Why you should eat bananas, what can you prevent by eating bananas and more benefits you don’t want to miss. A banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare bananas to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. Here are some health benefits of Bananas.
Blood Pressure
The potassium in bananas can lower blood pressure, and lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. The level of potassium in the banana is very high, approximately 4,673 mg, but is quite low in sodium, roughly 1 mg; therefore containing a perfect ratio for maintaining normal levels of blood pressure. Because of this, the US Food and Drug Administration have allowed the banana industry to formally claim the ability of the fruit to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.
Heartburn
If you suffer from heartburn occasionally try eating a banana for a soothing relief. Eating a banana between meals helps to keep blood-sugar levels up and it will also help prevent morning sickness in pregnant women. Regular intake of bananas each meal, can boost our brain power. Based on research studies bananas who are high in potassium triggers the energy to be alert. Helping us to be more productive not only physically but mentally.
Quitting Smoking
Quitting smoking can be a long and hard process. Health benefit of the banana is to help the person trying to stop smoking. They contain magnesium and potassium but also vitamin B 6 and B 12 which helps our body recover from the withdrawal symptoms of nicotine.
Stress relief
The high levels of potassium are also good for stress relief. By doing this it brings the heartbeat down to a normal level and regulates the balance of water in our body. It happens that during periods of high stress our body’s potassium levels deplete very fast but eating a banana will help re-balance those levels without having to use prescription drugs. According to a study found in The New England Journal of Medicine, if bananas are a part of a regular diet you just might reduce your risk of a stroke and dying by about forty percent. If you happen to suffer from leg cramps in the middle of the night you may want to eat two bananas during the course of the day, one mid-morning and another at a mid-evening snack. This is much cheaper than filling a prescription for a potassium supplement.
Digestive System
Bananas can have positive effects on your digestive system and reduce the effects of both diarrhea and constipation. Bananas contain high levels of dietary fibers, which normalizes the digestive system and ensures smooth bowel movements. They also contain potassium that will restore important electrolytes that often gets depleted during diarrhea.
Bananas contain a high amount of vitamin B6 which plays an important role in many of the functions of the human body. Vitamin B6 has anti-inflammatory properties that can promote better cardiovascular health and prevent type 2 diabetes. The vitamin is also necessary to convert tryptophan into serotonin. Also, it plays an important role in the creation of white blood cells, which is needed by the immune system to fight infections.
As you can see, bananas provide many health benefits, they are cheap to buy and they taste great. They also contain a low number of calories, only 100 for a medium sized banana. This makes them an excellent choice of snack if you are trying to lose weight.
