Fresh bananas are a versatile and relatively inexpensive fruit. A great fruit if interested in adding more healthy fruits to the diet is the banana. Apart from fiber, bananas also contain various antioxidants and phytonutrients including potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C. Bananas are rich in carbohydrates, water, fiber, and antioxidants, among 11 science-based health benefits. Soluble fiber in bananas improves blood sugar levels. Soluble fiber dissolves in liquid to form a gel during digestion. Raw bananas also contain starch, a type of resistant fiber. These two types of fiber help moderate blood sugar levels after meals and control hunger by emptying the stomach.
The resistant starch fiber found in raw bananas is a prebiotic. Prebiotics escape digestion and end up in the large intestine where they become food for beneficial gut bacteria. Pectin, a fiber found in both raw and ripe bananas, helps prevent constipation and soften stools. Pectin also helps protect against colon cancer.
Soluble fiber in bananas reaches the digestive system and stabilizes the digestive process. A banana can be eaten with protein-rich foods like Greek yogurt or mixed into a protein shake to curb hunger. As a great dietary source of potassium, bananas are especially beneficial for kidney health. Supporting exercise recovery means exercise performance, cramping and bananas provide excellent nutrition before, during and after exercise. Bananas are especially important in the diet as they aid in digestion.
