Banana: Benefits, Nutrients, and Home Remedy Uses
Nutrients in Bananas
Banana is a good source of carbohydrate, fiber, vitamin B6, tryptophan, and potassium. Banana peel that has brown speckles has serotonin. Banana peels can also be eaten if you are comfortable. Bananas do not have fat, cholesterol, and sodium.Nutrition Table for One Banana
One banana is of ~126 grams and contains ~110 calories.
- Carbohydrate: 30 g (g = gram)
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Potassium: 450 mg (mg = milligram, 1000 mg = 1 g)
- Magnesium: 34 mg
- Vitamin C: 9 mg
- Folate: 25.0 mcg (mcg =microgram, 1000 mcg = 1 mg)
- Vitamin B6: 0.5 mg
- Manganese: 0.3 mg
- Iron: 0.3 mg
- Riboflavin: 0.1 mg
- Niacin: 0.8 mg
- Vitamin A: 81 IU (IU = International unit, used to measure soluble vitamins)
Health Benefits of Bananas
- Carbohydrate provides energy to our body. The carbohydrate from banana is much easier to digest than that of a cooked meal.
- Serotonin, vitamin B6 and tryptophan help in the production of feel-good chemicals and preserve memory.
- Potassium helps in managing the adverse effects of elevated sodium level, often associated with high blood pressure condition.
- Vitamin C reduces the formation of free radicals that cause cancer.
- Fiber is good for digestion and helps in lowering glucose levels.
Home Remedy Uses
People with high blood pressure should aim to eat bananas as it negates the impact of high sodium level in the body.
Consumption Amount
Three to four bananas a week is considered to be a good amount. Experts recommend you should eat fruits as snacks, or 30 minutes before or after your regular meal for proper digestion, however, it is not mandatory if you cannot manage.
Risks
- Beta-blockers (e.g., Labetalol), prescribed for heart disease, contain a high level of potassium. If you are taking beta-blockers, then you should eat bananas in moderation.
- Excess of anything is bad. Too many bananas means pressuring your kidneys to remove excess potassium. The recommended amount of potassium for an adult is 4.7 g per day is equivalent to 10 bananas. However, you also get potassium from other sources such as potato. Similarly, overeating fiber (also found in a banana) causes bloating and gas.
- Some people may have an allergy to banana.
- Banana may also trigger migraines for some people.
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