Banana Benefits, 7 Incredible Health Benefits of Kela

Show us a fruit bowl without bananas in it? Indeed, this humble fruit, available at almost every street corner, is Nature’s gift to mankind! Easy and handy, all you need to do is remove the peel and bite into it. It is the easiest way to shoo away hunger pangs and re-energise yourself. It is a busy person’s best friend. Imagine how tough some mornings would be, if you did not have bananas and milk as a backup plan for breakfast. Fortunately, Nature has also packed a lot of health benefits into this handy fruit. From being a storehouse of energy to being rich in beneficial minerals and antioxidants, this fruit can do wonders for your good health. Find out more.

1. Bananas Provides Energy
 

Bananas serve as nature's perfect energy bars, offering a quick and convenient power boost for active individuals and health-conscious eaters alike. Their remarkable energy-boosting properties stem from their unique carbohydrate profile - packed with readily digestible natural sugars including glucose, fructose, and sucrose. These fast-acting carbohydrates enter the bloodstream quickly, delivering almost instant energy when you need it most.  

What makes bananas particularly special is their combination of these simple sugars with beneficial fiber, which helps moderate sugar absorption and prevents energy crashes. This makes them superior to processed sugary snacks, providing sustained vitality rather than just a fleeting sugar rush. Their natural packaging makes them the ultimate grab-and-go energy source, perfect for pre-workout fuel, mid-day pick-me-ups, or post-exercise recovery.  

Beyond quick energy, bananas also contain essential electrolytes like potassium that support muscle function and hydration - another reason they're favored by athletes and fitness enthusiasts worldwide. Whether you're hitting the gym, going for a run, or simply need an afternoon energy lift, this humble tropical fruit delivers clean, natural energy in its most wholesome form.

2. Banana High in Potassium

Banana is high in potassium. Potassium helps normalize the heartbeat and regulates the body's water balance. During high stress situations, when the levels of potassium dip, eating bananas is beneficial. High potassium diets are shown to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive individuals .

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3. Kela Regulates Bowel Movements

Bananas help restore normal bowel movements. Pectin present in banana helps normalize movement through the digestive tract. Banana is also helpful in relieving constipation due to the presence of resistant starch and pectin . Bananas are also good for diarrhea due to its soluble fibre content and being a good source of potassium it is needed to restore the losses due to diarrhea.

4. Kela benefits to control Blood Pressure

Bananas, known as "Kela" in India, are highly beneficial for controlling blood pressure, primarily due to their exceptionally high content of potassium. Potassium is a crucial mineral that plays a vital role in balancing the effects of sodium in the body. While sodium contributes to increased blood pressure by retaining water and putting strain on blood vessels, potassium helps to counteract this by promoting the excretion of excess sodium through urine.

5. Bananas are High in  Antioxidants

Bananas are surprisingly rich in powerful antioxidants, including dopamine and catechins, which help combat oxidative stress and inflammation in the body. These bioactive compounds neutralize harmful free radicals, potentially reducing the risk of chronic diseases and supporting overall health. The antioxidants in bananas work synergistically with their vitamin C content to boost immunity and protect cells from damage. Unlike many fruits where antioxidants are concentrated in the peel, bananas offer these beneficial compounds in their edible flesh, making them an easy and delicious way to enhance your antioxidant intake. Regular consumption may contribute to better heart health, improved brain function, and slower aging at the cellular level.

6. Bananas are good for  Cardiovascular Health

1 medium banana of 72 grams gives 6.21% of the Recommended Daily Allowance for Magnesium which is good for heart health . Bananas contain good amounts of potassium which is link to lower the risk of heart diseases by 26% .

 Hawaiian Fruit Bowl with Vanilla Cream is a heart friendly recipe prepared with low fat milk with goodness of a combination of fruits.

7. Bananas are good for Cancer Prevention

While bananas aren't a cure for cancer, they contain several compounds that may contribute to cancer prevention. Rich in antioxidants like dopamine and catechins, bananas help neutralize free radicals that can cause cellular damage linked to cancer development. Their high fiber content supports gut health and may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, while resistant starch in greener bananas has shown potential anti-cancer properties in some studies. Bananas also contain lectins, proteins that may inhibit cancer cell growth, and vitamin B6, which supports immune function. The fruit's natural compounds work synergistically to create a protective effect, making regular banana consumption a smart addition to a cancer-preventive diet alongside other fruits and vegetables.

Nutrition Information for Kela, Banana

Nutritional Information for 1 no. of Banana
One Banana is 72 grams.
RDA stands for Recommended Daily Allowance.

79 Calories
0.90 grams of Protein
17.96 grams of Carbs
0.23 grams of Fat

0.36 mg of Vitamin B6, Pyridoxine = 18.00% of RDA (about 2 mg)

5.80 mg Vitamin C = 14.5% of RDA (about 40 mg)

1.59 grams of Fibre = 6.36% of RDA (about 25 grams)

21.75 mg of Magnesium (Mg) = 6.21% of RDA (about 350 mg)

260.64 mg of Potassium (K) = 5.54% of RDA (about 4,700 mg)

0.34 mg of Vitamin B3, Niacin = 2.83% of RDA (about 12 mg)

15.01 mg of Phosphorus (P) = 2.50% of RDA (about 600 mg)

0.48 mg Vitamin E = 2.40% of RDA (about 20 mg)

0.02 mg of Vitamin B2, Riboflavin = 1.81% of RDA (about 1.1 mg)

0.28 mg of Iron (Fe) = 1.33% of RDA (about 21 mg)

1.58 mcg of Vitamin K = 1.31% of RDA (about 120 mcg)

0.10 mg of Zinc (Zn) = 1.00% of RDA (about 10 to 12 mg)

0.90 mg of Sodium (Na) = 0.04% of RDA (about 1902 mg)

 

Bananas in Your Diet…

Bananas make a great addition to your breakfast yogurt, cereal or smoothie. You can even use them instead of sugar in your baking and cooking. Start your day with Honey Banana Shake a calcium and protein rich drink to refresh your mornings. Banana Walnut Pancakes is a great option as breakfast or snack for pregnant ladies as well as growing children as it is energy boosting with good combination of B-complex vitamins.

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Bananas are an amazing fruit option for babies as it is soft and sweet, you can make purees with combination of fruits like Banana and Papaya Puree. Or you can try making Banana Smoothie for babies and as a weaning food. Good for babies who have diarrhea as bananas will provide good amounts of potassium.

Make a unique salad using various fruits and vegetables like our recipe for Fruity Vegetable Salad to increase the intakes of fruits and vegetables.

Try our other recipes using bananas from our website or app.

Happy Cooking!!!