The Many Reasons Why I Love Bananas
Who doesn't love bananas? They're cheap, easy to eat, and go with just about anything (except maybe peanut butter). Bananas are also rich in fiber, antioxidants, potassium, and Vitamins B6, C, and A. The health benefits of bananas can even extend your life by helping to lower blood pressure and reducing your risk of cancer and heart disease. If you're interested in the many reasons why I love bananas so much, read on!
They are versatile
Bananas can be eaten in a variety of ways. Whether it's just by themselves, as a breakfast cereal, added to oatmeal, in a smoothie, or one of my personal favorites, stuffed with Nutella and ice cream for dessert. They are versatile enough to suit every person's mood and taste. From the fruity flavor to the creamy texture, bananas have a little something for everyone. The best part is that they are accessible nearly everywhere and they're inexpensive too! It doesn't get much better than that! Bananas not only provide excellent nutrition but also leave you feeling full and satisfied. They come packed with potassium which boosts muscle health, helps lower blood pressure, reduces heart disease risk, and provides energy to your cells. In addition, bananas provide vitamins A, C, and E; riboflavin, thiamin; folate; magnesium; iron, and calcium.
Bananas even help you relax because their natural sugars cause serotonin levels to rise, which causes happiness hormones like dopamine to surge. Basically? I'm telling you now- there is no wrong way to eat a banana (or any other type of fruit)
They go well with my morning tea.
Not only do bananas have the perfect texture for both eating and cooking, but they are a great way to get protein on the go. They also naturally come with a built-in sugar that gives them their sweet taste, which means they can help satisfy my sweet tooth without all of the added sugar. But most importantly, this fruit is super easy to eat: it's just peeling off a little bit of skin, taking a bite out of it, and then chewing up that chunk while you're still holding onto it! How much easier could it be? There are so many reasons why I love bananas, and even though other fruits like apples or oranges might be more popular, there's nothing better than a good ol' banana. Plus, not only do they taste amazing when eaten raw, but it turns out that when cooked into something such as banana bread or cake batter, their flavor becomes exponentially richer. That's not to mention how convenient they are when traveling--especially because they don't spoil easily! So as long as there are bananas in the world (and hopefully forever), I'll be one happy camper. Bananas make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. For these reasons and many others, I think bananas should be celebrated as the ultimate fruit.
They are easy to carry around.
Bananas are great to have on hand because they are portable. While you can't keep an apple fresh in your purse for too long, bananas will last for a couple of days. They are easy to snack on in the car or while waiting at the doctor's office. And, unlike other foods like apples, oranges, and pears, you can eat them skin and all without any need for knives or cutting boards. Bananas also offer more potassium than most other fruits: One medium banana has about 450 mg of potassium which is roughly 40% of what most people need in one day. In addition, the peel of bananas contains substances that may help protect against cancer and Parkinson's disease. They come in many flavors:
Bananas come in wide varieties, including red bananas, plantains, sapotes, burros, and lilikoi (passion fruit). There are over 400 different types of bananas worldwide! There are so many ways to enjoy them: Bananas make delicious smoothies when mixed with frozen berries or yogurt; they are perfect as breakfast cereal and amazing as bread or muffins! Not only do they provide a variety of nutrients, but the taste combinations are endless. You'll never get bored with this favorite fruit!
They are very healthy.
When it comes to nutrient-packed fruit, bananas are among the best. They contain potassium and dietary fiber for heart health; they're rich in vitamins A, C, and B6 for better immunity; they have tryptophan to help with sleep; they are low in sugar yet provide an energy boost. And they're delicious!
Bananas also provide a natural sweetness that helps regulate your blood sugar levels, especially if you have diabetes. This can also improve symptoms of certain stomach conditions like acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome. There is some evidence that bananas may even reduce the risk of cancer and Parkinson's disease. For people who suffer from asthma or allergies, bananas could be helpful as well because they naturally release histamine (which might counteract asthma attacks) and block allergens.
They're easy to take on the go: For any busy person out there, one reason why bananas are so great is that they come pre-packaged and ready to eat! You don't need anything else but a sturdy pair of hands.
Plus, kids love them: Most kids will eat just about anything their parents put in front of them - except maybe broccoli - but many kids actually enjoy eating bananas. Making this one healthier snack option, you don't have to worry about them refusing.
Bananas keep me away from snacking between meals.
As a registered dietitian, one of the most common questions that I get is, Do you eat bananas? My answer is always yes! Not only are bananas packed with potassium and fiber, but they also keep me away from snacking between meals. Think about it, with an apple or orange, and you need to spend time cutting them up. That precious time spent eating is what often leads to snacking and binging on processed foods. With a banana, though, all you have to do is grab and go! Plus, the natural sweetness from fruit will curate your appetite, so you'll feel satisfied for longer. I may just be biased because bananas are my favorite fruit, but it doesn't stop there. They're not just healthy - they're delicious too! In fact, if I had to choose a favorite type of banana flavor, it would be the Chocolate Banana. And when do those two flavors come together in a brownie? Forget about it. It's like winning some kind of delicious lottery. Now you can find these at any major grocery store in America but trust me: They don't taste as good as they look when bought premade in plastic wrap!
Even my dog loves them.
I love bananas. They are my favorite fruit and have so many benefits that other fruits don't. One of the reasons why I love them is because they are inexpensive, taste great, and are good for you too. I love that they have natural sugars in them as well, which makes them a perfect breakfast food or snack on the go. The only bad thing about bananas is they turn brown really fast and can be hard to eat. In a sense, it's like eating an apple with worm holes in it; those kinds of things gross me out, so when bananas turn brown the first time, you need to throw them away! You can peel them and put them in a freezer bag if you want to save them for later, but I think it tastes better fresh. Another way to keep your bananas fresh longer is by storing the peeled banana upside down or with their stem attached (you'll know what I mean if you've ever had one). The downside of this is the stem turns brown and goes soft over time. However, if you want your extra banana sweet before peeling, try putting sugar on it and then freezing it-that way; all the sugar will crystallize instead of going into a solution with water like adding sugar directly onto a frozen banana does- this helps make them even sweeter without making then soggy.
Conclusion
I hope that by now you agree with me that bananas are the best. So next time you are picking out something to eat, reach for a banana and enjoy!
I know what you're thinking--but Molly, why don't you pick oranges or apples? Well, I'll tell you! Bananas offer potassium to help keep your heart healthy, fiber to aid in digestion, manganese for antioxidants, and a high content of tryptophan which is an essential amino acid that can boost your mood. Oh, and did I mention they have 4 grams of protein in just one banana!? That's comparable to an egg! And if that wasn't enough, studies show that eating a banana before doing exercise can actually improve performance in endurance activities like long-distance running and cycling because it helps reduce fatigue while improving mental focus.
Bananas also have twice as much water as most other fruits, so they will fill you up without all the added sugar! In addition to all these great qualities, it has been shown that people who eat more bananas experience less illness than those who don't. And finally--I'm sure we all love this quality--bananas give off heat when eaten, which provides warmth during cold days. Plus, there are so many different ways to prepare them: frozen in ice cream, blended into milkshakes, or blended into smoothies!