Healthiest Time to Eat a Banana: Ripe or Green?

Bananas are one of the most consumed fruits in the whole world, because besides having a delicious flavor, they are very cheap and healthy. Many people have eliminated it from their diets because they believe in the false urban legend that says that eating them makes you gain weight. However, they have proven that, on the contrary, eating bananas in moderation has benefits for people who want to have a balanced diet and want to lose weight.

What Are the Properties of Bananas?

Bananas are a rich source of carbohydrates, which makes it one of the best vegetable sources of energy for the body. Their richness in sugar is balanced out by their low content in fats and high content of fiber, which helps regulate sugar absorption.

This fruit is characterized by making you feel satisfied and being a significant source of potassium. Potassium stimulates the elimination of fluids retained in the body and it is also essential in the treatment of diseases like hypertension, gout, and rheumatic diseases.

Every 100 grams of banana gives you 90 calories, which makes them a fruit that contains the most calories. However, eating them in moderation is best in order to take advantage of all of their benefits and to maintain a balanced weight without their consumption becoming a problem.

Bananas’ delicious flavor is accompanied by important vitamins like vitamin C, which helps strengthen the immune system and B 6, which is key for creating new cells in the body.

Bananas improve circulation, prevent muscle cramps, are good for fighting depression, reduce levels of bad cholesterol, are great for skin and hair, and also help fight depression. There are many reasons to add bananas more frequently to your diet. However, the question that many people have is what is the healthiest way to eat a banana, green or ripened?

Choose Green or Ripe Bananas According to Your Needs

The best point of maturity of bananas depends on each person’s tastes, because there are some who prefer when they are still green, and there are some who like it better when they are completely ripe. But beyond those tastes, it’s important to know that the nutritional value of bananas changes as they mature.

We all know that the more mature bananas are, the sweeter they become. This is because the enzymes that they contain turn into starch and as the fruit matures, this starch turns into mono and disaccharides like sucrose, glucose, and fructose (simple sugars). Right when the starch turns into simple sugar is when the banana matures and is easier to digest. However, various studies have found that, when they mature, bananas lose part of their vitamins and minerals.

On the other hand, a recent study found that when a banana matures, it also produces various antioxidants and anti-carcinogenic properties that can benefit your body in many ways. When a banana is completely yellow and has dark spots, it produces a substance called TNF (tumor necrosis factor), which has the ability to fight malignant cells. The study concluded that, the more mature bananas are, the more effective and beneficial they are for fighting against cancer. Also, researchers also found that yellow and ripe bananas are 8 times more effective in strengthening the immune system, in comparison to when they are green.

Therefore, for most people, it is easier to eat a banana when it is completely mature, especially when it is very yellow and have spots on its peel. However, people that suffer from diabetes, those who are at risk of suffering from this disease, or those who simply want to avoid quick increases of sugar levels, can include bananas in their diet, but while they are still green.

When Is it Not Good to Eat a Banana?

Experts recommend removing bananas from your diet if you suffer from liver failure or kidney failure problems. In those cases, it’s best to ask a doctor before eating any bananas.

Keep in Mind…

• Because of their delicious flavor, bananas can be used in different recipes. However, it’s best to eat them raw in order to take advantage of all of their benefits.
• You should avoid keeping bananas in the refrigerator because this can make them lose their flavor and many of their properties.
• Once you peel them, you should eat them right away because they go bad easily.