Bananas are among the healthiest fruits on the planet, being a good source of both vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber.
Bananas have an impressive nutritional value, and is what you get from a medium-sized banana:
- 105 calories
- 27g carbohydrates
- 1g protein
- 1g total fat
- 0g saturated fat
- 3g fiber
- 14g sugar
- 422mg potassium (12% DV)
- 32mg magnesium (8% DV)
- 10.3mg vitamin C (17% DV)
- 0.433mg vitamin B6 (20% DV)
Laura Flores, a San Diego-based nutritionist, says that bananas are among the most delicious sources of magnesium and vitamins C and B6, offer a myriad of health benefits, and she mentions a few of them:
“Bananas are known to reduce swelling, protect against developing type-2 diabetes, aid in weight loss, strengthen the nervous system and help with the production of white blood cells, all due to the high level of vitamin B6 that bananas contain.”
She adds:
“Bananas are high in antioxidants, which can provide protection from free radicals, which we come into contact with every day, from the sunlight to the lotion you put on your skin.”
If someone asks you about the perfect time to have one, you would surely answer: ‘When it’s ripe, of course!’
However, we believe you are not fully aware of the differences in bananas due to their ripeness, so we decided to reveal all the pros and cons of eating ripe and green bananas.
Apparently, the more dark spots a banana has, the more anti-cancerous properties it offers. This is a result of the increased levels of TNF.
Moreover, as they ripen, the concentrations of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants in the bananas increase. Japanese researchers have proven that fully ripened bananas are the highest in potassium, fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins like B and C. Ripe bananas help the digestive system, and treat digestive issues, like constipation.
However, the consumption of green bananas is sometimes beneficial as well.
Unripe bananas are lower in sugar than the ripe ones, so they are better in the case of type 2 diabetes, and are higher in probiotic bacteria that help the function of the colon. Additionally, green bananas are rich in starch, so they keep you full for long and thus help the weight loss process.
Yet, these bananas are more difficult to digest and might lead to bloating.
So, it turns out, you can make no mistake in eating a banana after all, regardless if it is unripe or full of black spots!
