Bananas are a healthy source of fibre, potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, & various antioxidants.
Many types and sizes exist. Their color usually ranges from green to yellow, but some varieties are red.
Carbs
Bananas are a rich source of carbs, which occur mainly as starch in unripe bananas and sugars in ripe bananas.
The carb composition of bananas changes drastically during ripening.
The main component of unripe bananas is starch. Green bananas contain up to 80% starch.
The most common types of sugar in ripe bananas are sucrose, fructose, and glucose. In ripe bananas, the total sugar content can reach more than 16%.
Fibres
A high proportion of the starch in unripe bananas is resistant starch, which passes through your gut undigested.
In your large intestine, this starch is fermented by bacteria to form butyrate.
Bananas are a good source of other types of fibres, such as pectin. Some of the pectin in bananas is water-soluble.
When bananas ripen, the proportion of water-soluble pectin increases, which is one of the main reasons why bananas turn soft as they age.
Both pectin and resistant starch moderate the rise in blood sugar after a meal.
Vitamins & Minerals
Bananas are a good source of several vitamins and minerals, especially potassium, vitamin B6, & vitamin C.
Potassium. Bananas are a good source of potassium. A diet high in potassium can lower blood pressure in people with elevated levels and benefits heart health.
Vitamin B6. Bananas are high in vitamins B6.One medium-sized banana can provide up to 33% of the Daily Value (DV) of this vitamin.
Vitamin C. Like most fruit, bananas are a good source of vitamin C.