7 Good Healthy Reasons to Eat a Banana a Day!

The banana is one of the most consumed fruits around the world! Bananas are grown in more than 107 countries and are ranked fourth in revenue generated.

It is said that Americans eat more bananas than apples and oranges combined. That’s saying something !

You will also be surprised to learn that some scientists believe that the banana may have been the very first fruit to grow on our planet.

While bananas are so old and so popular, it’s still surprising how little people know about their health benefits.

1 – RICH IN VITAMIN B6

Vitamin B6 also called pyridoxine. It is involved in the process of making serotonin and norepinephrine, which are organic compounds that transmit signals in the brain. Vitamin B6 is also involved in the formation of myelin, a layer of protein that forms around nerve cells. Therefore, vitamin B6 deficiency in adults can cause health problems that affect the nerves, skin, mucous membranes, and circulatory system. Legumes, vegetables (carrots, spinach, peas and potatoes), eggs, fish, liver and meat are also good sources of vitamin B6.

2 – BANANA GIVES ENERGY

“To function, the muscles use glucose which comes from ingested carbohydrates and reserves which are concentrated in the liver and muscles in the form of glycogen,” explains Isabelle Brette. When these reserves are full, athletes obtain better results.

And in fact, the banana is rich in carbohydrates, “especially in carbohydrates
complexes (starch) which provide energy available for a few hours,” specifies the author. It also contains “simple sugars that can be used directly by cells during physical activity.”

3 – PROMOTE GOOD DIGESTION

Bananas are highly concentrated in fiber. An essential element in the daily diet, which helps the body to regulate the rhythm of digestion. Eating a banana for dessert will not only prolong the feeling of satiety, but will also reduce minor constipation problems.

4 – BANANAS HELP YOU SLEEP

Bananas can be considered a natural sleep aid. They contain tryptophan. Essential amino acid, tryptophan combined with vitamin B6, allows the synthesis of serotonin and melatonin. They therefore play an essential role in falling asleep. Some doctors recommend eating it 60 minutes before going to bed to benefit from its sleep-promoting properties.

5 – IT HELPS REGULATE BLOOD PRESSURE

Banana is the fruit that contains the most potassium (411 mg per 100 g). It is also low in sodium. However, potassium and sodium work together in the body: their balance is fundamental, particularly in the regulation of blood pressure. The more sodium the diet contains, the greater the potassium requirements.

Banana is a fruit to adopt without hesitation in cases of hypertension. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that a diet richer in potassium and less in sodium has the effect of preventing high blood pressure.

6 – USEFUL IN PREVENTING CERTAIN CANCERS 

The antioxidant power of bananas is important. Its TAC index (total antioxidant capacity) for a 118 g banana is 1,037 µmol. Enough to effectively fight free radicals, these unstable substances which damage other atoms by “oxidizing” them, contributing to the appearance of several diseases and aging.

In a prospective study carried out among 61,000 Swiss women aged 40 to 76 years, an inverse relationship between fruit consumption and the risk of kidney cancer was demonstrated. And it was among the heaviest banana consumers who presented the lowest risks of cancer. These same relationships had also been observed with colorectal cancer, during a smaller study, carried out in women and men, a few years earlier. It seems that the phenolic compounds or other antioxidants present in bananas are at the origin of this protective action.

In 2016, the famous Nurses Study associated the consumption of vegetables and fruits during adolescence and early adulthood, and in particular bananas and apples, with a lower risk of breast cancer.

According to a 2014 study, bananas contain lectins (specific proteins that bind to carbohydrates) with anti-proliferative properties, which could also explain its effects against cancer.

7 – IT IS RICH IN MANGANESE

A banana (100 g) provides 50% of the recommended daily intake of this trace element with antioxidant properties (anti-cellular aging). A tip to boost its effects: the antioxidants act in synergy, combine it in a fruit salad or smoothie with fruits rich in vitamin C (orange, kiwi), beta-carotene (mango, papaya) or vitamin E (almond , hazelnut). Don’t forget to add cinnamon or ginger.