10 Amazing Benefits of Bananas

Bananas are popular all over the world for their great taste and high nutritional value. Even Taiwanese actresses such as Big S and Lin Chi-ling use bananas to lose weight. Taiwan is especially famous as it is a banana-producing country. We should know more about this super fruit with many benefits. A foreign website (livestrong) has compiled 10 benefits of bananas for health and weight loss.

1. Suppress appetite

According to a study published by the Chicago-based Smell and Taste Therapeutic Research Foundation, smelling a banana when you're hungry can trick your brain into thinking you've already eaten it! Next time you use bananas to lose weight, maybe try it when you’re hungry to see if it works.

2. Improve athletic performance

According to a study conducted by the Human Behavior Laboratory at Appalachian State University, eating half a banana and drinking the same proportion of sports drink can both replenish the body with the energy it needs, using cycling for 15 minutes as a test basis. This proves that bananas are a very good "muscle fuel" and contain more antioxidant nutrients than sports drinks.

3. High nutritional value

Compared to apples, the unit price of each banana is much lower, and it is easy to obtain the rich nutritional ingredients of bananas without excessive processing and refrigeration.

4. A good friend for weight loss

A medium-sized banana contains about 110 calories, 30 grams of carbohydrates and 3 grams of fiber. It also contains 2 to 3 grams of resistant starch, which allows you to feel more full. It is a suitable food to replenish energy one hour before exercise, or as a snack during a break at work.

5. Easy to carry and cook

Bananas are small in size, so you can just go to the convenience store and buy a banana box to avoid getting crushed when carrying them. And because of their fruity aroma and taste, they are very suitable for adding to various dishes, such as desserts, ice cream, and salads. Even if they are made into juice and added to milk, they are quite delicious.

6. Strong Vitamin C Supplement

In the past, it was believed that fruits such as oranges and strawberries were rich in vitamin C, but bananas can provide 15% of the daily required vitamin C, which is a very important antioxidant for the body and also helps to produce collagen, making your skin hydrated.

7. Rich in Vitamin B6

Bananas contain 20% of the daily requirement of vitamin B6, which can provide the body with non-essential amino acids to create healthy cells and enhance immunity to resist bacterial infections.

8. Relieve gastrointestinal discomfort

The advantage of bananas is that they are very easy to digest and do not easily irritate the stomach and digestive system. Bananas are also suitable for children with poor gastrointestinal function and can be used as a source of solid food for young children who are just starting to get in touch with it.

9. Rich in potassium, helps lower blood pressure

A medium-sized banana contains about 422 mg of potassium, which is about 10% of the daily requirement of the human body. It is also low in sodium, which helps lower blood pressure and keeps you away from hypertension and stroke.

10. Magnesium helps you get rid of depression

One small banana provides 27 mg of magnesium, which helps boost mood and eliminate unhappy feelings such as anxiety and depression. Men and women need about 420 and 320 mg of magnesium per day. If your diet is deficient in magnesium, you might as well have a banana!