10 Ways Bananas Can be Helpful to The Body

Banana as we all know belongs to the Vitamin class of foods with rich nutritional benefits. It also serves as an instant energy booster, banana is one fruit that is available across the whole world It is a common feature in breakfast menus, and it is definitely with good reason. It provides you instant energy to kick start your day, and is said to be very good for the stomach.

Most natural home remedies in India circling around an upset stomach, call for using bananas as a remedy along with a few other ingredients.
A single piece of banana is said to contain only 90 calories, which also makes it a great (and healthy) snack to munch on rather than sugar loaded goodies or deep-fried treats. The banana is an edible fruit – botanically a berry produced by several kinds of large herbaceous flowering plants.

In many countries, bananas are used for cooking may be called plantains, in contrast to dessert bananas.
The fruit is variable in size, color, and firmness, but is usually elongated and curved, with soft flesh rich in starch covered with a rind, which may be green, yellow, red, purple, or brown when ripe.

The fruits grow in clusters hanging from the top of the plant Worldwide, there is no sharp distinction between “bananas” and “plantains”., “banana” usually refers to soft, sweet, dessert bananas, particularly those of the Cavendish group, which are the main exports from banana-growing countries.

By contrast, Musa cultivars with firmer, starchier fruit are called “plantains”. In other regions, many more kinds of banana are grown and eaten, so the binary distinction is not useful and is not made in local languages.

Let’s take a look into the nutritional breakdown of bananas and it shows some of the following.

It contains Total Fat 0.3 g 0%Saturated fat 0.1 g 0%Polyunsaturated fat 0.1 g Monounsaturated fat 0 g Cholesterol 0 mg 0%Sodium 1 mg 0%Potassium 358 mg 10%Total Carbohydrate 23 g 7%Dietary fiber 2.6 g 10%Sugar 12 g Protein 1.1 g 2%Vitamin A 1% Vitamin C 14%Calcium 0% Iron 1%Vitamin D 0% Vitamin B-6 20%Vitamin B-12 0% Magnesium 6%

The Benefits are stated below

1. It Has High Fiber Content Banana has high content with fiber, both soluble and insoluble. The soluble fiber has the tendency to slow down digestion and keep you feeling full for a longer time. Which is why bananas are often included in a breakfast meal so that you can start about your day without having to worry about the next meal.

2. It Helps in Keeping the Heart Healthy High fiber foods are said to be good for the heart. According to a study done by University of Leeds in UK, increasing consumption of fiber-rich foods such as bananas can lower risk of both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD).

3. It Helps to Ease Digestion According to Ayurveda, banana has a sweet and sour taste. The sweet taste is said to bring about a sense of heaviness but the sour taste is known to stimulate Agni (the digestive juices), thereby supporting digestion and helping in building up metabolism.

4. It serves as Powerhouse of Nutrients. Banana is a heavyweight when it comes to nutrition. It is loaded with essential vitamins and minerals such as potassium, calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron, folate, niacin, riboflavin, and B6. These all contribute to the proper functioning of the body and keeping you healthy.

5. High Source of Potassium The high content of potassium in bananas makes it a super fruit. This mineral is known for its numerous health benefiting properties – it helps in regulating heartbeat, blood pressure, and keeps the brain alert.

6. It Helps to Regulate Blood Pressure It is a known fact that salt is the evil when it comes to high blood pressure. Bananas have low salt content and high potassium content, and these properties contribute to making it ideal for those undergoing this condition.

7. It Can Help to Fight Anemia Due to the high iron content in bananas, they are good for those suffering from anemia. Anemia is a condition where there is a decrease in the number of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood. This leads to fatigue, shortness of breath, and paleness.

8. Bananas Contain Powerful Antioxidants Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of dietary antioxidants, and bananas are no exception.They contain several types of potent antioxidants, including dopamine and catechins. These antioxidants have been linked to many health benefits, such as a reduced risk of heart disease and degenerative diseases.However, it is a common misunderstanding that the dopamine from bananas acts as a feel-good chemical in the brain. In reality, dopamine from bananas does not cross the blood-brain barrier. It simply acts as a strong antioxidant instead of altering hormones or mood

9.  Bananas May Improve Kidney Health Potassium is essential for blood pressure control and healthy kidney function.As a good dietary source of potassium, bananas may be especially beneficial for maintaining healthy kidneys.One study in women showed that over 13 years, those who ate bananas 2–3 times per week were 33% less likely to develop kidney disease Other studies have found that those who eat bananas 4–6 times a week are almost 50% less likely to develop kidney disease, compared to people who don’t eat bananas

10.  Bananas May Help with Weight Loss No study has directly tested the effects of bananas on weight loss. However, bananas do have several features that should make them a weight loss friendly food.For starters, bananas contain relatively few calories. An average banana contains just over 100 calories, yet it is also very nutritious and filling.They are also rich in fiber. Eating more fiber from fruit and vegetables has repeatedly been linked with lower body weight and weight loss Furthermore, unripe bananas are packed with resistant starch, so they tend to be very filling and may reduce your appetite.

These are some ways that BANANAS can be very helpful to the body, regular consumption of it.

Sources: NDTV, Healthline.