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. Because many of us don't receive
enough vitamin B6 in our diets, eating tropical fruit regularly may help you
smile again.