Health Benefits of Bananas
1. Bananas are one of the best sources of vitamin B6
Bananas have vitamin B6 that is easily absorbed by your body, and medium-sized bananas can provide about a quarter of their daily vitamin B6 needs.
Vitamin B6 helps your body:
- Produce red blood cells,
- Metabolize carbohydrates and fats, turn them into energy,
- Metabolizing amino acids,
- Remove unwanted chemicals from your liver and kidneys, and then
- Maintain a healthy nervous system.
Vitamin B6 is also good for pregnant women because it helps meet the developmental needs of babies.
Please read also: The health benefits of fish
2. Bananas are a considerable source of vitamin C
You may not associate bananas with vitamin C, but medium bananas will provide about 10% of your daily vitamin C needs.
Vitamin C helps:
- Protect your body from cell and tissue damage,
- Your body will absorb iron better.
- Your body produces collagen – the protein that ties your skin, bones and body together, and
- Support brain health by producing serotonin, a hormone that affects our sleep cycle, mood and stress and pain experiences.
3. Manganese in bananas are good for your skin
A medium-sized banana provides 13% of your daily manganese needs. Manganese can help your body make collagen and protect your skin and other cells from free radical damage.
4. Potassium in bananas is good for your heart health and blood pressure
Medium bananas will provide about 320-400 mg of potassium, which can meet 10% of your daily potassium needs.
Potassium helps your body maintain healthy heart and blood pressure. In addition, bananas have very low sodium content. A combination of low sodium and high potassium helps control hypertension.
5. Bananas can help digestion
Medium bananas will provide about 10-12% of daily fiber needs. Singapore’s Health Promotion Council recommends 20 grams of dietary fiber per day, 26 grams for men.
Soluble and insoluble fiber play an important role in your health. Soluble fiber can help your body control blood sugar levels and eliminate fatty substances such as cholesterol. Insoluble fiber increases the weight and softness of the stool, making it easier for you to have regular bowel movements. This helps keep your gut healthy and safe from harmful bacteria.
Bananas, especially newly ripe bananas, contain indigested (anti-starch) starch in the small intestine and are able to enter the large intestine. Such bananas can help you manage weight better as you fill up for longer.
That is, bananas can help you beat gastrointestinal problems, such as:
- constipate,
- Gastric ulcer
- Heartburn
6. Bananas give you energy – subtract fat and cholesterol
Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose – to provide you with fat-free and cholesterol-free energy. Therefore, bananas are ideal, especially for children and athletes, as breakfast, lunch snacks or before and after exercise.
