Bananas are not my favorite fruit. I never cared much for them even as a kid. I do not care for banana flavored items such as smoothies or juice. Once, my husband went to grab me a coffee and it was, yes you guessed it, banana flavored. I believe it was a chocolate banana mocha. I think even banana enthusiasts would find that a bit strange. My non-coffee drinking husband thought it sounded interested. It tasted like coffee with banana flavoring. At any rate, my kids and husband love bananas but I pretty much reserve them for banana bread. I may change my tune now that I know all the amazing health benefits of bananas. Today is a great day to start since it is Banana Lover’s Day.
Health Benefits of Bananas
One banana has 11% of the RDA of dietary fiber and only about 108 calories. The fiber in bananas keeps digestion regular and helps maintain low blood sugar. It has also been known to curb overeating due to the filling effect of fiber.
One banana contains 34% of the RDA of vitamin B6, which serves many important roles in the body’s health. B6 acts as an anti-inflammatory agent that helps ward off cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, as well as obesity. B6 also contributes to the maintenance of the lymphoid glands that ensure the production of healthy white blood cells that protect the body from infection. Finally, the vitamin B6 in bananas plays a pivotal part in cell formation and proper nervous system function, making one banana a day a healthy and delicious
When most think of bananas most think potassium. Potassium prevents the weakening of the body’s bones. A high sodium intake can cause excessive amount of calcium to be lost through the urine. The potassium found in bananas neutralizes the high amounts of sodium in one’s diet, thus allowing for healthy amounts of calcium to remain within the body.