What is the use of bananas for women, is there any harm?
Bananas are quite high-calorie fruits, and therefore they are rejected by many women. However, this fruit carries a lot of benefits for the female body. What are the beneficial properties of bananas, and who better to refrain from eating them? How to use this fruit correctly? The answers to these and other questions are in this article.
Composition and substances especially necessary for ladies
Botanically, a banana is a berry. Moreover, a berry with a very diverse composition. Here, vitamins of group B, ascorbic acid, vitamins A and E, as well as potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, and phosphorus are present in large quantities.
Undoubtedly, these substances are useful for all people, but in the female body they are also responsible for the state of the reproductive system and the ability to bear children. When ingested and broken down, a banana triggers the production of the hormone of joy - serotonin. It not only improves mood, but even copes with mild pain (for example, during menstruation).
B vitamins are necessary for normal blood formation, they are also responsible for the condition of the skin, nails, hair.
One of the varieties of vitamin B - folic acid, is especially important during pregnancy, as it is responsible for the formation of the nervous system of the fetus.
Besides, B vitamins have a beneficial effect on the nervous system and the woman herself. They help fight stress, symptoms of chronic fatigue, and headaches of neurological origin.
Vitamins A and E are the most powerful natural antioxidants. - with a sufficient amount in the body, the likelihood of developing cancer cells is reduced. In addition, antioxidants fight toxins and trigger natural rejuvenation processes. That is why a banana can be safely called a "rejuvenating" berry. It is no coincidence that banana face and hair masks are popular.
Vitamin C helps to strengthen the immune system, and it is also necessary to maintain the functioning of the ovaries and the regularity of the cycle.
As for the use of bananas during weight loss, this is a controversial issue. One side, fruit is really high in calories. However, it is rich in vitamins and microelements, and also contains soft fiber (pectin), due to which the intestines are cleansed. Many nutritionists still agree that Periodically, when losing weight, a banana should be included in the menu, entering its calorie content into the daily calorie intake.
There are about 96 kcal per 100 grams of fresh fruit (depending on the variety and degree of maturity). The basis is carbohydrates (21 g), it contains proteins (1.5 g) and fats (0.5 g), as well as fiber (pectin), water.
Bananas also contain amino acids, malic acid, and fructose.
Useful properties of fruit
Bananas are rich in magnesium and potassium, so their use has a beneficial effect on the heart. They strengthen the heart muscle, normalize the rhythm. In addition, vitamin E contained in bananas is considered one of the main vitamins for women's health. A decrease in its content in the body is one of the causes of menopause.Of course, a woman cannot completely avoid such changes, but it is quite possible to significantly delay the onset of menopause, reduce its symptoms. Partly - with the help of nutrition, therefore bananas can and should be included in your diet for women over 40 years old.
If it’s too early to talk about menopause, then you still shouldn’t refuse bananas. Vitamin E, potassium, zinc, magnesium are also essential for a woman's reproductive system. Their use will help make premenstrual syndrome less painful. Vitamin B has a positive effect on the nervous system, improves mood.
Bananas also contain the hormone cytotoxin, which increases a woman's libido. By the way, the same hormone is responsible for lactation, so bananas are also useful for women on breastfeeding.
Microelements and antioxidants contained in fruits allow a woman to stay young for a long time, promote collagen synthesis, which provides elastic skin.
Due to their useful composition, bananas have also been used in cosmetology. Fresh gruel from fruits is combined with oils, sour-milk and dairy products.
Such masks allow you to whiten the complexion, remove excessive greasiness of the skin, moisturize it, save it from sunburn and relieve irritation after insect bites.
For pregnant
Banana very rarely provokes allergies, it is no coincidence that it is included in the diet of children under one year old. However, it is worth remembering that the body of a pregnant woman undergoes serious changes, so even the usual food can give an unusual reaction. If there are no allergies and other negative consequences, then pregnant women can and should eat bananas.
As already mentioned, vitamin B9 (folic acid) contained in them is involved in the formation of the neural tube of the fetus. From this point of view bananas will benefit from the first trimester. In addition, the fruits contain calcium, which is necessary for the formation of the baby's skeletal system. Many mothers complain that their teeth literally crumble during pregnancy. This indicates a calcium deficiency - the child, not receiving the substance from the outside, takes it from the mother's body.
Already from the second trimester, the volume of circulating blood in the mother's body increases significantly. That's why potassium and magnesium are so useful for a woman during this period - they strengthen the heart muscle. To prevent the appearance of edema during pregnancy, potassium partly helps, it also saves from cramps in the limbs. Magnesium is also necessary for the smooth bearing of the fetus, its deficiency can provoke a miscarriage.
Zinc contained in bananas is involved in the formation and functioning of the placenta, with a lack of the element, its detachment is possible.
During gestation, women often develop anemia, the cause of which is a lack or inability to absorb iron. But much more often, iron simply does not enter the body of the expectant mother in the right amount. With a slight deficiency, it can be replenished with food, in particular, by including bananas in the diet. In addition, their consumption will also prevent anemia.
From the first trimester, a woman may be disturbed by problems with the digestive organs, constipation. This is due to hormonal changes. In the following months, this problem, as a rule, does not disappear - the growing tummy "infringes" on the stomach, intestines, which prevents the full digestion of food. Bananas, containing delicate fiber, cleanse the intestines, literally pushing a food bolus through it.
According to women, this fruit also allows you to cope with toxicosis. Often in the first months of pregnancy, a woman has no appetite - she does not want to eat hot and heavy food. A banana will help out perfectly in this situation - it is usually easier to eat fruits, bananas do not give a feeling of heaviness, but perfectly saturate.
When breastfeeding
By themselves, bananas are useful for a woman after childbirth and during lactation. By promoting the production of serotonin, they will help a woman overcome stress and avoid postpartum depression. Vitamin B6 contained in the fruit will also help relieve fatigue, which is natural in the first months after childbirth. Carbohydrates contained in bananas in large quantities give a woman energy.
However, the fruit can harm the undeveloped digestive system of the baby. For this reason do not include bananas in the diet before 2-3 months after the birth of a child.
In general, the scheme for introducing a new product into the diet of a woman on breastfeeding is standard - you need to start with a small amount of new food, do not introduce 2 or more new products into the menu at once, carefully monitor the reaction of the crumbs. If there was no negative response from his body (diathesis, colic, stool disturbance), you can eat bananas in small quantities, and after a while try to increase the portion.
Preference should be given to bananas of medium ripeness. The unripe ones (with a greenish skin) have a high starch content, overripe ones contain more sugar and can provoke fermentation processes in the intestines of the baby.
Possible harm
Despite the many useful properties, a banana can also harm the body, primarily with individual intolerance to the product. It also slightly increases blood viscosity.For a healthy person, this is not dangerous, but in the presence of varicose veins in a severe stage and increased blood viscosity, it is better to refuse to consume bananas.
In type 1 diabetes, a banana is prohibited; in type 2 diabetes, it is possible to eat a small portion of fruit, but not every day. You should first consult with your doctor.
Due to the high calorie content and high sugar content, bananas are best not consumed by obese people. The sugar in this berry is not broken down in the stomach in all people. If this does not happen, fermentation processes begin. As a result - a feeling of bloating, nausea, flatulence. If you are prone to such conditions, eat bananas with caution. It is better to start with a small portion to track the reaction of the body.
How to use fruits for health benefits?
You can get the most out of bananas by eating them fresh. However, you can also fry and bake the fruit, from which it acquires a sweeter taste, but most of the useful elements from its composition will be destroyed during heat treatment.
Green bananas are best cooked, they are good for making chips. Such fruits have a high content of starch, so they are sometimes recommended for people suffering from gastritis and heartburn.
Dried fruits do a better job of cleansing the intestines, they are also good for the heart and brain, but for people prone to obesity, with diabetes, flatulence, it is better to refuse the dried version of the fruit.
It is important to remember that the sugar content in banana chips is much higher than the fructose content in fresh fruit (about 4 times). Both adults and children will appreciate this delicacy.
Boiled fruits, on the contrary, have a sweeter taste than fresh ones, but when cooked, some of the sugar is removed from them.Obese people can sometimes afford it as a treat.
In the absence of contraindications, it is recommended for a female representative to consume 1-2 medium-sized bananas daily (fruits weighing 120-140 g). It is better to do this in the morning. You can supplement fruit with breakfast or eat it as a dessert for lunch. However, if you notice that after this there is heaviness in the stomach, bloating appears, eat fruit as a separate meal - for lunch or as a snack.
The benefits of bananas are discussed in the following video.