Banana is an affordable and easy-to-eat fruit available year-round. Bananas are an excellent source of potassium, fiber, and magnesium. You can consume this healthy fruit for breakfast or drink a banana milkshake as an evening snack, but the best time to eat bananas is anytime during the day except on an empty stomach.
Highlights
- Bananas can be eaten for breakfast with other foods to boost your energy levels or eaten before bed to aid sleep.
- Ripe bananas are full of nutrients like potassium. Magnesium and fiber make them easy to digest. Unripe bananas can cause digestive issues due to high undigestable carbs content.
- Avoid eating bananas on an empty stomach, as they can cause acidity
The two major factors are essential in deciding when to eat bananas. The first would be the ripening of bananas, and the second is nutritional requirements.
Let it be more clear. The fully ripened banana is sweet and can be digested easily. It will give more energy to the body. On the contrary, unripe bananas are less sweet and might be difficult to digest due to not breaking down starch into simpler sugars.
Nutrition Facts about Bananas
The nutritional content of 1 medium size banana includes the:
- Calories: 90
- Fiber: 2.8 grams
- Sugar: 12.8 grams
- Water: 78%
- Protein: 1.2 grams
- Carbs: 22.9 grams
- Fat: 0.7 grams
Bananas also contain high amounts of potassium, magnesium, and other essential nutrients. Like other fruits, bananas have numerous healthy antioxidants, major contributors to their abundant health benefits. These mainly include bioactive plant compounds such as dopamine and catechins.
Is it fine to eat Banana at Night?
Bananas are beneficial to be eaten at night time. Eating bananas at night has been demonstrated to help control your sleep cycle.
- This is possible by helping the body produce serotonin. Serotonin is a brain chemical that has a number of benefits, comprising sleep regulation.
- Tryptophan is an essential amino acid found in bananas, but our bodies cannot make it. These amino acids, in turn, help the body produce serotonin.
- Along with regulating the sleep-wake cycle, serotonin is a natural way to manage mental health problems like sleeplessness, nervousness, and depression.
- Bananas contain magnesium which acts as a muscle relaxant, thus aiding your rest at night. Hence, bananas are good for you before bed; night can be the best time to eat bananas.
However, a few studies contradict the above-stated facts and say that the worst time to eat a banana is at night. This is due to its high sugar content and delayed digestion.
Also Read: 8 Unbelievable Health Benefits of Banana Milkshake
Did You Know? Vitamins B in bananas, such as folic acid and vitamin B6, are key to making serotonin, which can help control your mood and decrease anxiety. Top the banana with peanut, almond, or cashew butter for stress relief.
Can we eat bananas on an empty stomach?
Bananas are acidic in nature. Therefore, taking it on an empty stomach can cause digestive stress. It can be eaten in the morning as part of breakfast with other foods.
- According to a research article, although bananas are full of potassium, fiber, and magnesium, they are not a good selection to eat on an empty stomach.
- The higher amount of natural sugars in energy-boosting bananas can dehydrate you when consumed on an empty stomach.
You can consult a nutritionist before adding bananas to your diet and discuss the best time to eat bananas based on your nutritional needs.
Read to know that is bananas good for reducing weight.
Is eating a banana before breakfast good?
Eating bananas before breakfast or as part of a regular meal can increase sufficiency and support digestive health. Bananas have numerous significant micronutrients, consisting of potassium and vitamin C, but according to most studies, you should avoid eating bananas before breakfast.
Also, Read 5 Banana Stem Benefits in Pregnancy.
Bottom Line
Bananas are a highly nutritious fruit with potential health benefits, but eating them at the right time is most important. You will also have to consider the precautions whenever you eat a banana. Consumption of bananas in our diet leads to a healthy lifestyle, but eating them on an empty stomach can cause acidity due to their acidic nature. Choose the best time to eat bananas for your dietary needs, or it is good to eat them before bed. If you are still confused, consult a nutritionist immediately to get a diet plan including bananas.
FAQs
1. Can we eat 2 or 3 bananas daily for weight loss?
You can eat up to one banana daily for a healthy weight-loss diet. Eating two or three bananas adds up to 360 calories to help you gain weight. Before eating a banana for weight loss or weight gain, you must recognize how the fruit can help.
2. What happens if we eat bananas daily?
Most people don’t get enough potassium in their daily diet, which can often directly affect blood pressure control and other parts of heart health.
3. How long before bed should you eat a banana?
Banana is a fruit full of carbohydrates and takes time to digest. Eating at least 2-3 hours before bed is advised to maximize the absorption of nutrients in blood before sleep. Eating a banana before bed is good for sound sleep and muscle relaxation.
