Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Bananas.

Bananas are extremely healthy and delicious.

They contain several essential nutrients and provide benefits for digestion, heart health and weight loss.

Aside from being very nutritious, they are also a highly convenient snack food.

Here are 11 science-based health benefits of bananas.

1. Bananas Contain Many Important Nutrients

Bananas are among the world’s most popular fruits.

Native to Southeast Asia, they are now grown in many warm parts of the world.

Bananas vary in color, size and shape.

The most common type is the Cavendish, which is a type of dessert banana. Green when unripe, it yellows as it matures.

Bananas contain a fair amount of fiber, as well as several antioxidants. One medium-sized banana (118 grams) also boasts (1, 2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source):

• Potassium: 9% of the RDI
• Vitamin B6: 33% of the RDI
• Vitamin C: 11% of the RDI
• Magnesium: 8% of the RDI
• Copper: 10% of the RDI
• Manganese: 14% of the RDI
• Net carbs: 24 grams
• Fiber: 3.1 grams
• Protein: 1.3 grams
• Fat: 0.4 grams

Each banana has only about 105 calories and consists almost exclusively of water and carbs. Bananas hold very little protein and almost no fat.

The carbs in green, unripe bananas consist mostly of starch and resistant starch, but as the banana ripens, the starch turns into sugar (glucose, fructose and sucrose).

SUMMARYBananas are rich in fiber, antioxidants and several nutrients. A medium-sized banana has about 105 calories.

2. Bananas Contain Nutrients That Moderate Blood Sugar Levels

Bananas are rich in pectin, a type of fiber that gives the flesh its spongy structural form (4).

Unripe bananas contain resistant starch, which acts like soluble fiber and escapes digestion.

Both pectin and resistant starch may moderate blood sugar levels after meals and reduce appetite by slowing the emptying of your stomach (5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source).

Furthermore, bananas also rank low to medium on the glycemic index (GI), which is a measure — from 0–100 — of how quickly foods increase blood sugar levels.

The GI value of unripe bananas is about 30, while ripe bananas rank at about 60. The average value of all bananas is 51 (8, 9Trusted Source).

This means that bananas should not cause major spikes in blood sugar levels in healthy individuals.

However, this may not apply to people with type 2 diabetes, who should probably avoid eating a lot of well-ripened bananas — and monitor their blood sugar carefully if they do.

SUMMARYBananas can help moderate blood sugar levels after meals and may reduce appetite by slowing stomach emptying.

3. Bananas May Improve Digestive Health

Dietary fiber has been linked to many health benefits, including improved digestion.

A medium-sized banana has about 3 grams of fiber, making bananas a fairly good fiber source (10).

Bananas contain two main types of fiber:

• Pectin: Decreases as the banana ripens.
• Resistant starch: Found in unripe bananas.

Resistant starch escapes digestion and ends up in your large intestine, where it becomes food for the beneficial bacteria in your gut (11Trusted Source, 12Trusted Source, 13).

Additionally, some test-tube studies propose that pectin may help protect against colon cancer (14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source).

SUMMARYBananas are fairly rich in fiber and resistant starch, which may feed your friendly gut bacteria and safeguard against colon cancer.

4. Bananas May Aid Weight Loss

No study has directly tested the effects of bananas on weight loss. However, bananas do have several attributes that should make them a weight-loss-friendly-food.

For starters, bananas have relatively few calories. An average banana has just over 100 calories — yet it is also very nutritious and filling.

Eating more fiber from vegetables and fruits like bananas has repeatedly been linked to lower body weight and weight loss (16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source).

Furthermore, unripe bananas are packed with resistant starch, so they tend to be very filling and may reduce your appetite (19Trusted Source, 20Trusted Source).

SUMMARYBananas may aid weight loss because they’re low in calories and high in nutrients and fiber.

5. Bananas May Support Heart Health

Potassium is a mineral that is essential for heart health — especially blood pressure control.

Despite its importance, few people get enough potassium in their diet (21).

Bananas are a great dietary source of potassium. One medium-sized banana (118 grams) contains 9% of the RDI.

A potassium-rich diet can help lower blood pressure, and people who eat plenty of potassium have up to a 27% lower risk of heart disease (22Trusted Source, 23Trusted Source, 24Trusted Source, 25Trusted Source).

Furthermore, bananas contain a decent amount of magnesium, which is also important for heart health (26Trusted Source, 27).

SUMMARYBananas are a good dietary source of potassium and magnesium — two nutrients that are essential for heart health.

6. Bananas Contain Powerful Antioxidants

Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of dietary antioxidants, and bananas are no exception.

They contain several types of potent antioxidants, including dopamine and catechins (1, 2Trusted Source).

These antioxidants are linked to many health benefits, such as a reduced risk of heart disease and degenerative illnesses (28Trusted Source, 29Trusted Source).

However, it is a common misunderstanding that the dopamine from bananas acts as a feel-good chemical in your brain.

In reality, dopamine from bananas does not cross the blood-brain barrier. It simply acts as a strong antioxidant instead of altering hormones or mood (2Trusted Source, 30Trusted Source).

SUMMARYBananas are high in several antioxidants, which may help reduce damage from free radicals and lower your risk of some diseases.

7. Bananas May Help You Feel More Full

Resistant starch is a type of indigestible carb — found in unripe bananas and other foods — which functions like soluble fiber in your body.

As a rule of thumb, you can estimate that the greener the banana, the higher its resistant starch content (31).

On the other hand, yellow, ripe bananas contain lower amounts of resistant starch and total fiber — but proportionally higher amounts of soluble fiber.

Both pectin and resistant starch offer appetite-reducing effects and increase the feeling of fullness after meals (20Trusted Source, 32Trusted Source, 33Trusted Source, 34Trusted Source).

SUMMARYDepending on ripeness, bananas harbor high amounts of resistant starch or pectin. Both may reduce appetite and help keep you full.

8. Unripe Bananas May Improve Insulin Sensitivity

Insulin resistance is a major risk factor for many of the world's most serious diseases, including type 2 diabetes.

Several studies reveal that 15–30 grams of resistant starch per day may improve insulin sensitivity by 33–50% in as few as four weeks (35Trusted Source, 36Trusted Source).

Unripe bananas are a great source of resistant starch. Therefore, they may help improve insulin sensitivity.

However, the reason for these effects is not well understood, and not all studies agree on the matter (35Trusted Source, 37Trusted Source).

More studies should be conducted on bananas and insulin sensitivity.

SUMMARYUnripe bananas are a good source of resistant starch, which may improve insulin sensitivity. However, more research is needed.

9. Bananas May Improve Kidney Health

Potassium is essential for blood pressure control and healthy kidney function.

As a good dietary source of potassium, bananas may be especially beneficial for maintaining healthy kidneys.

One 13-year study in women determined that those who ate bananas 2–3 times per week were 33% less likely to develop kidney disease (38Trusted Source).

Other studies note that those who eat bananas 4–6 times a week are almost 50% less likely to develop kidney disease than those who don't eat this fruit (38Trusted Source, 39Trusted Source).

SUMMARYEating a banana several times a week may reduce your risk of kidney disease by up to 50%.

10. Bananas May Have Benefits for Exercise

Bananas are often referred to as the perfect food for athletes largely due to their mineral content and easily digested carbs.

Eating bananas may help reduce exercise-related muscle cramps and soreness, which affect up to 95% of the general population (40Trusted Source).

The reason for the cramps is largely unknown, but a popular theory blames a mixture of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance (41Trusted Source, 42Trusted Source, 43Trusted Source).

However, research gives mixed findings about bananas and muscle cramps. While some studies find them helpful, others find no effects (44Trusted Source).

That said, bananas do provide excellent nutrition before, during and after endurance exercise (45Trusted Source).

SUMMARYBananas may help relieve muscle cramps caused by exercise. They also provide excellent fuel for endurance exercise.

11. Bananas Are Easy to Add to Your Diet

Not only are bananas incredibly healthy — they're also one of the most convenient snack foods around.

Bananas make a great addition to yogurt, cereal and smoothies. You can even use them instead of sugar in your baking and cooking.

Furthermore, bananas rarely contain any pesticides or pollutants due to their thick protective peel.

Bananas are incredibly easy to eat and transport. They are usually well-tolerated and easily digested — they simply have to be peeled and eaten.

It doesn't get much easier than that.

SUMMARYBananas make an excellent snack food, dessert or breakfast. Their versatility makes them easy to add to your diet.

The Bottom Line

Bananas are a popular fruit that happens to provide numerous health benefits.

Among other things, they may boost digestive and heart health due to their fiber and antioxidant content.

They may even aid weight loss, as they're relatively low-calorie and nutrient-dense.

Ripe bananas are a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth. What’s more, both yellow and green bananas can keep you healthy and feeling full.

Most notably weight loss .. 10 benefits of drinking lemon water on an empty stomach

Most notably weight loss .. 10 benefits of drinking lemon water on an empty stomach

It is known that drinking water and lemon on an empty stomach in the morning can get rid of extra pounds, but does this drink have other health benefits other than slimming?

In the next report, "Consulto" reviews the benefits of drinking water and lemon on an empty stomach, according to "Medical news today."

1- Prevention of cancer
Lemon water drink is distinguished by its contain of antioxidant plant compounds called flavonoids, as it is characterized by its ability to combat free radicals in the human body, which reduces the risk of developing tumors.

2- Dissection of kidney stones
Water with lemon, one of the drinks that doctors usually prescribe for patients with kidneys, because it contains a substance jackets, which have been proven effective in breaking up kidney stones, and washed them into the urinary channels, and get rid of them through urine.

The benefits of the jacket material are not limited to this extent, but rather reduce the chances of accumulating calcium oxalate on the kidneys, in case of excessive intake of dairy products of all kinds.

3- It is useful for pressure patients
The potassium with lemon helps stimulate blood circulation, so its juice is a drink that is beneficial to the health of pressure patients, as it improves the process of blood flow carrying oxygen to all parts of the body, which reduces the risk of glaucoma and strokes.

4- Strengthening immunity
Lemon contains a high percentage of vitamin C, which helps to strengthen the immune system in the body, which makes its juice from drinks that reduce the risk of disease, and alleviate the symptoms associated with colds, such as sneezing, cold, congestion, and cough.

5- Losing weight
A glass of water drink with lemon would help to lose excess weight, because it contains antioxidants, which boost the metabolism, which contributes to burning the accumulated fat in the body, but care must be taken not to sweeten it with sugar, so that it does not have adverse effects on health.

6- Control blood sugar
The lemon water drink works to control blood sugar, by regulating the work of insulin in the body, so doctors advise diabetics to consume it, especially since they are from the groups that suffer from weak immune system.

7- Delaying signs of aging
Lemon juice is characterized by its high content of vitamin C, which stimulates the skin to produce collagen necessary for its freshness, and that helps to tighten the skin, delaying the appearance of signs of aging in old age, such as facial wrinkles.

8- Reducing anemia
Lemon water drink helps prevent anemia, as it contains vitamin C, which stimulates the body to absorb the available iron in foods to the fullest, so it is a drink beneficial to children's health.

9- Natural mouth disinfectant
Doctors recommend drinking a water drink with lemon when waking up from sleep, as it serves as an oral antiseptic that reduces the effectiveness of oral bacteria, and contributes to getting rid of bad breath, and can be relied upon to control gum bleeding.

But you should rinse your mouth with water thoroughly and brush your toothpaste and toothpaste after this drink, as it can sometimes damage the tooth enamel, which increases the risk of caries.

10 facilitate the digestion
Lemon water drink is of great importance to the health of the digestive system, because it balances the acidity of the stomach, which improves bowel movement, and thus reduces the chances of constipation and indigestion.

Water & Nutrition

Basics

Getting enough water every day is important for your health. Healthy people meet their fluid needs by drinking when thirsty and drinking with meals. Most of your fluid needs are met through the water and beverages you drink. However, you can get some fluids through the foods that you eat. For example, broth soups and foods with high water content such as celery, tomatoes, or melons can contribute to fluid intake.

Water helps your body:

• Keep your temperature normal
• Lubricate and cushion joints
• Protect your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues
• Get rid of wastes through urination, perspiration, and bowel movements

Your body needs more water when you are:

• In hot climates
• More physically active
• Running a fever
• Having diarrhea or vomiting

If you think you are not getting enough water, these tips may help:

• Carry a water bottle for easy access when you are at work of running errands.
• Freeze some freezer safe water bottles. Take one with you for ice-cold water all day long.
• Choose water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages. This can also help with weight management. Substituting water for one 20-ounce sugar sweetened soda will save you about 240 calories. For example, during the school day students should have access to drinking water, giving them a healthy alternative to sugar-sweetened beverages.
• Choose water when eating out. Generally, you will save money and reduce calories.
• Add a wedge of lime or lemon to your water. This can help improve the taste and help you drink more water than you usually do.