Fitness Tuesday on Wednesday: Health Benefits of Bananas

     

Via

     And it is the last Wednesday of April. I can n0t believe that April is about to be over in 2 days. I posted this super late because I have lost track of all time at this point. Looks like our stay-at-home order ends on April 30th officially. Not sure how I feel about that at this point. Anywho, with all this time at home people have become randomly obsessed with bananas for some reason. I have seen banana pancakes, muffins, bread, & everything in between. I made some peanut butter & banana bars that I am going to share tomorrow.  

I thought I would share benefits of bananas since people are into eating them at the moment. Little known fact but according to the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United States, bananas are the most exported fresh fruit in the world. Bananas are high in sugar & carbohydrates (which is why you see many people not eat them when they are trying to do certain weight loss plans). Here are some more things to know about bananas:

-Full of potassium

According to the National Institutes of Health, one medium banana contains 422 milligrams of potassium, or about 12 percent of your daily value of the mineral. Potassium helps with your muscles contracting, nerves function, move nutrients into & waste out of cells, regulating your heartbeat, & regulate sodium in your body. It also flush excess heart-stressing sodium from your body through your urine Not getting enough potassium in your diet can cause an increase in blood pressure, kidney stones, & leave you feeling weak & tired, or even experience muscle cramps.

-Good for pre & post workout

Foods that contain natural sugars (carbohydrates) for energy & are not harsh on your stomach make for great pre-workout fuel. Bananas may be beneficial after your workout, too. One study from 2018 found that certain compounds and phytochemicals in bananas could play an effective role in reducing exercise-induced inflammation-which spurs muscle soreness-after a tough bout of endurance training.

-Bananas are rich in vitamin B6

Bananas contain nearly one third of your daily value of vitamin B6, which is important for brain development during pregnancy & enzyme reactions involved in metabolism. Most Americans don’t seem to fall short on their intake, but it doesn’t hurt to eat foods that are naturally rich in the nutrient.

-Bananas might keep your appetite in check

Eating a banana may help curb your cravings. A medium banana is about 100 calories. Bananas contain a type of fiber called resistant starch, aiding in helping managing your appetite by making you full.

-Easy to add into diet

Healthline adds that bananas are easy to add into your diet. Bananas make a great addition to yogurt, cereal & smoothies. Bananas are incredibly easy to eat & transport. They are usually well-tolerated & easily digested.

Tomorrow, I am going to share the banana bar recipe that I found. Peace & blessings, all.