3 quick facts on bananas for health

Health, tasty and filling – it’s no wonder bananas are a popular snack on the go. These tips will tell you all you need to know about getting the most out of these handy fruits.

You know they’re good for you but do you know just how? Read these tips for the full run down on  banana nutrition:

• A medium banana contains close to 500 milligrams of potassium, a mineral that plays a role in lowering blood pressure.
• A study of 17,000 adults indicated that higher potassium levels are associated with lower blood pressure.
• Bananas also contain the amino acid tryptophan, which stimulates the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that has a calming effect on the body.
• Bananas are an excellent source of vitamin B6.
• Bananas contain about 100 calories each, mostly in the form of fruit sugar and starch.

To ripen your bananas, place them in a plastic or paper bag along with an apple. A ripe banana is a great snack or basics staple and is kind to both babies and adults’ stomachs. Check out these quick facts:

• Try bananas for baby's first food.
• Because bananas are bland, easy to digest and unlikely to produce allergies, they are an ideal early food for babies.
• Bananas, along with rice, applesauce and toast, are one of the foods in the diet recommended after a bout of diarrhea
• Some ulcer patients report that bananas alleviate some pain, but this is unproven. While allergies to bananas are rare, they are more common in people who are allergic to rubber products.

A popular member of the banana family is the plantain. It never becomes as sweet as its yellow cousin so makes a delicious ingredient in savoury dishes. That being said, it has a gentles sweet tinge that makes it a great addition to hot, spicy dishes.

• Plantains can be baked or fried and served as a starchy side dish.
• They can also be a delicious addition to soups, stews and meat dishes.
• Nutritionally, plantains are comparable to bananas, except that they contain about 10 times more beta carotene than a regular banana.

A banana is one of the most nutritious, handiest and tastiest snacks around for all ages. These banana facts will help you get the most of these yummy fruits.