Bananas are consumed worldwide and loved by almost everyone from children to elders. It is delicious as well as nutritious and healthy fruit. This is one of the most loved fruit and also eaten in various varieties such as consumed when it is completely ripened, some prepare many different recipes and also in the form of fried banana chips.
Banana is sweet, nutritious, energetic, and healthy food but remember it matters in which form or variety it is eaten. Today we will discuss some caloric and nutritional value changes between ripen banana and banana chips. Before that let’s have a quick review of some health benefits and key nutrients of it.
Table of Contents
Health benefits:
Key nutrients:
Banana is loaded with many nutrients and antioxidants helpful for our body. One medium-sized banana is almost 120 grams in weight and here is the nutritional chart per 100 grams of banana.
Energy: 89 kcal
Carbohydrates: 22.84 g
Sugar: 12.23 g
Dietary fiber: 2.6 g
Fat: 0.33 g
Protein: 1.09 g
Vitamins
Riboflavin(B2): 0.073 mg (6% of Daily Value)
Pantothenic acid(B5): 0.334 mg (7% of Daily Value)
Vitamin(B6): 0.4 mg (31% of Daily Value)
Vitamin C: 8.4 mg (10% of Daily Value)
It also contains many other vitamins but in less quantity.
Minerals
Magnesium: 27 mg (8% of Daily Value)
Manganese: 0.27 mg (13% of Daily Value)
Potassium: 358 mg (8% of Daily Value)
It also contains many other minerals but in less quantity.
Water: 74.91 g
Source: Wikipedia
Heart health
Banana contains a high amount of potassium. Potassium is the mineral electrolyte that is beneficial in controlling blood pressure and prevent the arteries from hardening. Thus it is helpful for cardiovascular health.
Mental health
It contains a good amount of tryptophan which is converted into serotonin in our body. Serotonin is the mood-elevating neurotransmitter. Along with tryptophan, Vitamin B6 and Magnesium in banana helps to induce sleep and relaxes the muscle.
Digestive health
It has a high amount of fiber which is good for digestive health and patients of constipation.
Weight loss
Due to high fiber content with Vitamin B6 and resistant starch mostly in unripe banana feels your stomach and reduces appetite. Thus it becomes weight-loss friendly food if consumed in limited quantity.
Exercise
Due to high carbs and electrolytes, it becomes a good choice for athletes and for those having mild to moderate exercise.
Other benefits
A high level of Potassium is good for kidney health. But if your kidney is not working properly you should avoid high potassium diet and fruits.
It contains a high amount of pectin and unripe banana has high resistance starch. Both reduce appetite and also help to moderate blood sugar levels after a meal.
It also has powerful antioxidants that are helpful for heart health, other degenerative diseases, and cancer also.
Also contains calcium which is helpful for bone health.
Banana Chips
Variety of recipes and preparations are made from banana. Banana chips is the most popular snake especially much liked by children and adults.
Homemade banana chips or banana wafers are prepared from unripe banana, fried in coconut or peanut oil with added salt, turmeric, and chili powder for taste.
Readymade banana chips may contain more added sugar and salt.
Banana vs Banana chips
Now coming to the main point. Form or variety of banana preparation matters. For considering nutrients and calories it matters what you consume, ripe banana, or bananas chips.
Below is the chart comparing between Banana and banana chips
|
|
1 medium banana |
25 banana chips |
|
Calories |
115 kcal |
260 kcal |
|
Fat |
0.4 g |
14 g |
|
Carbs |
27 g |
29 g |
|
Protein |
1.3 g |
5 g |
|
Sugar |
14 g |
16 g |
|
Fiber |
3.1g |
3 g |
|
Potassium |
422mg |
152 mg |
Conclusion
Are banana chips healthy?
Above chart clearly indicates the difference between banana and banana chips. If you are health conscious, you should be in limit while consuming banana chips or you shouldn’t consume it on a daily basis. Because banana chips are high in calories, fat and also reduces nutrients and electrolytes such as potassium.
And packed ready-made banana chips may even have more added sugar and salt to make it tastier.
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