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Everything You Need to Know About Bananas

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The simple banana is one of the most widely consumed fruits in the world. And with good reason! Besides being tasty, inexpensive and easy to eat on the go, bananas are incredibly nutritious. A wide variety of health benefits are liked to the funny looking fruit. Bananas are high in potassium and pectin, a form of fiber. Plus, they can also be a good way to get magnesium and vitamins C and B6. Want to know more about this tropical-tree fruit? Read on:

Bananas aid in digestion and weight loss

Bananas are rich in fiber, which can help keep you regular. One banana can provide nearly 10 percent of your daily fiber requirement. The Vitamin B6 found in bananas can also help protect against Type 2 diabetes and aid in weight loss, And because they taste sweet and are filling, they help curb cravings. The fruit is also particularly high in resistant starch, another form of dietary fiber. A 2017 review published in Nutrition Bulletin found that the resistant starch in bananas may support gut health and control blood sugar. Resistant starch increases the production of short chain fatty acids in the gut, which are necessary to gut health.

Bananas are good for your heart

Another upside to the high potassium content in bananas: it may help regulate blood pressure.  Research shows that eating lots of potassium is associated with significantly lower blood pressure levels and a decreased risk of stroke. That’s because potassium helps flush excess heart-stressing sodium from your body through your urine, reducing the potential damage it may have on your heart.

Bananas provide an easily digestible source of carbohydrates, the preferential fuel during exercise. And for replenishing energy and electrolytes, bananas can be more effective than sports drinks, thanks to their antioxidants, fiber, potassium and vitamin B6. Have a Charley house? Incorporating potassium-rich foods (like, say, bananas) into your diet can help soothe achy muscles and maybe even prevent you from cramping up in the first place.

Bananas provide a boost of Vitamin C

While oranges and strawberries provide Vitamin C, a serving of banana provides 15 percent of the daily requirement for vitamin C. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant that helps neutralize damaging free radicals and helps keep systemic inflammation at bay. It also helps produce collagen that holds muscles, bones and other tissues together. Plus it helps keep blood vessels healthy and is needed to optimally absorb iron and folate.

Beauty benefits of bananas

Bananas aren’t just good for the inside of your body – they can help your outside appearance as well. For example, when mashed and applied like a conditioner, bananas can soften hair and preserve its elasticity. Bananas are the secret to well moisturized skin, too. The vitamin A in bananas restores moisture and repairs dry skin. Mash a ripe banana and apply it to dry skin, avoiding contact with your eyes. Leave on for 20-25 minutes, then wash off with lukewarm water for instantly moisturized skin. Or treat acne by rubbing the inside of the peel on the affected area for approximately five minutes (until the peel turns brown). Repeat this process three times a day for clearer skin. And lastly, Beauty gurus claim that rubbing mashed banana underneath the eyes can help reduce puffiness. That’s because the potassium in bananas reportedly limits fluid retention. Worth a shot, don’t you think?

The benefits of the banana peel

Often used as a natural remedy, banana peels can soothe an itchy mosquito bite. Rubbing the area with the inside of a banana skin can give immediate relief as its sugars help to draw fluid out of the bite As mentioned above, you can put an end to your hair and skin issues through the use of banana peels. Using the inside of a banana peel, you may massage it on the areas where pimples, acne and blemishes occur or recur. This natural exfoliating agent contains enzymes that remove toxins from the skin pores allowing you to get rid of zits. Additionally, the peel also contains an antioxidant called lutein. Lutein is an anti-aging component that can aid in the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles. Gently rub a peel around your face. After 20 minutes, wash the peel off with warm water.If you are looking for naturally ways to whiten your teeth, the citric acid content of the peel can remove yellow stains dramatically.  Apply the peel before brushing with your toothpaste. Simply rub the inside of a banana peel on your teeth for 2 minutes.

Easy Banana Recipes:

 

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