Banana Nutrition: Are bananas good for you?

Are bananas good for you? You bet they are! We all know they’re jam-packed with a whole lotta goodness: loads of fiber, good natural sugars, vitamins B6 and C, and minerals, potassium and magnesium making them the healthiest fruit and a great option for a healthy snack or an addition to healthy lunch. But what does it all mean? Well, we’re so glad you asked! Let’s take a closer look…

Fiber

Bananas are high in fiber which is essential for a healthy bowel. While fiber is in your stomach, it keeps you feeling full for longer, which means you’re less likely to snack or over-eat throughout the day. Generally, the more fiber there is in your food, the more filling it will be. Fiber also travels relatively intact through your body, which helps to increase the softness and bulk of stools, so they are easier to pass and you’re less likely to have constipation – which is a good thing!  Fiber is also great at reducing ‘bad’ cholesterol, blood pressure and inflammation.

Vitamins

One of the reasons bananas are known as one of the world’s healthiest fruits is because they are packed with vitamins. Vitamins are essential for the healthy functioning of the human body and contain great levels of vitamin B6.

Vitamin B6 is one of those handy vitamins that has many benefits for the body. Studies have found it to be important for retaining memory function and helping with neurotransmission in the brain. Vitamin B6 also helps your digestive enzymes to work properly, keeps your skin looking healthy and radiant, and helps your body produce healthy red blood cells.

Other important benefits of Vitamin B6 found in banana nutrition include:

• Contribute to a normal cysteine system (cysteine is an important amino acid)
• Aids a normal energy-yielding metabolism
• Helps the normal functioning of the nervous system
• Helps with homocysteine metabolism (homocysteine is another key amino acid)
• Aids normal protein and glycogen metabolism
• Contributes to normal psychological function
• Helps normal functioning of the immune system
• Helps with reducing tiredness and fatigue.

Sugars

Bananas are rich in both resistant starch (good natural sugars) and pectin, which is a form of soluble fiber. This ‘dynamic duo’ of the fiber world moderates blood sugar levels and gives you a boost of long-lasting energy. You’re less likely to get those dreaded blood sugar spikes (like you do when you eat sugary processed snacks) when eating bananas, which is why bananas are a favorite pre workout snack and post workouts snack for training athletes.

Fat-free

Bananas are virtually fat free and are a fantastic low calorie snack that fills you up. The calories in an average sized Chiquita banana is about 100 calories which makes them great for a low calorie diet, and also as healthy breakfast and healthy snacks for kids and adults alike. They’re truly one of the healthiest fruits with convenience that can’t be beat.

Potassium

Bananas are one of the world’s best potassium source fruits, containing a significant amount of potassium which is essential to supporting the healthy functioning of the heart, brain and nervous system. An average sized Chiquita banana contains a whopping 450mg of potassium – you would only need to eat 6 bananas to get your recommended daily amount. The benefits of potassium are long and varied:

• Potassium is an electrolyte that ensures our cells can function properly. It keeps the heart rate steady, triggers the release of insulin from the pancreas to help control blood sugar levels, and keeps blood pressure in check.
• Potassium is an important part of the body’s messaging system – the nervous system. Sodium moving into and potassium moving out of cells generate ‘nerve impulses’ (the little message packages that are constantly running around your body and brain). So, to get those messages moving around, our body needs potassium.
• Studies suggest that potassium source fruits are important for heart health, and that consuming more potassium might have a positive effect on lowering blood pressure and the risk of stroke. Doctors believe potassium helps by preventing hardening of the arteries.
• Potassium can help reduce the risk of kidney stones by attaching to calcium in urine, which helps to prevent the mineral crystals that become kidney stones from forming in the first place.
• It is reported that potassium may help increase bone mineral density – which means stronger, healthier bones.
• Potassium is essential for those with Type 2 Diabetes, because potassium is needed to help the pancreas produce insulin which is vital to regulate the body’s blood sugar levels. Research on whether increased potassium intake can help people who are at risk of diabetes is still in early stages but ongoing.

Are bananas good for you?

After a closer look at all the benefits of bananas, I think we can declare a definitive “YES”. Bananas are good for you! They’re not only good for you they are, indeed, one of the world’s healthiest fruits. So go out and fill your shopping cart with bunches of Chiquita bananas. Your body (and your tastebuds) will thank you!