8 Major Health Benefits Of Banana

Banana is an edible fruit grown on the herbaceous plant of the same name and belongs to the Musa genus. This nutritious fruit is loaded with essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, polyphenols, and dietary fibers that provide numerous health and beauty benefits.

# Provides Instant Energy

The natural sugars like glucose, fructose, and sucrose in banana provide instant energy for day-to-day activity and is a preferred snack for many individuals. Unlike energy drinks that release a quick burst of energy for a short duration, banana releases energy at a steady rate for a longer time. For this reason, banana is preferred by sportspersons as it gives them the energy to perform in the game.

# Regulates High Blood Pressure

Banana contains potassium, a natural vasodilator that relaxes our blood vessels improves blood circulation, and thus provides relief from high blood pressure or hypertension.

Hypertension is a silent killer that affects millions of people around the world and gives rise to various health problems like severe headaches, nose bleed, chest pain, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, difficulty in breathing, vision problems, and blood in urine, etc.

Zinc and magnesium in bananas also aid in regulating high blood pressure.

Consume bananas in moderation as a large intake of potassium may lower the blood pressure to an abnormally low level giving rise to symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, nausea, dehydration, lack of concentration, blurred vision, and pale skin, etc.

If you are already on blood pressure medication, then consume a banana after having a word with your doctor to avoid the risk of food-drug intolerance.

# Lowers Bad Cholesterol

Soluble dietary fibers like pectin in bananas reduce LDL cholesterol in the body and minimize the risk of atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a condition that leads to hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to the accumulation of plaque and fat deposits in the arterial walls and is a leading cause of several cardiovascular problems like heart attack, heart stroke, and coronary artery disease.

# Good For Kidneys

Bananas are good for the kidneys, a vital organ that eliminates toxins as well as contributes to other functions like regulating blood pressure, maintaining fluid balance, production of red blood cells, strengthen bones, and control pH level in the body.

Vitamin C, vitamin A and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients, polyphenols, and flavonoids in mangoes protect our kidneys from free radical damage and improve their efficiency.

Detoxifying compounds like dietary fibers and antioxidants like vitamin C in mangoes eliminate toxins, pollutants, and other unwanted substances from our system. To some extent, it reduces the burden of detoxification from the liver and kidneys, allowing them to focus on other functions performed by them.

# Improve Nerve Function

Banana improves nerve functioning and is good for the brain.

Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients, polyphenols, and flavonoids, etc in the banana protects our brain cells or the neurons from free radical damage, and thus minimizes the risk of various neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, amnesia, and dementia, etc.

Other nutrients like iron, potassium, zinc, iron, and magnesium, etc in the banana also contribute to neurological health as they provide several cognitive benefits like a sharper memory, better focus, improved concentration, and reduced mental confusion, etc.

# Decrease Risk of Various Cancer(s)

Antioxidants and antioxidantal compounds like vitamin C, vitamin A, phytonutrients, polyphenols, and flavonoids, etc in banana protect our cells and tissues from free radical damage and minimizes the risk of several cancers like colon cancer, abdominal cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer, etc.

Free radicals are the unstabilized ions that stabilize by stealing electrons from the neighboring molecules, and doing so causes oxidative damage to them.

# Strengthen Bones

Banana makes our bones stronger due to bone-strengthening minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium, etc.

Calcium is a vital mineral for the growth and development of the bones, and lack of this mineral may increase the risk of bone disorders like osteoporosis.

Potassium neutralizes acid load, reduces loss of calcium from the bones, and thus improves bone density.

The probiotic bacteria in banana enhances calcium absorption in the body.

Magnesium also improves bone density and thus contributes to better bone health.

Other nutrients like zinc, phosphorus, and folate, etc also aid in making our bones healthier.

# Promotes Digestive Health

Banana is good for the stomach and improves our digestive health.

Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A and antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients, polyphenols, and flavonoids, etc in banana protect our digestive system from free radical damage and minimizes the risk of colon cancer, abdominal cancer, pancreatic cancer, intestinal cancer, and stomach cancer, etc.

The laxative properties of dietary fibers in banana improves bowel movement, aids in stool elimination, and thus relieve constipation and other gastrointestinal issues like abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, gas, bloating and flatulence, etc.