There are many health benefits of bananas. Everyone likes them as they are such an easy and delicious snack. You can have it on its own or in your porridge. You can make bread from it, or a cake or delicious banana split. The recipe opportunities are endless. Additionally bananas are easily accessible. Pretty much every grocery shop stocks them. Bananas are nature’s version of candy. Not to mention they so sweet, everything you add them to tastes like a dessert. Except, it’s much healthier. One of the most jawdropping fact about banana is, that:

Banana is a berry!

In a botanical sense, it is! In the first place, bananas are derived from a single flower with more than one ovary, making them the berry, as botanists would define it.

When you considered portability, versatility, tastiness, affordability you will start to understand why you see bananas everywhere you go. After all, they are the most exportable fresh fruit globally with many health benefits. Bananas are also in line with ‘zero-waste’ philosophy. In the same way, in many countries, banana and plantain leaves are recycled as food wrappers, such as to hold tamales and meats. Moreover, they are also used to cover or wrap various foods while cooking to help seal in flavor.

Banana nutrition facts – health benefits of bananas.

The nutrition facts for 1 medium-sized banana (126 grams):

  • Calories: 110
  • Water: 75%
  • Protein: 1.1 grams
  • Carbs: 30 grams
  • Sugar: 13 grams
  • Fiber: 3 grams
  • Fat: 0.3 grams

Bananas also provide a variety of health benefits from vitamins and minerals:

  • Vitamin B6 – 0.5 mg
  • Manganese – 0.3 mg
  • Vitamin C – 9 mg
  • Potassium – 450 mg
  • Dietary Fiber – 3g
  • Protein – 1 g
  • Magnesium – 34 mg
  • Folate – 25.0 mcg
  • Riboflavin – 0.1 mg
  • Niacin – 0.8 mg
  • Vitamin A – 81 IU
  • Iron – 0.3 mg

What are the health benefits of bananas? Are bananas good for you?

9 health benefits of bananas
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
  1. Bananas are rich in potassium – 1 medium-size banana contains 9% of your recommended amount. Potassium is a key electrolyte for many functions in our bodies. Starting from muscle contraction, through nerve functioning to regulate the way and speed at which your heartbeats. As you see, pretty important stuff.
  2. Bananas are good for your heart health – due to the fact that bananas are rich in potassium, they are very good for your heart. According to a large analysis of many studies, daily consumption of 1.3–1.4 grams of potassium is linked to a 26% lower risk of heart disease.
  3. Bananas contain fiber – whole 3 grams of it. Pectin and resistant starch present especially in slightly green bananas clean up your gut and help with digestion. (to find out more about why fiber is good for you to click here).
  4. They are high in antioxidants – which might help reduce free radicals and lower your risk of some diseases.
  5. They help you feel more full – due to high amounts of resistant starch, which might help you feel full quicker and for longer.
  6. Bananas are low in calories – 1 medium-size banana is about 100 calories.
  7. Eating bananas is benefits your sugar level – Glycemic index of banana is actually low (contrary to what people might think), having a glycemic index value of 51. Foods with a low GI cause your blood sugar to rise gradually, not quickly, after eating them. GI values of less than 55 are considered low.
  8. They are good for your kidneys – One 13-year study determined that those who ate bananas 2–3 times per week were 33% less likely to develop kidney disease. That’s one of the big health benefits of bananas.
  9. Bananas are antiseptic and anti-inflammatory – in many traditional cultures, bananas have been used to promote wound healing such as for bug bites, minor burns, and sunburns. Try this simple home remedy, and press the inside of the banana peel on a wound for several minutes.