The composition and calorie content of bananas
In order to make the right diet, it is very important to have the most complete picture of the foods eaten. Bananas are a favorite treat for children and adults, so it will be useful to know its composition, and in some cases, calorie content.
Composition and nutritional value
A fruit such as a banana can be purchased at any supermarket, regardless of the season. As a rule, the product has a very affordable price, so it is sold very quickly. In addition, it stands out for its high palatability, so it is often used in the diet.
However, not only the taste and aroma gave this fruit great popularity. It has been established that the exotic fruit contains a large number of useful vitamins and microelements, due to which the use of a banana has a beneficial effect on the health of the human body. The composition of the fruit contains vitamins of groups B, C and PP, in addition, the fruits are distinguished by the presence of a number of amino acids that play a fundamental role in metabolic processes, and are also responsible for replenishing the energy expended by the body in the process of life.
Bananas contain acids, among which malic acid can be distinguished, the presence of sucrose and fructose can also be noted. Such substances are responsible for the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and normalize intestinal motility.
The fruits contain a large amount of minerals, among which zinc, phosphorus, iron and magnesium can be distinguished. Such a chemical composition allows you to maintain an appropriate level of hemoglobin, and also strengthens the musculoskeletal system.
However, the most important, of course, is the content of potassium, since it is this substance that ensures the proper functioning of the most important human organ - the heart, and strengthens blood vessels. The chemical element has a beneficial effect on the brain and muscle tissue. Such a list of positive qualities necessitates the introduction of bananas in the diet of children and adults.
It should be noted that fruits contain a lot of fiber, the use of which avoids many digestive problems.
For the most complete picture of the chemical composition of the fruit, it is worth noting what else a banana is rich in:
- macronutrients - sodium and calcium;
- trace elements - manganese, selenium and fluorine;
- water and ash;
- dietary fiber and unsaturated fatty acids;
- vitamins - thiamine, choline, pyridoxine, riboflavin.
The nutritional value of the fruit is represented by the following BJU content:
- proteins - 1.5 grams;
- fats - 0.1 grams;
- carbohydrates - 21.8 grams.
In addition, 100 grams of banana contains about 75 grams of water.
calories
Due to the widespread use of bananas for food, there are many opinions about the possibility and expediency of introducing fruits into the diet, especially for the diet menu.
Some experts claim that a similar product is not suitable for use when solving the issue of being overweight, since bananas are quite high in calories. But for an objective idea of the number of kilocalories and the energy value of the product, it should be taken into account that such indicators will differ for ripe and green fruits, as well as for dried and heat-treated bananas. Due to this, you can easily choose the appropriate option for using exotic fruits in a particular case.
So, 100 grams of a banana without a skin can contain from 70 to 130 kcal, it all depends on the degree of maturity of the culture. For example, in unripe fruits without a peel, there will be an order of magnitude less sugars, which will be an advantage for adherents of various diets. In order to quickly satisfy your hunger, it is best to eat already ripe, and not a green fruit.
In 1 piece of an unripe banana, from 120 to 160 kcal is noted, in this case the size of the fruit plays a role. In overripe fruits, there are 180-260 calories in one fruit, and in one hundred grams - no more than 130 kcal. Stale fruits are the most nutritious, therefore more high-calorie, it is easy to quickly satisfy hunger with them, but such fruits are not suitable for diets.
As mentioned above, the number of calories also depends on the processing options for the product and how they are prepared. In a fresh fruit juice there will be no more than 50 kcal, and in such a drink almost all useful vitamins and microelements will be preserved. This also applies to a frozen product that will not lose its beneficial properties.
Regarding dried fruits, we can say that such a product loses quite a lot of useful components during drying, which evaporate from the banana along with water. In 100 grams of such a fruit there will be about 300-350 kcal. In a fried product, the calorie content will be at the level of 350 kcal.
Glycemic index
The glycemic index indicates the rate at which carbohydrates from food affect blood sugar levels. Based on this indicator, it is customary to divide foods into healthy and harmful to the heart.
The GI of fresh fruit is 60 units. This indicator is considered small, so the release of energy into the blood is rather slow. However, the glycemic index is also related to the level of fruit ripeness. In well-ripened fruits, it is 50 units, unripe fruits have an indicator of 41 units.
How to use for weight loss?
Today, special mono-diets and fasting days are popular, in which the banana is the key product. This is due to the ability of fruits to quickly cope with hunger, as well as reduce the need for sweets. But in this matter it is very important to comply with the established norms, since the calorie content of the food consumed is relevant for weight loss.
As a rule, the fruit is eaten fresh, so it can be used as an addition to breakfast or afternoon tea, combined with porridge or sour-milk products. As a dietary dish, a banana is used to prepare fruit salads or cold snacks. In weight loss diets, bananas are needed to make smoothies or shakes.
The positive aspects of the banana diet are to replace the already boring buckwheat and oatmeal with a more delicious source of nutrition, from which you can get not only taste pleasure, but also lose extra pounds.
The weight loss benefits of bananas are based on the chemical composition of the fruit, where minerals and vitamins contribute to the normalization of metabolic processes in the body, as well as reduce swelling, which, as many people know, is one of the sources of excess weight. Fiber improves peristalsis, helping to eliminate toxins and toxins, and the minimum fat content in a banana is also important.
A banana mono diet usually lasts 3, 5 or 7 days. As practice shows, weight loss is about 1-2 kilograms per day. For consumption, you need to buy only ripe fruits, you need to eat fruits without fibers, which are removed along with the peel.
The three-day diet involves the use of bananas along with any low-fat dairy products. The daily diet consists of 3-4 fruits, if mini bananas are used, their number can be twice as much. For breakfast, you can eat 1 fruit, after a few hours drink milk or kefir, then eat a banana again, after the same period of time, drink kefir again. The last meal should take place no later than 6 pm. This diet option is quite difficult, but also the most effective.
The five- and seven-day diet allows for about one and a half kilograms of bananas to be consumed during the day. You can eat them at any frequency, drinking mineral water or any herbal tea. In some cases, one boiled egg can be added to the diet in the last two days.
Another option for using bananas for weight loss is a diet with milk. It is for seven days.
In addition to milk and fruits, you can drink water and tea, eat fish and meat. The scheme and norms for the use of products are described below:
- on the first day, the volume of milk drunk can be three liters, no more than 10 medium bananas and a pound of boiled low-fat fish;
- the next day, the diet should consist of the same products, but the fish must be eaten half as much;
- on the third day, the milk norm is reduced by one liter, in total, no more than 6 bananas and 200 grams of lean boiled meat can be consumed per day;
- on the fourth day, the menu will be similar to the previous one, but the meat should be half as much;
- the following days you can eat only milk and fruits - 2 liters of milk and 9 bananas.
As experience shows from losing weight on this type of diet, you can lose 7-8 kilograms in weight in a week.
There is also the so-called Japanese diet, where the main product and source of energy and vitamins are juicy and tasty fruits. A Japanese doctor developed a similar technique, and tried its effectiveness on himself. The essence of nutrition is to eat bananas along with warm boiled water every morning as breakfast. This combination activates peristalsis, so that any dishes that a person will eat throughout the day will be digested faster and excreted from the body naturally. Which will lead to a mandatory weight loss.
According to the doctor's recommendations, in the morning on an empty stomach, you need to eat one or two fruits, washing them down with water in small sips. At lunch and in the evening, you can eat any food, but avoid too fatty and heavy meals before bedtime. Between the main meals during the day, you can have a small snack and eat any fruit. The only restriction in the course of such a diet is the complete rejection of sweet and starchy desserts. In addition, it is worth observing the temporary regime and the last time you can eat food no later than seven o'clock in the evening.
This technique has gained popularity not only in the East, but also in Europe, since it is quite simple to use, and the effectiveness of the diet is observed in 100% of cases.
A rather rigid diet is a ten-day course, during which only two ripe fruits and two glasses of water are allowed per day. However, this technique is not suitable for everyone, so it is recommended to put it into practice only for those people who have excellent health and have already subjected their body to serious unloading mono-diets.
Regardless of the chosen option for losing weight with the help of exotic fruits, there are a number of basic recommendations that must be followed steadily along with the diet.
- The water used must be purified. Despite the many recommendations on the diet menu, which limits the amount of fluid drunk per day, it should be remembered that the body needs at least one and a half liters of fluid per day. But from the use of black tea, coffee and alcohol during diets, you should refrain completely.
- It is worth taking care of the correct daily routine, Therefore, sleep should be full and regular.
- No diet can bring results without exercise. If it is not possible to regularly visit the gym, you should perform a simple set of exercises at home and be sure to walk in the fresh air.
- Beginners in mono-diets should first test their body for endurance, holding out on a banana diet for at least a day. After that, it is necessary to track the body's reaction to such changes in the diet and follow the selected menu for about 3-4 days.
- After the course of the diet, you can not begin to actively and thoughtlessly eat everything what is in the refrigerator, because there is a risk of gaining weight again in the same week. Nutrition after the diet should include small portions of food, the intake of which should be divided into 5-6 times.
For information on how to quickly and easily cook banana pancakes, see the following video.