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13 things to know about Bananas

Joy Anyim

Bananas are one of the world’s most popular fruits. They originated from southeast Asia but now grown in at least 107 countries in the world.

Very delicious, bananas can be enjoyed as fruits, smoothies or as an addition to foods. The health benefits of bananas cannot be over emphasised.

Easy to snack on, bananas contain several essential nutrients beneficial for digestion, heart health and weight loss.

They vary in size, shape and colour. The most popular is the convendish, which is a type of dessert banana, green when unripe and yellow when matured.

When unripe, the carbohydrates in bananas consist mostly of resistant starch, but as the bananas ripen, the starch turns into sugar (glucose, fructose and sucrose)

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Some of the health benefits of bananas include:

  1. Bananas contain plenty of nutrients. Healthy carbohydrates, potassium, magnesium, copper, fibre, antioxidants, protein, and almost no fat. Nutrients in banana do the body much good.
  2. Improves digestion: Fruits and vegetables are generally good for healthy digestive health. Dietary fibre has been linked to many health benefits. A medium sized banana has about 3 grams of fibre.
  3. Moderates blood sugar: Bananas contains nutrients that regulate blood sugar. Pectin which is a type of fibre helps in this regard. Also, bananas rank low on glycemic index. The glycemic index tells how quick foods increase blood sugar levels. However, persons with type II diabetes are advised to stay off ripe banana.
  4. May help in weight loss: Bananas due to the fewer calories may help in weight loss. Also fibre-rich fruits and vegetables like bananas aid weight loss.
  5. Support heart health: Potassium and magnesium in bananas support heart health. Blood pressure is also regularised. Therefore, to maintain a normal blood pressure, not high or low, eating bananas come handy.
  6. Help maintain healthy kidney: The kidneys and the heart are sort of connected. Potassium is mineral needed for good heart and kidney health and bananas have plenty of it
  7. Bananas contain powerful antioxidants that help our overall health.
  8. Bananas are a healthy snack choice. They keep you full and at the same time, do not endanger your health.
  9. Unripe bananas may improve insulin sensitivity.
  10. Good choice of fruit for athletes as it boosts energy instantly.
  11. Easy to add to diet: Banana can be enjoyed with any food choice before, with and after the meal.
  12. Helps fight anaemia.
  13. Bananas are a “yes” for that good looking and healthy skin you desire.
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