Bananas are one of the world’s most appealing fruits. They are incredibly versatile fruits that can be used to make refreshing smoothies, add delicious flavor to a baked meal, or simply eaten on-the-go. Bananas have a wide variety of health benefits. According to nutritionist Michael Van Straten, author of The Healthy Food Directory, bananas can alleviate 14 medical conditions, including diarrhea, fatigue, heartburn, insomnia, nausea, menstrual problems, and kidney problems.
Among the banana varieties, the lakatan type (yellowish and tastier) has a higher vitamin content. Compared to apples, bananas have so much more vitamin A and vitamin C. Vitamin C helps protect your body against cell and tissue damage. Moreover, bananas are one of the best fruit sources of Vitamin B6, this kind of vitamin helps your body produce red blood cells, metabolise carbohydrates and fats, turning them into energy, remove unwanted chemicals from your liver and kidneys, and maintain a healthy nervous system. Aside from being an on-the-go snack, they are very known for containing high amount of potassium. A medium-sized banana will provide around 320-400 mg of potassium, which meets about 10% of your daily potassium needs. Potassium helps your body maintain a healthy heart and blood pressure.
A study published in American Journal of Epidemiology by Kwan et al. shows an association between regular consumption of bananas and oranges in children and a reduction in childhood leukemia. The result suggests that fruits or fruit juices containing vitamin C and potassium may reduce the risk of childhood leukemia, especially if consumed at a young age. Moreover, bananas may also prevent childhood asthma. This was shown in the study conducted by a European study of 2,640 primary school children in South London. It showed that eating bananas at least once a day reduces episodes of wheezing and asthma attacks in children. The study also concluded that apples and other fruits was not as beneficial.
In an article posted by the Philippine Star, it reported that a certain 48-year-old taxi driver named Mang Ruben, has been eating 10 to 15 bananas a day for the past 25 years. He believes that eating a lot of bananas help him work longer hours and stay stronger. Compared to apples and oranges, bananas in the Philippines are cheap. One can easily grab a banana and put it inside the bag to eat it as a snack later. According to Dr. Willie T. Ong, the only downside of eating a lot of bananas is that people may become constipated. However, this can be mixed with watermelon or papaya to loosen your bowels.
Bananas are cheap, delicious, easy to bring, and provides numerous health benefits. What more could you ask for? So next time you go to a grocery store or a fruit stand, don’t forget to buy those yellow good-looking fruit for you to eat anytime!
AA VI Cielo Katrina M. Mabalot
References:
1. A banana a day keeps the doctor away and does your body a bunch of good from https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/a-banana-a-day-keeps-the-doctor-away-and-does-your-body-a-bunch-of-good/
2. 6 Good Reasons to Eat a Banana Today from https://www.healthxchange.sg/food-nutrition/food-tips/good-reasons-eat-banana-today
3. 11 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Bananas from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-benefits-of-bananas
4. Two bananas a day keep the doctor away from https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/health-and-family/2008/10/28/410516/two-bananas-day-keep-doctor-away
