Bananas may be known for monkey business or physical comedy slip-on-a-peel routines but these yellow fruits mean business. The impact they can have on your health is no joke: a single banana can give your physical and mental health a big boost. For the latest Wellness Wednesday, we unpeel this humble superfood to reveal the brilliance within.
Packed With Potassium
You know that old folk wisdom that says you should eat a banana when you get a muscle cramp? There’s good science to explain this: bananas are a great source of potassium, which can help ease muscle contractions. Potassium is a mineral and electrolyte that plays a pivotal role in many of our essential body functions. From digestion to heart rhythm, nerve impulses to blood pressure, getting enough potassium in your diet is crucial to keeping all these different parts of the body running smoothly.
Bunches of Bananas = Bunches of Nutrients
While potassium is the star attraction, a lot of other vitamins and minerals that play an important role in our bodies can be found in bananas. Bananas contain:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B6
- Magnesium
- Fiber
- Copper
- Manganese
Improves Blood Sugar Levels
Bananas are a strong source of soluble fiber. Soluble fiber is plant-deprived fiber that dissolves in water. Unripe bananas also contain resistant starch, which is a type of fiber that our bodies do not digest. Both these forms of fiber help moderate blood sugar levels and slow down the emptying of your stomach by regulating your appetite. While bananas are high in carbs, these fibers help keep your blood sugar from spiking heavily when eaten in moderation.
Brightens Mood
Feeling moody? Eating a banana could lift your spirits. Bananas are full of tryptophan, an amino acid that gets converted into serotonin. Serotonin is the "feel-good" hormone, a neurochemical that helps regulate our moods. That’s why eating a banana a day could help keep the blues away.
High in Antioxidants
Bananas are an excellent source of antioxidants. Bananas contain flavonoids and amines, antioxidants that can help reduce the risk of heart disease and macular degeneration. Like other types of antioxidants, they also help prevent oxidative damage to your cells by stopping free radicals before they form in your body. Oxidative damage to your cells can lead to things like the loss of elasticity in your skin, premature aging, and other health issues.
Article by Austin Brietta
Want more wellness tips? Check out these stories: