Incredible Health Benefits Of Bananas You Might Not Know

When you think about the health benefits of bananas do you often ­focus on cardiovascular benefits or fiber? While both are important, there're many other surprising benefits that make bananas one of America's favorite fruits. Bananas even have great health benefits for dogs too.

When it comes to weight loss and digestion, bananas are your best bet. Just make sure to eat ripe bananas, as green ones are mostly starch. Find out what else they can do for you.

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Health Benefits of Bananas

Here are some of the potential health benefits of bananas

1) Helps body produce serotonin

Increases serotonin levels (Image via Pexels/Madison Inouye)

You might be familiar with serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood. Serotonin is also thought to play an important role in regulating sleep patterns.

Bananas contain an amino acid called tryptophan, which helps the body produce serotonin. That makes bananas a great snack for those times when you need some extra help getting to sleep at night.

2) Good for heart

There are many benefits of bananas.You may know that bananas are good for your heart, but you might not know how.

Bananas are a good source of potassium, which is important for heart health. They also contain fiber, which can help lower cholesterol levels and reduce risk of heart disease.

3) Can help with digestion

Bananas are a great source of fiber, which is an important element for digestion. They contain pectin, which helps with digestion and can also prevent constipation by absorbing water from the body and making you feel fuller.

They have been used as a treatment for diarrhea since ancient times, as they help slow down the movement of food through the digestive tract so that it doesn't move too quickly through the system.

4) Aid in weight loss

Benefits of bananas: great source of fiber (Image via Pexels/Pixabay)

Bananas are a great source of fiber, which is the most important nutrient for weight loss. They also happen to be low in calories and have a neutral effect on blood sugar levels.

Whether you’re looking to boost your fiber intake, bulk up on nutrients, or do something good for your heart, the benefits of bananas are tough to pass up.

5) Can help manage blood pressure

Benefits of bananas: helps maintain blood pressure levels (Image via Pexels/Element Digital)

One benefit of bananas, is that they're a good source of potassium, which can help regulate blood pressure. In fact, having bananas may lower the risk of stroke and heart disease.

Bananas also contain magnesium, which helps relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure.

6) Energy boosters

The benefits of bananas include recharging energy levels. They provide potassium and magnesium, two nutrients that are good for health.

Bananas contain both potassium and magnesium, which means they provide an excellent source of these two key electrolytes. Even better: They're also relatively easy to add into your diet.

If you want more energy throughout the day but don't want to turn to stimulants like caffeine or sugar alternatives like artificial sweeteners for it, have some bananas.

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Vitamins in Bananas

Bananas are nutritious, containing fiber, potassium and vitamins B6 and C. There are many varietiesm including green and yellow ones, as well as some red-skinned ones. Here are the vitamins in bananas:

1) Vitamin B6

Bananas are rich in vitamin B6, which can lessen risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer.

People with autoimmune diseases, alcoholism and renal insufficiency are often deficient in vitamin B6. Adding bananas to their diet can help correct the deficiency.

2) Vitamin C and Iron

Benefits of bananas: great snack for atheletes (Image via Pexels/Suzy Hazelwood)

Bananas are an excellent source of vitamin C, and the two nutrients complement each other.

Vitamin C aids in the absorption of iron, so having a banana with other foods high in this nutrient can strengthen the immune system and supply the body with antioxidants.

3) Tyrosine

Bananas, which many athletes choose to eat during water breaks, contain tyrosine.

When combined with other nutrients, this amino acid can improve alertness, motivation, memory and focus. Almonds, avocados, lima beans, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds are all sources of tyrosine.

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Disadvantages of Eating Bananas At Night

Bananas are safe to eat at any time of day, but you should avoid eating them at night if you have a cough or cold. Bananas take a long time to digest, so if you want to eat one, make sure you leave plenty of time before going to bed.

Many people believe that eating bananas or citrus fruits should be avoided by those who have colds, especially at night. It's true that during night you are more vulnerable to infections. Also, it's true that you shouldn't eat anything close to bedtime.

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Whether they're part of your daily diet or just a once-in-a-while snack, it's important to know all the ways this wonderful fruit can benefit health.