Are Bananas Good for You? 10 Simple Astonishing Facts

Here are ten amazing facts about the most popular fruit on the planet!

Who does not love to bite into a perfectly ripe sweet banana? The sweet, nutty taste can help you feel satisfied and give you a sense of happiness like no other fruit on earth. No breakfast is ever complete without a dose of this golden fruit in one way or another.

You can have the fruit as a whole or have it in your smoothie. You can add it while making a generous fruit salad or bake sweet bread with it. You can never go wrong with bananas.

But what is in this fruit that makes it a staple breakfast food and the most popular fruit on the planet?

Here are some interesting facts about these fruits that will make you go wild over them.

1.Bananas as a complete food.

Bananas are a rich source of potassium, magnesium, vitamins (C, B6), fiber, and proteins. They have only 105 calories and are mostly water and carbs. It is excellent for your heart and kidneys.

2.Can bananas make you slim?

Bananas contain pectin and some resistant starch that moderates blood sugar levels. They can make you feel full with less eating as it takes some time to digest them. That is the reason bananas can help you lose weight by preventing overeating.

3.Does banana improve your mood?

Banana is full of antioxidants and bioactive plant compounds that prevent aging and reduces heart diseases and many degenerative illnesses. It is also a rich source of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which balance moods in individuals.

However, the serotonin found in bananas does not cross the blood-brain barrier and is not directly responsible for improving your mood. It does, however, improve your overall mental wellbeing because of the presence of Vitamin B6.

4.Are bananas radioactive?

Banana contains traces of potassium-40, which is a radioactive isotope of Potassium. That makes banana a radioactive fruit. But it won’t kill you. As per the research done on the subject, the human body already has a natural reserve of potassium. Any excess of the mineral consumed will simply not get absorbed.

5. Is a banana a fruit or a berry?

Though bananas are considered a fruit, it is botanically a berry. It develops inside a single ovary, has a soft middle, and has some seeds in it.

6. Can you eat a banana on an empty stomach?

Although banana is packed with essential nutrients and can be treated as a complete food by itself, it is better not to eat them on an empty stomach, the first thing in the morning. Bananas contain a high amount of sugar. Eating them on an empty stomach will give you an immediate energy boost but will also cause you a drain of energy by mid-morning.

Also, bananas are acidic that might cause bowel problems if eaten on an empty stomach. It has a high magnesium level that might cause an imbalance in your body if you break your fast with this fruit.

7. Can you eat banana peels?

Believe it or not, you can not only eat banana peels, but they are a rich source of potassium, fiber, essential amino acids, and polyunsaturated fats. You might wonder how do I eat the peels? Choose very ripe bananas, wash and thoroughly clean the peals, and put them in the blender with the fruit. You can also add bits of the peels while baking or stir fry them for a better taste.

8. Banana for skincare!

Banana is not only a great fruit for your body, but it also has some mind-blowing skin benefits. You can mash up some bananas and apply them to your face to moisturize and hydrate dry skin. Pulp of banana can be used on a dry, itchy scalp to nourish your hair and treat itchiness. Rub banana peel to treat cracked, painful heal. Banana is also used to cure puffy, tired eyes. That is because it has potassium that helps with fluid retention.

9. Try bananas for great sleep.

Banana is rich in magnesium and is known to maintain a normal circadian circle for managing adequate sleep cycles. It reduces cortisol, the stress hormone, and allows you to rest your brain. It also boosts melatonin production that helps you fall asleep faster, and adhere to healthier sleep patterns.

10. Eat bananas in moderation.

As much as you love this fruit and want to make it part of your staple diet, go easy on bananas. Having too many bananas in a single sitting can make you gain weight and cause a spike in your blood sugar levels. In the worst case, you might develop hyperkalemia- a condition that impairs nerve and muscle cell function.

So, keep this great fruit close to you and reach for one when hunger strikes. After all, you don’t need any more reason to go bananas over bananas!

Resources:

http://www.ccnr.org/About_Radioactive_Bananas.pdfhttps://www.healthline.com/nutrition/bananas-berries-or-fruits#botanical-classificationhttps://www.eatthis.com/dangerous-side-effects-eating-too-many-bananas/https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/banana-before-bed#bananas-sleep-qualityhttps://readygofit.com/health-benefits-of-bananas/