People With Certain Health Conditions Should Limit Their Banana Consumption

Bananas are delicious and healthy, but they are not for everyone. Keep reading to find out if it's safe for you to eat many bananas.

Who Should Limit Their Banana Consumption?

Bananas are very advantageous for intestinal motility. However, individuals with certain condition, like those with gastralgia, fructose intolerance, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may have adverse effects from them.

Bananas are nutrient-dense and high in potassium, carbohydrates, B-group vitamins, and other minerals like phosphorus, magnesium, and manganese.

Resistant starch, a form of fiber that feeds good bacteria like lactobacillus and bifidobacterium, is abundant in this fruit. Additionally, bananas help those who are constipated.

Nutritionist Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen of Tam Anh Hospital in Hanoi claims that bananas have a high fructose and sorbitol content, which can cause bloating in people with digestive issues.

Furthermore, the sugar alcohol sorbitol found in bananas increases intestinal activity.

IBS patients who consume too much sorbitol may have diarrhea, bloating, or stomach pains.

An average of six grams of fructose are present in 100 grams of ripe bananas. Individuals with fructose intolerance, characterized by an inability of the body's cells to digest and absorb fructose fully, may experience bloating, diarrhea, or nausea if they eat excessive bananas.

Huyen also suggests avoiding unripe bananas for those who suffer from gastroparesis because the fruit has a high pectin content, which increases stomach acid production. Eating too many bananas can cause bloating and excruciating stomachaches.

Due to the high levels of magnesium and vitamin C in the fruit, which can seriously damage the stomach, hungry people should also refrain from eating bananas. Eat the fruit 20 to 30 minutes after your meal.

Banana allergies should also prevent the consumption of the fruit. Huyen clarifies that while allergies to bananas are rare, they can cause symptoms including dizziness, itching in the throat, and trouble breathing or swallowing.

Bananas are not recommended for breakfast because they may cause an abnormally high blood sugar level, which can leave you feeling drowsy and exhausted.

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How Many Bananas Are Recommended Per Day?

Although there aren't strict guidelines for banana consumption, most people should be OK with ingesting one or two bananas each day. Bananas contain some carbohydrates, and eating them with fat or protein will also help keep blood sugar levels stable.

Bananas and other foods high in potassium should be avoided by those with chronic kidney disease to protect their kidneys and hearts, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

Eating too many bananas or other high-potassium foods can cause the disease known as hyperkalemia or too much potassium in the body. This could lead to serious health issues like heart difficulties. It's something to be aware of, even though most people couldn't manage the amount of bananas needed to make this happen.