The very first time Jude saw a red banana, his mind searched for reasons such fruit should exist.
All he could think of is; may be people eat it for special reasons. May be people use it for voodoo.
Hmmmmm! So funny.
His mind could be weird, but that is what comes to some persons mind too when they see a red banana.
This is particular to people in Africa, who hardly think of exploring foods, but stick with traditional habits.
‘My parents did not eat this, and they lived long’ is their usual conclusion, forgetting that times have changed a great deal.
Red banana is one of the over 900 different varieties of banana that exist.
This red skin banana, which is increasingly becoming common in Nigeria, is said to have originated from Southeast Asia.
Unfortunately, except you eat this red banana you will not know how delicious it tastes.
It is soft, with a sweet flavour. Although it tastes like your regular banana, it has little hint of raspberry sweetness.
You should try it. Try and look beyond the taste you will get from it, and try it for the nutrients it offers.
Nutritional Value And Health Benefits Of Red Banana
Although this banana is full of nutrients like other bananas, it comes with more. The colour just tells it all.
1. Red Banana Is Full Of Nutrients
Bananas are rich in potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and magnesium.
It also offers you fibre. This is why it keeps you full after eating it. This is also true with this variety.
A red banana of about 100 grams provides you: 90 calories, 21 grams of carbs, 1.3 grams of protein, and 0.3 grams of fat.
Also, red banana contains 3 grams of fibre, potassium, that meets 9% the Reference Daily Intake (RDI).
It also contains:
- Vitamin B6: 28% of the RDI
- Vitamin C: 9% of the RDI
- Magnesium: 8% of the RDI
Furthermore, 100 grams of red banana consists mostly of water and carbs.
Basically, this specie of banana contains amounts of vitamin B6, magnesium, and vitamin C than the yellow specie.
2. Rich In Antioxidants
Most importantly, red banana prides itself with the amount of antioxidants that it carries.
According to a study, the antioxidant in this specie of banana is higher that those in yellow bananas (2).
The study says it contains more carotenoids than the yellow banana.
Indeed, colour plays an important role in determining the amount of antioxidants in a fruit.
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From observation, we know that the darker the colour the more antioxidants the fruit contains.
These antioxidants prevent cellular damage that free radicals cause.
When you have so much free radicals in your body, the would cause oxidative stress.
This could lead to conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer (3)
The main antioxidants in red bananas are carotenoids, anthocyanins, vitamin C and dopamine (4).
A study says dietary intake of anthocyanins could lower risk of coronary heart disease by 9% (5).
Another study says dietary intakes of six classes of flavonoids, namely flavonols, anthocyanidins, proanthocyanidins, flavones, flavanones and flavan-3-ols, significantly decrease the risk of heart disease (6).
Your heart is what helps in circulation of nutrients through your body. Eating the right foods that helps it function better is a good decision.
3. Improves Your Heart Health
Due to the high amount of antioxidant in red banana, it could lower your risk of heart disease.
Daily, we expose ourselves to pollution and other sources of free radicals. Sometimes they could come from the cream we apply on our skin.
This could alter hormones and also turn our health markers down.
However, adding foods that are rich in antioxidants would ward off these radicals from your body.
They help nourish your detoxifying organs and this enables them flush these free radicals out
Furthermore, studies say potassium and magnesium are great for lowering blood pressure (7) (8).
4. Offers Amazing Benefit For Your Eye Health
Also, red banana is a good source of carotenoids. This is what gives this specie its reddish colour (9).
The two carotenoids in this specie of banana is lutein and beta carotene. Basically, these compounds support eye health.
Red banana contains more beta carotene than other banana varieties and this carotenoid supports eye health.
According to a study, lutein may help prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
AMD is an incurable eye disease and a leading cause of blindness (10).
A review of different studies concludes that eating lutein-rich foods could reduce your risk of late age-related macular degeneration by 26% (11).
5. Red Banana Supports Your Immune System
Being a rich source of vitamin C and B6 this variety of banana supports your immune system.
A study highlights that these vitamins are essential for a healthy immune system (12).
In fact, if you eat red banana, the vitamin C content will strengthen the cells of your immune system.
Most importantly, some studies suggest that a deficiency of vitamin C could increase risk of infection (13) (14).
In the United States, vitamin C deficiency affects around 7% of adults (15). While this is low, it is important that you get adequate amount of this vitamin.
On the other hand, vitamin B6 helps in the production of the white blood cells and immune antibodies.
These help fight infection (16).
6. Red Banana Boosts Your Digestive Health
Again, your digestive system is another organ in your body that benefits from your consumption of red banana.
Red banana contains prebiotics – a type of fiber that feeds the good bacteria in your gut.
The main type of prebiotics in this specie of banana is fructooligosaccharides and inulin (17).
According to studies, prebiotics could reduce bloating, increase the number of friendly gut bacteria and reduce constipation (18), (19) (20). In fact, it can raise your friendly gut bacteria 10 times.
Another compound in this banana that benefits your digestive system is the fibre.
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This form of dietary fibre promotes regular bowel movements, reduces inflammation and stimulates growth of friendly gut bacteria.
Furthermore, a diet that is rich in fibre helps lower your risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
7. Red Banana Boosts Fertility
Being a food rich in potassium, magnesium and vitamin B6, red bananas should be part of your diet if you are trying to conceive.
First, the magnesium helps in sperm health.
According to a study, a higher intake of vitamin B6 lowers risk of ovulatory infertility (21).
This specie of banana is rich in this vitamin which is also said to boost egg quality.
Also, proper hormone regulation is necessary for couples who are trying to conceive.
Red banana helps improve sperm and egg quality and regulate reproductive hormones. It is considered a good food for lowering stress level, a condition that could cause hormonal imbalance.
Difference Between Red And Yellow Bananas
Indeed, we have mentioned some difference between red and yellow bananas, but we will look at more.
The red banana is higher in some antioxidants and more vitamin C.
Although sweeter, than yellow banana, the red variety has lower glycemic index – 45 against 51.
The red variety is smaller and denser than the yellow.
One thing about it is that if you could just decide to eat it once, you will love it because of its mild raspberry taste.
The next time you find it, iget it and try it.
Our aim is to see that you eat more of these foods that have been provided for humans.
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