We know that bananas are full of healthy nutrients and are a common ingredient in many delicious recipes including breakfast smoothies and post-workout shakes. They’re delicious and they come pre-packaged by mother nature so they’re convenient on the go – what’s not to love!

Well, did you know that your favorite curved, yellow fruit may not be so good for your health?

Why bananas may not be good for you

If you’re thinking about the natural fruit sugars in bananas spiking blood glucose levels, you’re right – that’s one feature of bananas that may not be great for you, especially if you’re diabetic or just struggle with maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.

Bananas contain practically no proteins or fats, and so are essentially a handful of carbohydrates. So if you’re striving to lose weight, you may want to go easy on the bananas. We also often forget that an average serving size is anywhere between one half to one full banana, and may not realize just how many natural sugars and starches we’re consuming in a single sitting.

Bananas according to Chinese medicine

Let’s take a step away from Western medicine and look at traditional medicinal uses of banana. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, a banana is considered a cold food (one that naturally lowers the internal body temperature and helps cool you down) which is great for summer months. But have a banana in the middle of a freezing winter storm and you’re bringing chills to your body!

A banana is also great for “yin deficiency,” a condition often associated with low female hormones characterized by dry and less supple hair and skin, hot flashes, and irritability, among other symptoms. That’s because in addition to cooling the body, bananas can increase its moisture and bring nutrients to where they are needed. However, let’s say you have an accumulation of dampness in the body (often caused by digestive issues that cause water retention, excess phlegm or a slowing of the lymphatic system), then a banana will only increase this inner state of humidity.

The positive side of bananas

Don’t take bananas off the chopping block and toss them into the bin just yet. For anyone struggling to keep their blood sugar balances, you may choose to opt for an underripe, rather than overripe, banana because its resistant starch breaks down more slowly in the body resulting in a lower glycemic index.

Bananas can also be a great choice for athletes or those who get a lot of physical activity because of the effects its fast-acting carbohydrates can have on the body’s energy levels. Its potassium content can also help with muscle repair, rehydration, and replenishing lost electrolytes after an intense workout, and even benefits the circulatory and skeletal systems.

Add into the mix a banana’s fiber that promotes healthy digestion, manganese that promotes healthy skin and bones, vitamin C that offers a boost in immunity , vitamin B6 that aids brain function, and many other beneficial nutrients all packed in a low-calorie portable snack and you have yourself a superfood that you should consider including in your diet.

Should I eat bananas or not?

If all this has left you wondering ‘Well, should I eat bananas or not?’ there is a simple way to know. Harness the power of web platforms and apps that take the confusion out of knowing which foods are good and which aren’t so good for you as an individual. We recommend you check out ph360 and Shae^TM to learn more about how different foods suit you.