7 Amazing Benefits of Bananas

Bananas….. They are in every supermarket you go into. They are as common on North American shelves as locally grown fruit such as apples and blueberries, but this was not always the case. Prior to the 1900’s bananas were a rare novelty that usually only appeared in port cities. 

The shipping processes and technology to make the banana the “common” fruit it is today were decades away. It wasn’t till around the 1920’s and 1930’s that the ability to ship bananas and the popularity of bananas began to grow. Bananas are now common, popular, and hold amazing benefits for your body that less than 100 years ago were not available to many!

So what makes a banana so amazing? Well of course there is the taste and the wonderful things you can do with it in the kitchen besides just eating it plain. It lends flavor to desserts, breads, and a wide variety of dishes. But did you know the banana is a nutritional power house? It is! Check this out…..
Energy – Bananas supply the proper carbohydrates to replace glycogen (aka muscle sugar) that is used in exercising. Got sore legs? Go eat a banana!
Potassium – Being high in potassium, bananas help the body deliver oxygen to the brain, maintain a regular heartbeat and a proper water balance in your body.
Iron – Being higher in iron, bananas are a good source of iron for folks with anemia (aka people like me!) because they help stimulate production of hemoglobin in blood. 
Vitamins – Do you suffer from PMS? Bananas are a good source of vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 helps regulate blood sugar levels which can help with stress, crankiness and that monthly moodiness.
Fiber – Bananas are high in soluble fiber which can help with constipation (or if you’re my youngest country kid who double fists bananas, it can cause very loose bowls.) Eaten in moderation, bananas can help maintain regular bowl function. Bye bye Metamucil!
Brain power – The potassium in bananas make eyes more alert and your brain function faster. So what are you having for breakfast?!?!?! And maybe lunch?!?! Oh who I am I kidding, I need one at dinner too! My alertness is low, but then again, I am a sleep deprived mom. 
Happiness – Did you know bananas can make you happy? Seriously! Bananas have tryptophan (think Thanksgiving bliss) which is converted into serotonin in the brain and elevate mood and make you happy!
Who knew this yellow fruit could do so much!?!?!

40 thoughts on “7 Amazing Benefits of Bananas

  1. They are also great if you have a diabetic whose blood sugar has dropped really low, it will shoot it back up quicker than orange juice or other sugars.

  2. Sadly they are the most horrible of all fruits in my view !!!! Can't stand the taste or texture 🙂 but I did feed them to my children when they were small !

  3. Thanks so much for this info, Mindie! I have heard bananas get a bad rap so I'm very thankful to hear another perspective. Due to their frugality, we eat a lot of bananas around here.

    The potassium also helps to lower blood pressure which is always a good thing. I had no idea they were rich in iron (I'm anemic, too!) or that they helped with PMS.

    Thanks for sharing!

  4. I've been whipping up a healthier fat-free 'ice cream' this summer using frozen bananas and instant pudding mix. Good to know this delicious cold dessert is even healthier than we thought!

    ~Taylor-Made Ranch~
    Texas

  5. I love bananas as part of my daily nutrition and they very affordable in my area, even though they have to be trucked in from thousands of miles away.

  6. So glad I had a banana for breakfast – even before I read this! 🙂 My son loves banana bread, but not bananas by themselves or in smoothies like my daughters do. My husband would rather have a red banana and they are a bit harder to find. Best wishes!

  7. They do have a lot of benefits… and my family loves the taste of them too. 🙂 We use them most days in our kefir smoothies. 🙂

  8. I love bananas and always have one before I run. They are a great go to snack as well. Thanks for sharing the benefits with us at #WednesdaysWisdom

  9. Glad I stumbled upon this. My mother who lived to be 96 loved her bananas. She was a farm girl and knew the secret of eating well. I graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics, a degree that no longer is available, and yet, there were so many good courses in that faculty, like nutrition.

  10. I love this! I eat a banana every morning, without fail, it helps settle my stomach and ready it for the rest of the day's meals. I knew they were good for me, now I know why! Thanks. Off to eat another banana!

  11. Mindie, thank you for sharing all the benefits of bananas! I won't be fussing anymore at my husband eating so many, I'm with you and need a weekly delivery! #Wednesdays Wisdom

  12. Wow, I had no idea of the history of bananas! Very interesting! Love all the health benefits! We eat so many bananas! 🙂
    Thank you so much for sharing this on Making Memories Mondays! Hope to see you back Sun night 9PM EST! 🙂
    Cathy

  13. Bananas are a favorite at my house, thanks for sharing all of these wonderful benefits! And thanks for sharing at What'd You Do This Weekend?!

  14. This amazing post is being featured on my blog today as part of Tuesdays with a Twist blog hop: http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/2015/07/time-to-link-up-tuesdays-with-twist-119.html
    Thanks
    Angie

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