Are Bananas Bad For Your Heart?

A lot is spoken about having fruits for good health. Wondering if bananas are bad for your heart? Go through this piece of read to fully understand the health benefits and risk associated with bananas. Banana is among the most widely consumed fruits in the world. It is grown in more than 107 countries and is ranked 4th among the world’s food crops in monetary value. Along with its excellent taste, banana is also hailed for offering multiple health benefits to the consumer.

Not only does it help to improve heart health and support regularity, but even aids in preventing asthma, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, age related memory loss, mood swings and digestive problems. But, some possible health risks are associated with bananas too. Want to know are bananas bad for your heart or not? Read on for the answer.

The daily recommended intake of potassium is 4700 mg for adults. One serving, i.e. about 126 g, of banana contains 30 g carbohydrates, 450 mg potassium, 1 g protein, 3 g dietary fiber, and 110 calories. It also contains vitamins and other minerals in small amounts. However, banana is naturally free of fat, sodium and cholesterol. Many people wonder if bananas are bad for your heart, but the fact is that the benefits and risks also depend a lot on the quantity consumed.

Potassium present in banana helps in maintaining the fluid levels in the body and regulating the movement of nutrients and waste products through cells. Potassium is also vital for ensuring proper muscle contraction and nerve cells response. It reduces the effect of sodium on blood pressure and helps in keeping the heart beating regularly.

Potassium can lower the risk of kidney stone formation, and healthy kidneys make sure that the optimal amount of potassium is present in the body. A medium-sized banana contains around 422 mg of potassium. It is best to get potassium from dietary sources like bananas.

Certain medications prescribed for heart diseases and hypertension, like beta blockers, can lead to an increase in the potassium levels in blood by restricting the actions of the hormone aldosterone, and certain diuretics. Excess potassium consumption especially harms people whose kidneys are not fully functional. If the kidneys fail to remove excess potassium from the blood, the consequences can be fatal. So, high potassium foods like bananas should be consumed in moderation when using beta-blockers.

These conditions must be present with certain heart problems, these concerns must be considered when thinking if bananas are bad for your heart.

Some people may even be allergic or sensitive to bananas. If these people eat a banana, they can experience symptoms like hives, wheezing, sneezing or itching, in their mouth and throat. Bananas can also trigger migraines in some people, and they should thus eat no more than half a banana a day. Since banana contains a lot of fiber, eating too much of it can even lead to gas, bloating, and stomach cramps. For some people with heart problems, these concerns can worsen their trouble. This too must be understood when considering if bananas are bad for your heart.

Fresh bananas are available throughout the year. Unlike other fruits, the ripening process of banana does not retard after they are picked. The warmer the temperature, the faster bananas ripen. For encouraging faster ripening, banana should be placed in a brown paper bag at room temperature. However, for slowing down the ripening process, bananas need to be refrigerated. The outer peel of the banana may darken but the banana itself stays intact for longer.

Sliced banana can be added to the morning cereal or oatmeal to make them more delicious and nutritious. A banana can be taken along while going to work or school, as a healthy, portable snack. Bananas can be peeled and frozen, and used as a great addition to any smoothie. Ripe mashed bananas can also be used to replace oil or butter, in baked goods. Mashed bananas provide a moist and naturally sweet flavor to cakes, cookies and muffins.

Thus bananas are very good for health, with their nutritional value and can be eaten in various different ways too. However, the answer to the question whether bananas are bad for your heart depends on individual health status. Owing to its health benefits, the best way out can be to have bananas in moderation to enjoy the benefits and limit the risks. For some people if banana is completely restricted, for their health condition, it is best to follow medical advice to avoid problems.

Also Read:

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• Benefits of Banana Peels in Teeth Whitening
• Nutritional Facts of Banana Peel and its Health Benefits
• Do Bananas Lower Your Blood Pressure?
• Are Bananas Good For Your Liver?