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24 Sep 2021, 10:00 Anna 1,739 No
Most often, bananas are eaten for breakfast. This fruit does not require cooking and is convenient to eat on the go. Of course, banana is very beneficial for the body, as it contains a large amount of useful substances. But, according to nutritionists, this fruit is still harmful to eat on an empty stomach.
Scientists are sure that at first glance, a banana is indeed an ideal option for breakfast, as it helps saturate the body with energy. But if you study this issue in more detail, it will become clear that bananas cannot be consumed as an independent food.
Benefits of bananas
The benefits of bananas are well known to many people. Expressed as follows:
- Due to the content of various sugars, carbohydrates, protein, pectins, malic acid, substances for the absorption of other useful hydrocarbons in the digestive system, this fruit is indispensable for physically active people, as they constantly need energy support for the body. And this despite the low calorie content of bananas - 89 kcal per 100 g of fresh product.
- Due to the many different vitamins, food containing bananas becomes healthier and more nutritious: vitamins A, C, group B.
- The high fiber content makes the product more gentle on the stomach. A dietary dessert made from bananas will be appropriate for patients with gastritis or gastroduodenitis.
- Helps remove excess accumulated fluid from the body due to the high potassium content in the composition. It will be useful for people suffering from frequent swelling.
- The iron in the composition makes banana the best blood-forming product.
- The magnesium in bananas makes it the number 1 food for people with heart disease.
- 100 g of banana contains 12 g of sugar, which helps stimulate mental activity.
Why is it good to eat a banana for breakfast?
Each organism is unique in its metabolism and digestion. The article provides general characteristics of the product without taking into account the individual characteristics of a particular person. Bananas can be recommended for regular consumption for a number of reasons:
- Thanks to their composition, they strengthen the immune system - they are useful to use as food during seasonal infections and colds. Regular consumption increases performance, physical and mental endurance.
- Helps quickly replenish the body's energy needs. This product should definitely be included in the menu of a person experiencing heavy physical activity.
- They contain substances that improve the functioning of the nervous system, increase attention, memory and reaction, and are natural antidepressants. Therefore, they may be useful for people prone to stress, depression, insomnia and nightmares.
- They contain a lot of fiber, pectin and dietary fiber, but do not irritate the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines. Normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract - useful for both constipation and diarrhea. Helps cleanse the intestines and prevent the appearance of parasites. They are natural probiotics.
- Increases the level of hemoglobin in the blood.
- Helps normalize blood pressure, reduce the risk of hypertensive crises, heart attacks and strokes.
- Helps balance hormonal levels. Increases reproductive function and potency in men. Women experience significant relief during PMS.
Due to its high calorie content, the product cannot be called dietary. But this is not a reason to exclude it from the menu. Bananas contain a whole range of vitamins and biologically active substances.
Banana pulp contains significant amounts of:
- sodium;
- potassium;
- calcium;
- iron;
- magnesium;
- vitamins A, C, D, B6, B12;
- tryptophan.
Breakfast is the most important of all meals during the day. You must definitely accustom yourself to having breakfast, even if your body refuses the morning portion. A hearty breakfast stabilizes metabolic processes and makes it easier to cope with attacks of appetite during the day and evening. Breakfast is also so important because the morning portion of food goes into an empty stomach. And not every product is suitable for the role of “pioneer”.
Banana is called the “good mood” fruit; it is widely known as an indispensable aid in the fight against stress and depression. It won't hurt anyone to be in a good mood early in the morning. Bananas are characterized by high nutritional value, are a rich source of vitamins and minerals, contain a significant amount of carbohydrates and, thanks to this, quickly and for a long time saturate and energize the human body.
However, the body is able to fully absorb all the beneficial ingredients contained in these fruits only in combination with other foods. Therefore, you should add them to cereals, combine them with milk and fermented milk products, nuts, and prepare cocktails, smoothies and yoghurts based on them. Heat treatment of fruits is also recommended. There are a lot of interesting and original recipes for banana-based dishes.
These include:
- thrombophlebitis;
- diabetes;
- increased blood viscosity;
- obesity;
- ischemic disease;
- recent heart attack or stroke;
- allergy to bananas.
Unripe fruits contain a lot of starch, and it is difficult for the digestive system to process. The result may be bloating, increased fermentation and gas formation in the intestines. Therefore, green bananas should be consumed in strictly dosed amounts - no more than 1 piece per day. Or wait for them to ripen.
On the other hand, overripe bananas pose an even greater danger than unripe ones. They contain tyramine in critical doses for humans, a toxic substance that provokes overexcitation of the nervous system, increased blood pressure, muscle hypertonicity, increased blood sugar levels and the occurrence of migraines. Eating even 5 overripe bananas can cause an overdose of tyramine.
The human body is programmed at the genetic level to assimilate food characteristic of the region of its residence. Bananas, as you know, do not grow in our latitudes. Therefore, their digestion requires additional effort from the gastrointestinal tract.
During transportation and storage, fruits are treated with a variety of chemicals to increase shelf life. Most of these substances are toxic. Therefore, all fruits (even those that are peeled before consumption) must be thoroughly washed under running water.
This product should not be offered to infants under 10 months of age. If the child’s digestive system is weak, this can cause bloating, stool upset, and allergic reactions.
From all of the above, we can conclude that bananas can and should be eaten for breakfast, but this should be done rationally, taking into account contraindications, using the recommendations of nutritionists and common sense. We hope that the information presented in this article will help you get the most out of these tasty and aromatic fruits.
Athlete's opinion
Blanka Vlasic, Croatian high jumper, four-time world champion, currently a sports doctor:
“You can eat bananas on an empty stomach, I don’t see any reason why not. Bananas (and fruits in general) have many benefits for your health and athletic performance in particular. Here are some of them:
1. Low in calories
They contain few calories. By eating it, you can satisfy your appetite without ruining your waistline. One fruit contains an average of 105 calories.
2. Dietary fiber
According to the USDA, 1 banana contains about 3 grams of fiber. Dietary fiber helps in the fight against excess weight, hunger comes again much later, in addition, it supports your digestive processes, making them uninterrupted.
products containing dietary fiber
3. Potassium
The true benefit of this fruit is its potassium content. This trace element improves the condition of the cardiovascular system, lowers blood pressure and, according to a number of studies, helps deliver oxygen to the brain. The presence of potassium in the diet reduces the likelihood of stroke by helping and maintaining an even heartbeat.
4. Fast carbohydrates
This fruit literally fuels your body with carbohydrates (which are the main source of energy in the body). This property will be useful for athletes and fitness enthusiasts - just eat 1 banana 30 minutes before training.
5. Uplifts your mood
I don't know why many people think that using them leads to depression. The amino acid tryptophan and the hormone serotonin released help improve mood, and specifically, a feeling of happiness. Higher levels of this “positive” hormone help smooth out nervous tension from our daily activities.
The most important thing in life is to smile more
