Many people often eat bananas. They taste sweet, are easy to enjoy and suit almost everyone. Not only do bananas cost less than many other fruits, but they are also healthy for you.
What Scientists Know About Bananas:
- Increase your Blood Sugar Levels
The fiber in bananas creates a gel to slow down the process of sugar being picked up into your blood. Bananas that are not ripe have resistant starch that is not digested.
Healthline reports that both kinds of fiber assist with blood sugar stability and in slowing down the digestion process which aids in feeling less hungry. Consequently, people who are healthy do not get a big increase in blood sugar after consuming bananas. Those with diabetes are able to eat bananas in moderation.
- Maintain the health of your kidneys.
The potassium in bananas helps control blood pressure and keep the kidneys working properly. A study including about 5,000 people who had early-stage chronic kidney disease revealed that potassium helps lower blood pressure and limits the worsening of kidney problems.
Those with advanced kidney disease or on dialysis need to focus on how much potassium they consume. If you are in this group, consult your doctor before eating a large amount of bananas.
- Includes Important Antioxidants
Bananas are rich in substances called flavonoids and amines that can lower the chance of getting heart disease or other degenerative diseases. Antioxidants help protect the body from damages caused by harmful free radicals, keeping our bodies young and healthy for longer.
- Promote a Strong and Healthy Stomach
About 3 grams of fiber in a medium banana makes digestion easier and helps avoid constipation.
Unripe bananas have a form of prebiotic resistant starch that aids in supporting good gut bacteria.
Because of pectin in bananas, eating ripe or unripe can soften stool and promote healthy bowel movements. Certain studies have found that pectin may help lower the risk of colon cancer, even though more research should be done to confirm it.
Bananas taste great and are also good for your health, mainly in terms of digestion, a healthy heart and kidney function.
Bananas Should Not Be Eaten With These Foods:
Yogurt
Yogurt usually goes well with banana. Still, those who have sensitive stomachs should avoid this mix, as cold yogurt with bananas might lead to discomfort, pain or loose bowels.
Potatoes
A mix of nutrients in bananas and potatoes can sometimes create a reaction that produces toxins and leaves brown marks on the surface of the combined food. Health experts advise leaving 15 minutes between eating bananas and potatoes.
Recipes Involving Sweet Potatoes and Taro
Most tubers also cannot be planted with bananas since they do not get along well. While a blend of bananas and potatoes might not be good, splitting the bananas with sweet potatoes or taro could bring discomfort and bloating.
Watermelon
Watermelons contain large amounts of sugar and potassium. As potassium is found in high concentrations in both bananas (up to 472 milligrams per 100 grams) and grapes, anyone with kidney failure should avoid consuming both types of fruit at one go.
Options for the Best Times to Eat Bananas:
Bananas are strongly beneficial for your overall health. Picking the best time to eat them allows your body to use all the nutrients they have.
You can eat bananas within 30 minutes before or after exercising or about 1–2 hours after meals. The energy in bananas comes from the carbs, water, vitamins and minerals which also help you work out and recover after exercise. Potassium and magnesium in bananas are important for restoring electrolytes in our body.
Consuming bananas can be good for your health if you eat them before sleeping. Bananas are rich in tryptophan which supports the creation of melatonin in our bodies. It helps you fall asleep more easily and sleep more deeply.
Try not to eat bananas at these two times for health reasons.
- If You Are In Need Of Food
According to scientists, eating a banana without having food first may upset the heart’s natural balance.
The magnesium and potassium found in bananas give them this benefit. Having them before the rest of your dinner may cause you to become bloated and uncomfortable, as well as leading to arrhythmia. For this reason, eating bananas should follow a meal rather than take place on an empty stomach.
- Eat in the morning or when you must stay alert.
The presence of serotonin in bananas can relax your mind and cause tiredness in some people. So, having bananas for breakfast or when your mind needs to be sharp might leave you feeling less alert.
Eat some yogurt or a bowl of oats in the morning and wait until later to have your banana.
