Why Bananas are So Beneficial!
Bananas are one of nature’s natural and best foods, coming with a long list of health benefits.
While bananas are native to Southeast Asia, they are grown in warm places around the world.
Here are seven of the best health benefits of bananas:
1. Fiber rich
Bananas come with fiber. Although most of use don't consume enough, the recommended amount of fiber that people need is roughly an ounce. Most Americans consume much less.
Fiber adds roughage helping with digestive health, supporting heart health and even reducing the risk of serious disease. One idea is to pair a banana with a whole grain cereal to get a bigger fiber boost.
2. Good for your gut
Besides adding fiber that helps keep you regular, eating bananas before they are fully ripe is a prebiotic that helps feed good gut bacteria. While bananas can help you prevent constipation, the opposite is also true in that they can also help treat diarrhea. Bananas are part of the BRAT diet – bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast – that is used to treat diarrhea. Bananas can help replace the loss of water and electrolytes when you are ill.
3. Helping to improve memory
Bananas contain tryptophan - an amino acid that can help you learn and remember new things. Tryptophan can also help to boost your mood. It helps in the production of serotonin - the happiness hormone that is useful in regulating mood.
4. Rich in antioxidants
Fruits – including bananas – are a great source of powerful plant-compounds including flavonoids and amines that are antioxidants that help to combat the oxidative damage to your cells that are caused by free radicals.
It is important to eat plenty of antioxidant-rich foods to help to prevent some chronic diseases.
5. Perfect for diabetics
Bananas are good for diabetics because of the high fiber content the fruit contains. Unripe bananas also contain resistant starch which is a type of fiber that cannot be digested. Together, the two types of fiber may help moderate blood sugar levels. That’s because bananas will not cause a spike in your blood sugar levels.
6. Helpful for muscle function
Bananas are rich in electrolytes like potassium, helping your muscles to function normally. Your body needs adequate potassium levels to be able to exercise and recover quickly, avoiding suffering muscle and whole-body fatigue.
In addition, bananas are a rich source of nutrients like potassium and vitamin B6 and provide a great snack because they provide energy to keep you going.
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Written by Jane Chitty
Jane writes for Healing Natural Oils, a producer and retailer of high-quality, all-natural treatments for a variety of conditions as well as a range of beauty products. Apart from writing about those various conditions, she also covers general health, environmental and other subjects of interest. She has lived in Kenya as well as Cape Town, South Africa and spent time in San Diego, USA. She now lives in Somerset, England with regular visits from her far-flung children and grandchildren. She is a keen gardener and enjoys growing fresh fruit and vegetables with her husband on their joint allotment. As a result, there is something available to use in the kitchen virtually all year round. Her regular posts can be found on our blog.