5 Reasons to Eat a Banana Right Now

1. Packed with nutrients
Bananas are high in fibre and include a number of antioxidants. 1Trusted Source): One regular-sized banana (126 grammes) also boasts:

*Calories: 112 *Fat: 0 g *Protein: 1 g *Carbohydrates: 29 g *Fiber: 3 g
*Vitamin C: 12 percent of Daily Value (DV) *Riboflavin: 7% of DV *Folate: 6% of DV *Niacin: 5% of DV *Copper: 11 percent of DV *Potassium: 10% of DV *Magnesium: 8% of DV
One banana has roughly 112 calories and is almost entirely made up of water and carbohydrates. They are low in protein and fat.

The carbohydrates in green, unripe bananas are primarily starch and resistant starch, a sort of indigestible fibre we'll discuss later.

2. It has the potential to lower blood sugar levels.
Soluble fibre is abundant in bananas. Soluble fibre dissolves in fluids and forms a gel during digestion. It's also responsible for the sponge-like texture of bananas (3Trusted Source).

Unripe bananas also contain resistant starch, which your body does not digest (2Trusted Source).

These two forms of fibre, when combined, may help to keep blood sugar levels in check after meals. Furthermore, by slowing the emptying of your stomach, they may aid with appetite control (4Trusted Source).

This indicates that, despite its increased carbohydrate content, bananas will not cause significant blood sugar rises in healthy people. While persons with diabetes can eat bananas, eating a substantial piece in one sitting is not suggested.

3. It may help with digestion.
Many health advantages have been linked to dietary fibre, including improved digestion. A medium banana contains roughly 3 grammes of fibre (1Trusted Source).

A prebiotic is resistant starch, a form of fibre found in unripe bananas. Prebiotics make it through digestion and into your large intestine, where they feed the good bacteria in your gut (2Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source).

Furthermore, pectin, a fibre contained in both ripe and unripe bananas, may aid with constipation prevention and stool softening (3Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).

Pectin may even help protect against colon cancer, according to certain test-tube studies, however more human study is needed to validate this advantage (7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source).

4. It could help you lose weight.
There has been no direct research into the impact of bananas on weight loss. This popular fruit, on the other hand, has various characteristics that could make it a weight-loss-friendly food.

To begin with, bananas are low in calories. Despite the fact that the average banana contains just over 100 calories, it is healthful and filling (1Trusted Source).

Fiber from vegetables and fruits has been related to decreased body weight and weight loss on numerous occasions (4Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source).

Furthermore, because unripe bananas are high in resistant starch, they tend to fill you up and suppress your appetite. If you want to incorporate unripe bananas into your diet, prepare them like you would plantains (2Trusted Source, 11Trusted Source).

5. It has the potential to improve heart health.
Potassium is an essential nutrient for heart health, particularly blood pressure control. Despite its essential, few people consume enough potassium (12Trusted Source).

Bananas are a convenient source of potassium, with a medium-sized banana (126 grammes) supplying 10% of the daily value (1Trusted Source).

A potassium-rich diet can aid in the reduction of blood pressure. Furthermore, prior research and animal studies show that people who consume a lot of potassium had a 27 percent decreased risk of heart disease (13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source).

Furthermore, bananas provide 8% of the daily value for magnesium, another mineral crucial for heart health (1Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source).

Magnesium shortage has been related to a higher risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.