03/09/2022
Bananas are known for being a great source of potassium, fibre and vitamin B6, but there is some confusion about their nutrient value depending on their ripeness level. Here we break it down for you:
GREEN or under-ripe bananas
At this stage the banana contains its lowest level of sugars and is considered low GI, so it’s perfect for those who are looking to stabilise their blood sugars (diabetics or those looking to manage their weight). It’s also got the highest amount of resistant starch at this stage, which is a type of fibre that acts as a prebiotic and helps to keep healthy bacteria well looked after. This makes them great for gut health, however if you are constipated it’s best to have bananas when they are a bit more ripe (see below).
YELLOW or ripe bananas
At this stage, bananas will be completely yellow with no brown spots yet. As they ripen, their antioxidant levels start to rise, and they have the highest levels of their vitamins and minerals. They still contain resistant starch however by this stage the levels have dropped a little, making them easier to digest and it's been suggested they could even help ease constipation at this stage.
BROWN or over-ripe bananas
At this stage, bananas will start to have quite a lot of brown spots over their surface and will eventually keep going brown all over. Interestingly, while it has the greatest vitamin + mineral loss by this stage, it actually contains its highest antioxidant levels towards the end of its shelf life. It also contains the highest sugar levels by now, and will naturally be at their most sweetest. This makes them perfect for use in baking + cooking, and you may find you can even use less sugar in your recipes as a result.
We love to use bananas in so many ways - for great recipes featuring this versatile fruit be sure to search “banana” in The Healthy Chef App. Don’t have it yet? See our link below read more and trial it free for 7 days.
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