Reasons for you to eat a banana everyday

Most people know that bananas are healthy and are one of the best sources of potassium (K+). Bananas are also rich in magnesium (Mg++) and iron (Fe++). Adding a banana to your daily diet helps give your body an essential mix of nutrients, vitamins (A, B6, and C) and fibers. Bananas are pretty tasty too and are available in all supermarkets worldwide.

Welcome to the World of Monkeys

I once heard a joke about bananas when I was in college which I find really amusing and that’s why I still love to crack it every time I see friends and colleagues eating a banana. This joke centers on a conversation that a Filipino guy had with his American friend.

American guy (AG): “Hey man, what’s your favorite fruit?”

Filipino guy (FG): “Hmmm … I love apples!” (Please note that we don’t grow apple trees in the Philippines and apples used to be expensive in the market because they’re imported.)

AG: “Apples? Do you know that in America apples are only for the poor?”

The Filipino guy was embarrassed but still managed to smile and said:

FG: “Is that so? Anyway, what about you man, what’s your favorite fruit?”

AG: (With feelings) “Oh I love bananas, they’re so good! No, not just good. They taste really great!”

FG: (Trying to contain his laughter) “Bananas! Really? Do you know that in the Philippines bananas are just for monkeys?”

Reasons for you to eat a banana everyday

Why Should You Eat a Banana Every Day

So why should you eat at least one banana a day? What other reasons should you have other than being a tasty fruit? Here are some of the best reasons why you should consider including a banana in your daily diet:

1. Bananas are good for the heart.

Do you know that just by eating a banana a day will spare you from heart attack because of its high level of potassium which combats the hardening and narrowing of arteries?

The mineral potassium helps control the electrical balance of your heart. As soon as potassium enters your body, it absorbs directly into your bloodstream through intestinal walls, travels across cell membranes, and dissolves in fluids inside of cells to keep the fluid balanced in and around cells, which then keeps electricity flowing throughout your system in order to make your heartbeat.

In order to keep your heart healthy and functioning properly, you are to increase your potassium intake while at the same time reducing your intake of sodium and bananas are perfect for the job since they are a high-potassium, low-sodium food. A severe potassium deficiency will cause the heart rhythm to become irregular, which can be deadly.

2. Bananas are good for the brain.

Bananas might be the world’s best brain food. Aside from being a potassium-rich food that keeps the brain sharp, bananas are also rich in magnesium which not only helps the brain to focus but also aids in the conversion of fatty acids into DHA, an important Omega-3.

Scientific research has shown an important link between DHA deficiency and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and ADHD. Furthermore, bananas are shown to assist in preventing Parkinson’s disease because of its high B vitamins content.

If you are preparing for a big exam, you may want to eat 1-2 bananas while studying. Bananas help improve memory because, in addition to potassium and magnesium, they also contain high levels of tryptophan and tyrosine to boost and stabilize your mood to keep you calm, cool, and collected.

3. Bananas are good for digestive health.

Bananas are rich in fiber so having one daily aids in keeping your bowel movements regular. Did you know that a six-inch banana has more than 2.5 grams of total fiber and about half of which are insoluble? When an insoluble fiber passes through your digestive tract, it would sweep up waste and helps push it out.

I used to think that bananas get me constipated but I realized it’s actually the opposite because it is rich in fiber. So if you want to keep your bowels healthy and avoid getting constipated, just add 1-2 bananas to your daily diet to get the necessary grams of fiber you need. Bananas are also a pre-biotic source and stimulate the growth of friendly bacteria in your gut and also produce digestive enzymes to assist in absorbing nutrients.

4. Bananas are good for the bones.

Bananas have the ability to strengthen bones and prevent osteoporosis because they are rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin K. Bananas also contain very high amounts of the prebiotic compound fructooligosaccharide that helps probiotic bacteria produce digestive enzymes that help increase the absorption of calcium.

Calcium is the most important mineral for the bones and if you’re taking calcium supplements, you may want to eat a couple of bananas every day and that will take care of your bone health.

5. Bananas aid in weight loss.

When you are trying to lose weight, finding the right foods to fit into your diet is a challenge. One of the basic rules to consider when trying to shed off those unwanted pounds is to consume calculated calories and burn them accordingly. No matter how much effort you put in the gym, if your diet is not right, you’ll have a hard time losing weight.

Bananas make the perfect fit for your weight loss diet because they are naturally sweet and can satisfy your afternoon sugar cravings. A 6-inch banana contains a minimal 90 calories which is about one-fourth of the calories you would get from a chocolate candy bar.

Bananas which are the most delicious and nutritious fruits suppress the appetite and make you feel fuller for longer hours so you’ll be less likely to overeat at mealtimes. Bananas also increase the body’s metabolism, thereby lowering the chance of accumulating excess fat cells.

Conclusion

No, bananas aren’t just for monkeys, they are good for you, they’re good for me

There are more reasons for you to eat a banana every day but what I have outlined above should be enough for you to consider adding one in your daily diet. Experts recommend a medium-sized banana each day, preferably in the morning to give you 3 grams of fiber. A banana enriched diet is sure to help you stay healthy so you can get wealthy!

By the way, I know that not everyone can eat fresh bananas so if you’re having a hard time swallowing a fresh one, you may opt to add it in your favorite fruit smoothie. Bananas go well with almost any fruit for shake or smoothie but my favorite so far is an avocado-banana smoothie.

Check out the video below.

 

 

16 thoughts on “Reasons for You to Eat a Banana Everyday”

  1. Great article! Thank you for all that good information. I’m a huge fan of bananas, I could eat it every single day, but I didn’t know how much benefits it actually has. Anyways, thank you again, now I like to eat a banana even more!

    1. Sure!

      I am crazy about bananas too, even though I’m Filipino and we think bananas are just for monkeys, he he! Bananas have a lot of health benefits and they’re sweet and filling too. They’re my “go-to snack” whenever I can’t think of anything else healthy to satisfy my cravings for sweets.

      Thanks Cezary for stopping by.

  2. Interesting article and great facts. While I was reading this article I was eating a banana. I tend to eat bananas every morning for health reasons as you mentioned below but the part about being good for the heart was new to me. Thank you for this. The other reason I eat bananas is when it comes having the cold or flu. There is an acronym that people mention called BRAT which stands for Bananas, Rice, Apple Sauce and Toast. On the website quora.com they mention the following about bananas: ‘…eating bananas on daily basis can help prevent cold and cough since bananas can increase white blood cells, improve immune system function, and strengthen your resistance to disease.’

    Sam

    1. Hey Sam,

      I hope reading my article made you enjoy your banana even more. Health experts and advocates highly recommend consuming a medium-sized banana every morning to help you jumpstart your day.

      Yes, bananas are also good for the immune system because they are rich in Vitamin C or ascorbic acid so they’re perfect when you’re coming down with a cold or flu. I like the acronym BRAT, something easy to remember when it comes to foods that are good for the immune system, thanks for sharing.

  3. Great points for consuming bananas. I have left them out of my ketogenic diet because they contain far more carbohydrates than the diet permits. Lots of sugars, but I’ve heard that some people live off of bananas.

    1. Hi Melinda,

      It’s sad to hear that bananas do not fit into your diet because of its high carbohydrates and sugar contents. But you may want to check out my post on malunggay (moringa oleifera); this amazing vegetable is also rich in potassium, in fact has higher potassium content than bananas. You may want to include it in your diet as alternative to bananas because of the health benefits it offers. It is available in powder form, tea, extract and capsules.

      You can check out this link:

      https://stayhealthygetwealthy.com/the-amazing-health-benefits-of-malunggay-moringa-oleifera

  4. This info certainly makes me happy that I do eat a banana almost every day. I am wondering if there is a reason to buy organic since that is what I have been doing? I love that you included the recipe at the end which Im going to try tomorrow morning! I would not think of putting banana and avocado together. The information was nicely laid out and easy to read through even though there is a lot of it. Thanks for presenting this research.

    1. Organic bananas are even better; anything organic, fruits and vegetables are highly recommended for consumption.

      I try to eat a banana everyday too that’s why I regularly visit the market to get some. I do not buy them in bulk because they easily ripen but when they get overripe, I just throw them into the blender with other fruits.

      Please do come back and tell me if you enjoyed your banana avocado smoothie.

  5. Wow, I eat a banana every day because I am always low in potassium. I take a prescription that just totally deletes my potassium rendering me with horrible cramps. Thankfully I love bananas! I just did not realize the many benefits they have! It is interesting that they are good for the heart and the brain. Now I know why I love them so much!

    1. You’re absolutely right! Other than having abnormal heart rhythms, you will also experience muscle cramps when your potassium is low.

      Bananas are really full of amazing health benefits but a lot of people are simply unaware of them. Now I realize why it is the first fresh fruit that parents give to their toddlers. They are affordable, available everywhere, naturally sweet and good for the body and overall health. I love bananas too!

  6. Hi there

    I had previously thought bananas were fattening! Lol! I have happy memories of my Great Gran mashing a banana with a bit of milk and sugar and serving it to us. And Mum always used to tell us to eat bananas before an exam – now I know why! Well, bananas are going to be on my shopping list regularly now!!!! Thanks so much

    1. Bananas are generally known to have a lot of calories which make them fattening but the reason they’re perfect for anyone who is trying to lose weight is that a medium-sized banana can keep you full for longer hours to help control or suppress your cravings for sweets like cookies, cakes or chocolate. Unless advised by your dietician, it is best to add it in your daily diet.

      The mashed banana with milk and sugar that your great granny used to prepare for you might be the counterpart of shakes and smoothies today ha ha. Perhaps, blenders were not that popular before so what’s the option? Mashing!!!

      I did not know then that bananas are good for memory retention or I would have eaten one while studying and another before every exam. Who knows, I might have graduated with the highest honors.

    1. Yes Fred, bananas are not only one of the tastiest fruits, they’re also full of health benefits. I hope you’ll consider having one everyday.

  7. Very good read. I have a banana every morning and a banana avocado smoothie w/an apple and a pinch of cayenne for my desert every night. Yum!

    1. That’s good to know Brad. I make sure to have a banana everyday too. Well, not necessarily for breakfast although it’s what’s recommended. I often have it for snack instead of reaching for chips or chocolates. Banana avocado smoothie tastes really great, right?

      Thanks for stopping by!

Leave a Reply to Alice Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *