What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Bananas Every Day

Bananas are a very popular and convenient fruit—but are they good for you?

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In This Article
  • Bananas are a filling fruit that may lower your risk of chronic disease, including heart disease.
  • Bananas provide gut-loving fiber and potassium for a healthy heart and muscles.
  • Enjoy bananas as is, blend them into smoothies or bake them into bread or oats.

Bananas are a popular go-to snack. They're delicious, convenient and accessible but have also been the subject of controversy from time to time. Are they worthy of praise for being a good source of potassium—or deserving of criticism for having too much sugar? Is it healthy to eat them daily? If so, how many?

In this article, we'll explore the evidence surrounding the health benefits of bananas and determine whether or not they should be part of a healthy diet. To start, let's look at the health benefits of bananas.

Why We Love Bananas

They May Increase Your Energy

Bananas are a good source of carbs—your body's primary fuel for energy production. Bananas also contain B vitamins, such as vitamins B1, B3 and B6, which are essential for your body's energy production system to work.

Bananas can be part of a healthy meal or snack and are best utilized when paired with healthy fats and/or protein. This is because carbohydrates digest more quickly than protein or fat, so when eaten alone, they can send your blood sugar soaring—and subsequently crashing. Pairing a banana with a healthy fat or protein—such as a handful of almonds or a cup of Greek yogurt—will help prolong the energy the banana provides and keep your blood sugar more stable.

They May Help You Maintain a Healthy Weight

When eaten as part of a balanced meal, bananas can help keep you satisfied longer. Feeling satisfied between meals reduces the likelihood that you'll have cravings and exceed your daily caloric needs—which over time, can contribute to weight gain.

While there is no evidence that bananas directly contribute to weight loss, they are a convenient and readily available food option that can be easily incorporated into a nutritious eating pattern to lose weight. There is also evidence that increasing your fiber by consuming more fruits and vegetables is associated with greater weight loss success. This is good news, considering a medium banana contributes 3 grams of fiber to your daily total—which brings us to our next benefit.

They Might Increase Your Fiber Intake

According to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, more than 90% of women and 97% of men do not get the recommended daily amount of 28 g to 34 g of fiber per day.

Enter the banana.

Medium-sized bananas have about 3 g of fiber each, and fiber has many health benefits, including keeping you full longer.

Pectin, a specific type of fiber found in bananas, can help your body eliminate waste more effectively. As bananas ripen, they tend to lose some of their pectin content, so greener or slightly ripe bananas are a better source of fiber than overripe bananas.

Bananas also contain a type of dietary fiber called resistant starch, which acts as a prebiotic, giving your beneficial gut bacteria something to nosh on. A healthy gut means lower inflammation, reduced disease risk and better overall health.

They Might Improve Your Heart Health

Bananas are known for being a great source of potassium, with one medium banana coming in at 422 milligrams. That's about 9% of your daily recommended intake.

Potassium is found in all body tissues and is essential for normal cell function. It is important for a healthy heart as well. The DASH diet, a protocol commonly recommended for people diagnosed with—or at risk for—heart disease, recommends getting potassium from fruits and vegetables. Bananas are a great way to contribute to your daily potassium needs.

Getting enough potassium in your diet may also help lower blood pressure. High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease, so eating foods containing potassium each day is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Fortunately, it's easy to incorporate bananas into foods like smoothies and overnight oats—which can also contain other fruits and whole grains that can promote heart health as well.

They May Reduce Your Risk for Chronic Disease

A lesser-known fact about bananas is that they are rich in compounds that have antioxidant properties, including antioxidants with anticancer potential, specifically for pancreatic cancer and triple-negative breast cancer.

Oxidative stress can cause inflammation and damage body tissues. If this continues as you age, it can lead to chronic inflammation—a known driver of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and more.

Consuming fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants—like bananas—can help provide your body with the tools to help keep inflammation at bay.

Nutrition Information

One medium banana contains:

  • Calories: 105
  • Carbohydrates: 27 g
  • Dietary fiber: 3 g
  • Total sugar: 14 g*
  • Added sugar: 0 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Total Fat: 0 g
  • Saturated fat: 0 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 g
  • Sodium: 1 mg
  • Potassium: 422 mg

*Sugar in bananas is naturally occurring

Are Bananas Safe for Everyone?

People with chronic kidney disease should limit bananas and other foods that are high in potassium to protect their kidneys and heart from damage, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

Eating too many bananas or other high-potassium foods can cause excess potassium in the body, also called hyperkalemia. This can cause serious health problems, including heart issues. While most people wouldn't be able to stomach the number of bananas necessary to cause this to happen, it's something to be mindful of.

6 Ways to Enjoy Bananas

  • As is. Perhaps the most common way people eat bananas is to simply peel and eat. Bananas make a great snack on the go. Add a small handful of nuts or a swipe of peanut butter for protein and healthy fats to round out your snack.
  • Layered. Layer yogurt, peanut butter and bananas in a small cup for a tasty, nutritious parfait. Sprinkle chopped peanuts on top for added crunch that complements the smooth texture of the other ingredients.
  • Baked. Bananas can be mashed and added into baked goods, including bread, muffins and baked oats.
  • Blended. Bananas are a great addition to smoothies, adding energy-boosting carbs and filling fiber.
  • Smothered. Whether it's peanut butter or chocolate—or both—the banana makes the perfect canvas to be covered in it. Want to go one step further? Roll the smothered banana in nuts or coconut and freeze it for a cool, fruity dessert.
  • Frozen. All you need is a banana and peanut butter to make 2-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream. For added texture, stir in chopped nuts and mini chocolate chips.

Banana Recipes to Try

Our Expert Take

Bananas are a nutritious, filling, convenient fruit and are also budget-friendly. They're a good source of potassium, antioxidants and fiber, and can help reduce the risk of chronic disease, improve gut health and more. They're great as part of a meal, in smoothies or as an on-the-go snack with a handful of nuts or a swipe of peanut butter.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How many bananas can I eat per day?

    While there's no blanket rule, sticking to one to two bananas per day shouldn't cause issues for most people. With that said, remember that they are relatively high in carbohydrates, so eating them along with protein or fat is also advisable to support stable energy levels. Bananas are best consumed in moderation and as part of a healthy, balanced eating pattern, much like other healthy foods.

  • Can people with diabetes eat bananas?

    Yes, if you have diabetes, you can eat bananas. It's helpful to eat the banana with a healthy fat and protein—like peanut butter or nuts—to help stabilize blood sugar. Greener bananas have more resistant starch and less sugar. And if you have a choice, reach for smaller bananas.

  • Can I eat the banana peel?

    Yes, as weird as it sounds, you can eat the peel. And while it's probably not appealing to take a bite of it, you can finely chop or shred it and add it to smoothies or baked goods for extra fiber. If you plan on eating the peel, it's probably best to use organic bananas and wash the peel before you consume it.

  • Will bananas make me gain weight?

    Eating a banana a day is not likely to contribute to weight gain. It's important to keep the bigger picture in mind and eat a variety of nutritious foods, which, for most people, can include bananas.

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Sources
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