Most bananas are a bright yellow color but some bananas are also green. Green bananas contain more resistant starch, which is great for digestion. They taste delicious and can instantly make any smoothie taste sweet, but do you know the amazing health and beauty benefits of bananas? Bananas contain prebiotic fiber. This is what feeds the good bacteria in the microbiome of the gut. If your microbiome is off, this can lead to breakouts in the skin.
Bananas are a great fast energy source for athletes because they are a convenient way to replenish carbohydrate intake while on the go. Bananas are a great source of carbohydrates. They also help maintain electrolyte balance. The proper balance of electrolytes can help to lower blood pressure, which helps to reduce the risk of stroke and kidney disease. This is one amazing health and beauty benefit of bananas.
Bananas and Mood
Bananas also contain serotonin which can help increase your mood. They, however, contain a strong-water soluble antioxidant, dopamine, which is one of the catecholamines. Dopamine levels ranged from 80-560 mg per 100 g in peel and 2.5-10 mg in the pulp, even in ripened bananas ready to eat. (1)
Health and Beauty Benefits of Bananas
This makes bananas one of the higher antioxidative foods. (1) Banana contains silicon, which is a beautifying component for strong nails and hair. Vitamins such as A, C, and B all protect the skin from free radicals, as well as aid in maintaining the elasticity of the skin. Bananas can also help aid with dry, flaky skin. They also contain the antioxidant lutein, which boosts the elasticity of the skin, as well as increases sebum production. This helps the skin lock in moisture.
Key Nutrients of Bananas:
Potassium | Vitamin B6 | Vitamin C | Magnesium |Antioxidants | Flavonoids (Catechin) | Serotonin |Dopamine
Nutritional Breakdown of Bananas
*Per 1 medium-sized banana
- Fiber | 3.1 g
- Carbohydrates 27 g
- Vitamin C | 13% DV
- Potassium | 12% DV
- Vitamin B6 | 25% DV
- Manganese | 16% DV
- Copper | 10% DV
- Magnesium | 8% DV
Banana Eating Suggestions
Try to snack on a banana daily before or after a workout. Freeze extra bananas to add to smoothies for a creamy consistency and added nutrients. For breakfast, try adding sliced banana to your oatmeal. You can naturally sweeten desserts with bananas to decrease the number of refined sugars. Try making “nice” cream by freezing bananas and blending it into a delicious tasting ice cream replacement. If you love bananas, try one of my delicious recipes, gluten-free healthy banana bread.
References:
- High Content of Dopamine, a Strong Antioxidant, in Cavendish Banana Kazuki Kanazawa* and Hiroyuki Sakakibara Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2000 48 (3), 844-848 DOI: 10.1021/jf9909860
CONNECT AND LET’S DISCUSS THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF BANANAS!
Did you learn any amazing health and beauty benefits of bananas? I would love to hear what your favorite banana recipe is. Let me know in the comments below. You can also connect with me @Eat_Your_Nutrition on Instagram. I love seeing your photos. #EatYourNutrition #LauraVillanueva
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