16 Amazing Health Benefits Of Bananas You Probably Don’t Know About

If you were raised like I was, you were taught that bananas are good for you—they have lots of potassium, among other things. So you ate them—and probably still do—but what does that potassium do for us, anyway?

The short answer: A lot. Some of the key highlights about how the mineral is a definite plus for our systems is the way it helps us build muscle, and keeps our hearts healthy and our bodies balanced in terms of metabolism.

Plus, bananas contain electrolytes, which help our cells stay healthy. (Yep, just like the electrolytes in Gatorade and Pedialyte!)

Plus, bananas win for “Most Popular Fruit”—at least according to the USDA and Economic Research Service (ERS). Apples, watermelon, and grapes followed in order of popularity (in case you were curious).

banana
Flickr | Sole Treadmill

In fact, bananas even have four times more protein than apples, plus more phosphorous and carbohydrates, to name a few, as well as a lot of fiber, iron and vitamin A. Bananas seem to have everything!

But aside from potassium, what do bananas do for us? Well, it turns out that they’re literally good for nearly every part of your body.

Here are 16 top things to keep in mind, so next time you’re reaching for some fruit, don’t forget about bananas. But make sure they’re ripe, as unripe ones have more starch and don’t produce quite the same results!

1. Bananas Help Energize You

Tired in the afternoon, especially mid-day? Instead of an energy drink or another cup of coffee, try a banana! The three natural sugars found in bananas—fructose, sucrose, and glucose—help cause the energy increase, as well as the fiber in the fruit.

And, unlike your favorite chocolate bar, don’t worry about a sugar crash after eating a banana. Fun fact: If you have two bananas, you’ll even have enough stamina to do about 90 minutes of exercise!

2. They Can Help Make You Happy

smiling photo
Photo by Moyan_Brenn

We all want to be (and stay) happy, right? The vitamin B6 in bananas, as well as the amino acid tryptophan, creates more serotonin, which will get you smiling for sure.

3. They Can Aid Your Immune System

We can thank the B6 in bananas once again for this one—helping to keep our immune systems in tip-top shape.

4. They Can Help People Stop Smoking

smoking photo
Photo by Moyan_Brenn

Are you trying to quit smoking? Then up the number of bananas you’re eating! Some of the ingredients—magnesium, potassium, and vitamins B12 and B6—can help against nicotine withdrawal.

5. Bananas Help With Weight Loss

Bananas help make us feel full, since they’re hearty and contain fiber. In addition, they contain lots of vitamins and minerals, another big win. And, Chicago’s Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation discovered that simply smelling a banana could help curb food cravings! That’s simple enough, right?!

6. Bananas Are Great For Your Heart

heart photo
Photo by Lhopfan

Bananas are great for your heart, so go stock up on them. More potassium and less sodium are key to reduce the chance of cardiovascular disease, according to Mark Houston, MD, MS, an associate clinical professor of medicine at Vanderbilt Medical School and director of the Hypertension Institute at St Thomas Hospital in Tennessee. The potassium, fiber, and vitamins C and B6 all are heart-friendly, too.

7. They Are Also Great Against Heartburn

Bananas, even dried ones, help fight heartburn. Dr. P. Bradley Carey, says they’re a “natural antacid,” and I must say, they work. When heartburn comes on, just reach for a banana (or some of those dried bananas from places like Trader Joe’s). You can also get some banana powder at a health food store and carry some around.

8. Bananas Lower Blood Pressure

blood pressure photo
Photo by Army Medicine

One study found that having five bananas a day was about half as effective as taking medicine for hypertension. With their low sodium content and high potassium content, bananas are great for keeping your blood pressure on the low side.

9. Bananas Help Your Digestive System

Yes, bananas can regulate your digestive system, so no powders or pills are necessary when you have the natural fiber in bananas at hand.

10. They Can Help Prevent Morning Sickness

pregnant photo
Photo by emerille

All you have to do is have bananas between meals to help prevent morning sickness. This may help elevate blood sugar levels and decrease your nausea.

11. They Help Eliminate Menstrual Cramps

This is an easy enough thing to try, and healthy, too! So, goodbbye, cramps!

12. They Get Rid Of Hangovers

yogurt bananas photo
Photo by jamieanne

The vitamins and minerals in bananas will help if you drank too much alcohol last night and have a hangover today. Plus, Lifescript recommends blending bananas with some plain yogurt and/or honey, too. I prefer Greek yogurt.

13. They Get Rid Of Itching From Mosquito Bites

Just rub the bite with the inside of the banana peel, and you should soon be itch-free! It will also make the mosquito bite look better and less red.

14. They May Help Eliminate Warts

banana peel photo
Photo by CarbonNYC [in SF!]
While researching this article, I cannot believe how many things bananas do, and this getting-rid-of-warts stumped me. I asked a friend to try it, and it worked for him!

You just tape a little of the banana’s skin onto the wart when you go to bed—and make sure the inside of the banana is against the skin. People have reported that their warts disappeared as early as two days after trying this remedy. Magic!

15. They Can Boost Your Libido

Who knew that bananas were an aphrodisiac? Apparently, the vitamin B and potassium help with sex-hormone production, so eat up!

16. They Can Help You Sleep

sleep photo
Photo by andrewr

Banana tea, anyone? Yep, if you boil an organic banana (once you’ve cut off the ends) in some water with cinnamon, drink the result like tea and sleep better than ever before. I know—it sounds suspicious. But as an insomniac, I tried it and it worked.

Want to keep your bananas fresher, longer? Wrap them in saran wrap! Here’s a short video to show you how:

Photo by 24oranges.nl

Food, Health, Wellness & Fitness

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About the Author
Natalia Lusinski
In addition to Simplemost, Natalia is an ongoing writer for Bustle (sex, dating, relationships, and money), HelloGiggles (pop culture and news), The Delite (feel-good stories), and Don’t Waste Your Money (yep, money issues!). You can also find her writing in the L.A. Times, the Chicago Tribune's RedEye, xoJane, Elite Daily, Scary Mommy, Elephant Journal, and Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies, among other publications. She has a Ph.D. in couch-surfing, having spent four years sleeping on over 200 L.A.-area love seats and sectionals, all in an effort to whittle down her student loan debt. She still loves couch-surfing in other cities, too (hint, hint).

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