Health & Benefits
March 31st 2020 ・ 10 min reading
Over the past century, bananas have become a staple in almost every kitchen around the world—and for good reason.
Our favorite yellow fruit is not just a super convenient healthy snack, they’re also one of the world’s best superfoods. From supporting our immune systems and protecting our hearts to providing essential vitamins and minerals, bananas are indeed one of the healthiest fruits you can find on your store shelves that can also be used as a natural sweetener.
Five Reasons Why Bananas Are One of the Healthiest Fruits
Bananas are fat and cholesterol free
Yes – you read that right! Bananas are naturally fat and cholesterol free and a natural sweetener. What could be healthier than that? You can snack freely on bananas all day, every day, and never have to wonder, “are bananas good for you?” ever again.
They are loaded with potassium
One of the many reasons why bananas are one of the best superfoods is because they are a potassium rich fruit – and the benefits of potassium are plentiful. Potassium can help lower blood pressure, support the nervous system, protect the heart, and help with muscle function. One medium-sized banana packs a whopping 400 milligrams of potassium— nearly 10 percent of our recommended daily value!
Bananas are great source of vitamins
Bananas are one of the healthiest fruits in the world because they are packed full of vitamins and minerals – especially potassium, vitamin B6 and vitamin C. One medium sized banana can provide up to 33% of our recommended daily amount of Vitamin B6 and they are also an excellent source of Vitamin C – which we all know is great for our immune systems. Bananas also provide magnesium, Vitamin A, iron and copper that are essential to our overall health and wellbeing.
Bananas give us long lasting energy
One of the best benefits of bananas is their long lasting energy. Bananas are a rich source of carbs which occur mainly as sugars in ripe bananas. The most common types of sugar in bananas are sucrose, fructose, and glucose – which are important sugars for giving us the energy we need to get through the day. The total sugar content of a banana can reach more than 16% of its fresh weight! However, bananas have a low glycemic index (because of their high content of resistant starch and fiber), and as such, are great for giving us sustained energy throughout the day. Bananas can also be used as natural sweeteners and can be the best sugar substitute for baking.
Vitamin C gives us all round protection
Most people don’t associate bananas with Vitamin C but did you know a medium sized banana provides about 10% of our recommended daily amount of Vitamin C? Vitamin C is helpful in protecting our bodies against cell and tissue damage, it helps us to better absorb iron, produce valuable collagen that holds our skin, bones and body together, and supports brain health by producing serotonin to regulate our sleep cycles and moods.
So if you’re wondering: are bananas good for you? The answer is a resounding “yes”! Bananas are not only one of the healthiest fruits but they’re known to be one of the best superfoods. You really can’t go wrong with bananas – so stock up on Chiquita bananas next time you’re at the store for healthy snacks that are so good for you in so many ways.
