Brightly-colored, neatly-packaged, full of flavor and packed with goodness, it’s no surprise that for fruit snacking in the office, the banana’s on top. In smoothies, salads, or solo, bananas bring a healthy sweetness that keeps a workforce happy and healthy. Go bananas!
A natural boost of energy…
Bananas have three natural sugars: glucose, sucrose, and fructose. This, however, does not make them “fattening”. What it does mean is that they provide a long-lasting energy surge. And since the sugars digest slowly (with a glycemic index between 30 and 60, depending on how ripe the banana is), a person enjoying a banana won’t feel those peaks and troughs in their energy level.
A fruitful multi-vitamin…
Bananas are an integral source of potassium, which we need in our diet to counterbalance our sodium intake. One 100g banana provides about 12% of the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance of potassium in our diet. This means a decrease in heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Important stuff!
Additionally, bananas provide roughly three times as much vitamin C as apples, and are a great source of vitamin B6, promoting the health of your skin and hair, and minerals like copper, magnesium, and manganese – all those things your body needs, but you’d never think about!
A regular “powerfood”…
Bananas are high in pectin, which is a soluble fiber. One banana contains three grams of fiber, in fact. Combined with its electrolytes, a diet which includes bananas can ensure proper bowel function and reduce risk of intestinal disease.
Bananas are “alkaline-forming”, which means they are a natural antacid. They work to stop heartburn and go a long way toward the prevention of painful stomach ulcers. If you’ve got a gut feeling it’s time to eat a banana, go with it!
If you celebrated too much the previous evening, a banana can help you with the hangover, which is the result of dehydration. The potassium and electrolytes of the banana can aid in one’s recovery. (This is not to suggest you won’t get a hangover if you only drink banana daiquiris, however!) So make note, weekend warriors: keep plenty of bananas on hand for Monday morning.
So go ahead: peel away! Your whole body will thank you.