Bananas are one of the most popular fruits worldwide. They contain essential nutrients that can have a protective impact on health. Majority of people consume it because of its health benefit, many eat it soft texture, sweet taste, and its overwhelming aroma.
The health benefit of banana can not be over emphasize as it benefit is numerous. the following are a few of the benefit.
Blood Pressure
The American Heart Association (AHA), encourage people to lower their intake of salt, or sodium, and increase their consumption of foods that contain potassium. Potassium can help manage blood pressure and reduce strain on the cardiovascular system.
A medium banana provides almost 9% of a person’s daily potassium needs, according to the nutritional information from the above sources.
Asthma
A 2007 study suggested that eating bananas might help prevent wheezing in children with asthma . One reason for this could be the antioxidant and potassium content of bananas. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings.
Cancer
Laboratory investigationshave suggested that lectin, a protein that occurs in bananas, may help prevent leukemia cells from growing.
Lectin acts as an antioxidant. Antioxidants help the body remove molecules known as free radicals. If too many free radicals build up, cell damage can occur, potentially leading to cancer.
In 2004, researchers noted that children who consumed bananas, orange juice, or both appeared to have a lower risk of developing leukemia.
The study authors suggested that this could be due to the vitamin C content, as this, too, has antioxidant properties.
Heart Health
Bananas contain fiber, potassium, folate, and antioxidants, such as vitamin C. All of these support heart health.
A 2017 found that people who follow a high fiber diet have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than those on a low fiber diet. Those who consumed more fiber also had lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad”cholesterol .
Diabetes
The American Diabetes Association recommend eating bananas and other fruit as they contain fiber. They note that eating fiber can help lower blood sugar levels.
The author of a 2018 review concluded that eating a high fiber diet could reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and may lower blood sugar in those who already have the disease.
Digestive Health
Bananas contain water and fiber, both of which promote regularity and encourage digestive health. One medium banana provides approximately 10% of a person’s fiber needs for a day.
Bananas are also part of an approach known as the BRAT diet, which some doctors recommend for treating diarrhea. BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.
Diarrhea can lead to a loss of water and electrolytes, such as potassium. Bananas can replace these nutrients.
High fiber foods can trigger bloating, gas, and stomach cramps in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a 2012. However, bananas may improve symptoms, the authors concluded.
The crohns andcolitis Foundation of America recommend banana as a snack food in their diet plan.
Preserving Memory and Boosting Mood
Bananas contains tryptophan, an amino acid that may help preserve memory, boost a person’s ability to learn and remember things, and regulate mood.
