Bananas are one of the most commonly available fruits across the world. The fruit is available in different 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. They are available throughout the year and are used as a convenient snack option in between meals, as part of breakfast cereals, smoothies and desserts and numerous other ways.
NUTRITIONAL FACTS
- Bananas are majorly comprised of carbohydrates and minerals with almost zero fat.
- One average-sized banana has 105 calories.
- Bananas have good amounts of almost all the essential minerals required by our body.
- Other important minerals present in bananas are potassium (9% of RDA), vitamin C (11% of RDA), magnesium (8% of RDA) and manganese (14% of RDA)
Some of the health benefits of bananas are as follows:
A . Regulate Blood Sugar
The sugars in banana are digested slowly by the body which means that it does not produce a sugar spike in the blood. They have a low to medium glycemic index making it suitable (in moderate quantities) for diabetics.
B . Improve Digestive Health
Being high in fiber content, bananas are great for maintaining a healthy bowel. Bananas can be taken to relieve both constipation and diarrhea(loose stools).
C . Help in Weight Loss
Since bananas are high in fiber content and digested slowly, it makes you feel fuller for longer and helps in weight loss. They are low in calories at around 100 calories in one medium sized banana.
D . Promote Heart Health
Bananas are rich in potassium, a mineral which helps in regulating blood pressure levels and promoting heart health. Bananas are a great way to ensure your daily dose of potassium for a healthy heart.
E . Delay Ageing
Anti-oxidants reduce the damage caused at a cellular level by free radicals. Bananas are rich in anti-oxidants that may prevent certain diseases and fight ageing.
F . Boost Memory
Bananas contain tryptophan, an amino acid that studies suggest plays a role in preserving memory and boosting your mood.
G . Prevent Anaemia
Bananas have a high iron content, owing to which they help in maintaining hemoglobin levels in the body and prevent anaemia. Anaemia is a condition where there is a reduction in the number of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood. This leads to fatigue, shortness of breath, and paleness.
H . Good Pre-Exercise Food
Athletes world over eat bananas after or before sports due to the fact that bananas contain carbohydrates that are easily digested by the body. Bananas also reduce muscle cramps arising out of exercise by maintaining the electrolytic balance in our muscles through the minerals present in them.
source http://www.1mg.com
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