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HEALTH BENEFITS
A
lthough the green banana is an un-ripened yellow
banana, it has different uses. While you can eat
the yellow banana immediately after peeling, the
green banana is best eaten cooked, either boiled or fried.
Nutritionally, the green banana is a good source of fiber,
vitamins and minerals, and contains a starch that may
help control blood sugar, manage weight and lower blood
cholesterol levels.
Good Source of Resistance Starch
Resistant starch is a type of starch that cannot be broken
down by enzymes in your digestive system and, therefore,
acts more like a fiber than a starch. Green bananas contain
a high amount of resistant starch. Including foods high in
resistant starch in your diet, like the green banana, may
reduce your risk of diabetes by aiding in blood sugar
control, and heart disease by helping to lower blood
cholesterol levels.
Good Source of Fiber
In addition to the resistant starch, green bananas are also
a good source of fiber. A 1-cup serving of boiled green
bananas contains 3.6 g of fiber, meeting 14 percent of your
daily value. The percent daily value is based on a 2,000-
calorie diet for a healthy adult. Fiber can also reduce risk of
diabetes and heart disease. In addition, fiber in food slows
digestion, helping you feel full longer, aiding in weight
control.
High in Potassium
Like the ripened yellow banana, the green banana is high
in potassium. A 1-cup serving of boiled green bananas
contains 531 mg of potassium. Including more high-
potassium foods in your diet may aid in blood pressure
control. The American Heart Association recommends
consuming 4,700 mg of potassium a day for heart health.
However, high potassium foods are not safe for everyone.
If you have high blood potassium levels or kidney disease,
you should talk to your doctor to determine how foods like
green bananas can fit into your diet plan.
High in Vitamin B-6
Green bananas are also high in vitamin B-6, with a 1-cup
boiled serving containing 39 percent of your daily value.
Vitamin B-6 plays an important role in more than 100
enzymatic reactions in your body. It is also necessary for the
formation of hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen
in your body. Additionally, vitamin B-6 aids in blood sugar
control.
Intestinal Health
Green bananas contain compounds called short chain
fatty acids, which nourish the cell tissue lining of the small
intestine, dramatically enhancing the body’s capacity to
absorb nutrients.
Diabetics Diet
Green bananas offer diabetics a high-energy, low-calorie
source of carbohydrates, which meets the glycemic
requirements recommended for their diets.
Weight Loss
Green bananas help boost metabolism, increasing the
body’s capacity to burn fat, which is beneficial for
overweight individuals. They are also a high-energy food
that is beneficial to athletes.
GREEN BANANAS
