September 22, 2022 general

When we hear that we should eat more vegetables and fruits, we may think of kale and the old “apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Those are great, but as it turns out, bananas aren’t so bad either. Some folk history fretted that they are fattening and/or cause constipation. Harvard’s review of the science tell a much more positive tale. Many people know that bananas are a good source of potassium but, they also contain fiber, vitamin B₆, magnesium, manganese, and vitamin C. Some may worry that because of their sweet taste, nanners might be bad for blood sugar. But, as the Harvard page notes, bananas don’t spike blood sugar because most of the carbohydrate in the fruit is resistant starch which digests slowly (and, as a bonus, is food for our friendly bacteria.)

For a detailed rundown of the nutrient facts about bananas, consult the USDA nutrient database.

This web article lists potential health benefits of bananas for blood pressure, asthma, cancer, heart health, diabetes, digestion, memory and mood. It also lists cautions for those who have health conditions where high blood levels of potassium could be an issue and for some people, bananas, might be a migraine trigger. Oh, and don’t forget there is a risk of slipping on a banana peel.

Bananas are such a bargain. The Harvard paper linked has useful tips on storing and using them.

How I personally use bananas. When our bananas threaten to get overly ripe, I cut them into thirds and keep store in a container in the freezer for adding to protein drinks. When they do get too ripe, I think about freezing them to use in banana bread, but as it turns out, I never get around to that part so I’ve stopped saving them. Recently, after dental surgery I needed something soft to eat. Banana with almond butter was just right. I must admit that I like my bananas best in the form of banana cream pie or Bananas Foster (which is prepared with brown sugar and cinnamon, warmed or flambéed in a buttery rum sauce, and then served over vanilla ice cream.)

Green bananas(GB). Hah! Bill was about to throw away the contents of a 1995 Natural Medicine notebook. I reviewed the pages and among other treasures, found an old study about the health benefits of green bananas. I searched the author’s name in Pubmed.gov and found a recent scientific review of many studies which concluded: “Most of the GB health benefits studied were related to the gastrointestinal symptoms/diseases, followed by the glycemic/insulin metabolism, weight control, and renal and liver complications associated to diabetes.” Several companies sell green banana powder. Of course, you can buy fresh green bananas and just not wait for them to ripen. They make my teeth feel funny.