How Bananas can Improve your Digestion

The digestive system performs an essential function in the human body so good digestion is key for our overall wellbeing. The benefits of keeping our gut in good health are manifold.

Bananas are one of the world’s most popular fruits. They’re a tasty, economical, and convenient snack not to mention incredibly healthy. But did you know bananas are a great for our digestive tracks?

Bananas are a good source of fiber and one of the best foods that help with digestion because the carbohydrates they contain are easily broken down.

Dietary fiber has been linked to numerous health benefits, including improved digestion. A medium-sized banana has about 3 grams of fiber, making bananas a fairly good fiber source.

Bananas contain two important types of fiber you may not have known about: Pectin and Resistant Starch.

Pectin is a soluble fiber and aids digestion in many ways. Soluble fibers turn into gel in your digestive tract then soften the stool and speed the transit time of material through the digestive tract. However, pectin decreases as the banana ripens. Something to think about if you are one to let bananas ripen too long and then freeze for smoothies.

Resistant starch is important for supporting a healthy gut. It escapes digestion and ends up in your large intestine, where it becomes food for the beneficial bacteria in your gut. However, However, bananas lose their resistant starch as they ripen. If more unripe bananas do not appeal to you, you may find that you can tolerate the taste better if you place them in a smoothie.

In addition to digestion, this fruit is gentle enough to be eaten if you are suffering from stomach ailments and it restores lost electrolytes back into the body.

Bananas are also a rich source of fructooligosaccharides, which act as a probiotic and promote the growth of good bacteria in the digestive tract, which ultimately helps with digestion.

Each banana has only about 105 calories and consists almost exclusively of water and carbs (which is why bananas often get a bad rap). Bananas hold very little protein and almost no fat.

In conclusion, a good digestion leads to a good day. A banana a day keeps unhealthy digestion away.