Banana Carbohydrate Content is high. Carbohydrates provide the necessary energy for the functioning of the body, and carbohydrates are required for virtually every physical activity.
Carbohydrates are almost exclusively found in plant sources, such as fruits and vegetables, seeds, legumes, and pulses. Milk and dairy products are the only animal-based nutrients that contain a significant amount of carbohydrates.
Classification of Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates can be classified into two major groups:
1. Simple carbohydrates (e.g., honey, fructose)
2. Complex carbohydrates (grains, starchy vegetables, legumes)
It is advisable to limit the intake of simple carbohydrates in favor of complex carbohydrates. However, it is important to differentiate between different carbohydrates based on how quickly the body can convert them into sugar. How quickly and how much does a particular food raise blood sugar levels? Which foods are slowly absorbed by the body, and which foods should be consumed to avoid conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels? These questions are answered by the glycemic index.
Glycemic index
The glycemic index (GI) is a value ranging from 1 to 100 that determines how much and how quickly a particular food raises blood sugar levels.
Foods with a low GI cause only a minimal increase in blood sugar levels, while high GI foods trigger a significant rise in glucose levels and result in an elevated insulin response. The glycemic index of a banana is approximately 50-52.
Carbohydrate Content of Bananas
The carbohydrate content of a banana is approximately 23g of carbs per 100g of whole, unpeeled fruit. This, in itself, means that when following a weight-loss diet, we can only consume a limited amount of bananas, as a large ripe banana can represent the entire carbohydrate content of a meal.
The carbohydrate content of a green banana is in the form of resistant starch. This type of starch is difficult to digest and primarily functions as dietary fiber in the intestines. It enhances the feeling of satiety, aids in digestion, but is not utilized as a source of nutrients. During the ripening process, enzymes break down the starch into sugars, so the riper the banana, the higher the sugar content (mainly fructose and glucose), and the faster their absorption will be.
Banana Calorie content
The calorie content of a banana is relatively high and it does not belong to the category of low-calorie fruits, such as cucumber, lemon, or orange. However, due to its excellent energy content, it can serve as a satisfying snack, especially when opting for a great solution like banana chips.
If we suddenly feel hungry, eating a banana can be sufficient for breakfast or a mid-morning snack. By doing so, not only does our hunger subside, but we also replenish a significant portion of important nutrients for our body.
A regular-sized banana contains approximately 105 calories. For comparison, a medium-sized pear has about 100 calories, and a regular-sized apple only has 50 calories.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana
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