With a creamy texture and sweet flavor, bananas may seem like a fattening food. Bananas, however, are a natural food rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber, and they make a healthy addition to any diet. Eating bananas in moderation will not cause weight gain as long as you keep your overall calorie intake in check.
Density
Compared to many other fruits, bananas have a low water content. For comparison, a medium banana contains 88 grams of water, a medium apple contains 156 grams and a medium orange contains 114 grams. A banana is a little more calorie dense – meaning it has more calories per weight – than these other fruits.
Carbohydrates
Some diets vilify carbohydrates – especially sugar -- claiming they are the cause for weight gain. Bananas are often perceived to be high in carbohydrates and sugar. One medium banana contains 27 grams of carbohydrates with 14 grams of sugar. Compare this to a medium apple, which contains 25 grams of carbohydrates and 19 grams of sugar. The Institute of Medicine recommends you consume between 45 and 65 percent of daily calories from carbohydrates – for a 2,000-calorie diet, this amounts to between 225 and 325 grams of carbohydrates per day. A banana takes up 12 percent of your total carb needs. The sugar in bananas is naturally occurring, not the added type that health organizations such as the American Heart Association suggest you avoid, making bananas a better, nutrient-rich choice over processed foods and foods with added sugar.
Latest Stories
-
‘That was a lie!’ – Trump lawyer clashes with Michael Cohen in hush-money trial
29 mins -
Ghana has been robbed of what I could have contributed – Kofi Amoabeng
1 hour -
At least 56 people dead in Sudan’s North Darfur state, Doctors Without Borders says
1 hour -
Sony Music slams tech giants for unauthorised use of stars’ songs
2 hours -
Check out the nominees list for the 2024 BET Awards
2 hours -
TVET sector stresses need for industry collaboration for skills development
3 hours -
Algerian man found alive in cellar after 26 years
3 hours -
South Africa seeks halt to Israel’s Gaza offensive
4 hours -
DJ Azonto seeks $10m from Bawumia for unauthorised use of his song
4 hours -
Cement price increment worst I have seen in recent times – Executive Secretary, GREDA
4 hours -
4th edition of Africa Wiki Challenge to spotlight Africa in the vast online information space
4 hours -
Government pledges continuous support for media at African Media Convention
5 hours -
Family in shock as missing 12-year-old found dead in Korle Lagoon after Monday’s downpour
5 hours -
Migrant crossings plunge at US-Mexico border – why it may not last
5 hours -
Samira Bawumia highlights Ghana’s strides in clean cooking solutions at UNESCO summit in France
5 hours