Bananas are a fruit that offers several health benefits, such as providing energy to the body, reducing blood pressure, preventing muscle cramps and promoting an increase in serotonin, combating depression and improving mood.

These benefits are due to the fact that bananas are rich in carbohydrates, fiber, potassium and magnesium, as well as B vitamins and vitamin C.

Bananas can be consumed raw, in the form of flour or green banana biomass in the preparation of sweet and savory dishes. In addition, this fruit can also be used to prepare banana tea.

Main benefits

The main benefits of bananas are:

1. Regulate the intestine

Bananas help regulate bowel function, as they are rich in fiber that helps relieve constipation, especially when eaten ripe.

Furthermore, bananas, when consumed greener, also help to treat diarrhea, as they help to reduce the frequency of bowel movements by increasing the absorption of water and electrolytes in the intestine, preventing complications such as dehydration.

2. Control your weight

Bananas, especially when they are greener, help reduce appetite, as they are rich in fibers that help increase the digestion time of food, making them a fruit recommended to help control weight, as long as they are consumed in moderation and accompanied by a balanced and healthy diet.

3. Lower blood pressure

Because it is rich in magnesium and potassium, minerals that promote the relaxation of blood vessels and facilitate blood circulation, bananas help prevent and lower blood pressure. In addition, potassium is able to promote the elimination of excess sodium circulating in the blood through urine.

4. Prevent muscle cramps

Bananas are rich in potassium and magnesium, which are important minerals for electrical conduction, muscle contraction and recovery, and are recommended for preventing muscle cramps and improving physical performance.

5. Improve mental health

Bananas contain tryptophan, an amino acid that participates in the formation of hormones that improve mood and help you relax, as well as magnesium, a mineral that prevents depression, reducing anxiety levels and improving overall mood.

6. Strengthen the immune system

Because it is rich in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, and vitamin B6, a vitamin that promotes the formation of antibodies and defense cells, bananas are capable of strengthening the immune system, preventing and helping to fight colds, flu and infections.

7. Prevent premature aging

Bananas are rich in vitamin C, a vitamin that promotes the formation of collagen in the body and has antioxidant properties, helping to prevent the aging of skin cells, preventing the formation of wrinkles and promoting wound healing.

8. Help control cholesterol

The fibers present in bananas reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine, while potassium is essential for the functioning of the heart. In this way, bananas help maintain cardiovascular health, preventing diseases such as myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis and stroke.

9. Prevent colon cancer

Bananas are rich in soluble and insoluble fiber and antioxidants, helping to keep the digestive system healthy and prevent the development of colon cancer, since the fermentation of fiber in the intestine produces substances such as butyric acid, which can prevent the development of cancer.

10. Provide energy for training

Bananas are an excellent source of carbohydrates, as well as vitamins and minerals, and are normally recommended to be consumed before performing physical activity, as in addition to providing energy for training, they help to improve performance and prevent cramps.

11. Improve digestive problems

Bananas can help relieve acidity and prevent the formation of gastric ulcers, as they contain a substance called leukocyanidin, a flavonoid that increases the thickness of the digestive mucosa and neutralizes stomach acidity.

12. Improves metabolism

Bananas are rich in nutrients and contain vitamins from the B6 complex, which are important for the proper functioning of the metabolism, as they are vitamins that participate in many chemical reactions so that the energy provided by food can be used by all the cells in the body.

Nutritional information table

The following table contains the nutritional information for every 100 g of ripe banana: