The yellow flesh undeniably has many health benefits. For example, those who suffer from constipation, heartburn, and peptic ulcers may notice an improvement in their overall health. And thanks to its high iron content, the fruit activates the production of hemoglobin and accelerates the recovery of anemia. But it is still not recommended to eat a banana on an empty stomach.
Positive and negative properties of banana, effects on the stomach
Nutritionists recommend always keeping a few bananas in the refrigerator. Fruits are an excellent source of potassium, magnesium and fiber. The yellow pulp quickly satisfies hunger and replenishes energy levels. A large amount of fiber can also solve the problem of constipation by activating intestinal motility. Electrolytes contained in large quantities in the pulp will help replenish lost nutrients during bouts of diarrhea.
Yellow fruits are also a natural antacid, which means they reduce acidity in the stomach. Leucocyanidin (one of the constituent elements of the pulp) helps to increase the thickness of the gastric mucosa, providing additional protection against potential damage caused by ulcers.
As for the negative properties, due to the large amount of starch, the processes of tooth decay are activated. It has been proven that sweet pulp causes more damage to tooth enamel than chocolate, chewing gum or candy. This is because the fruit residue remains in the mouth for a long time.
What you need to know about bananas
Interesting facts about these amazing fruits have long been known. They may change the way you think about bananas. So what you need to know:
- Eating 1 banana daily increases performance, improves mood and significantly reduces fatigue.
- The fruit is often used to treat gastrointestinal diseases.
- If a person is overcome by cholera or dysentery, crushed banana fruits help in treatment.
- It has been scientifically proven that bananas have a calming effect on the human nervous system.
- The fruit can increase potency in men.
- Diabetic leg ulcers can be treated by applying crushed green bananas to them.
These are not all the positive aspects of bananas. You will be surprised, but the peel of this fruit has no fewer advantages.
The benefits and harms of bananas on an empty stomach
But for all its nutritional value, yellow fruits should not be eaten on an empty stomach. Due to the high sugar content of the fruit, a person may feel a surge of energy. But this absolutely does not mean that you can eat bananas on an empty stomach in order to feel energetic throughout the day. In fact, the exact opposite effect will be achieved. This is due to how long it takes for a banana to be digested in the stomach.
Since the fruit is quite starchy, it takes almost 2-3 hours to digest. All this time you will feel lethargic and drowsy. Additionally, eating yellow fruits on an empty stomach can lead to cardiovascular disease as high magnesium levels cause imbalance.
Another reason why you should not eat bananas on an empty stomach: they are unnatural. It's very rare to buy all-natural fruit these days. The vast majority of the assortment presented in the store is grown on artificial soil with the addition of chemicals. When eating such fruits on an empty stomach, the chemicals quickly enter the bloodstream and irritate the walls of the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, bananas cause stomach pain and worsen your overall health in the long term.
Still, some nutritionists believe that bananas are a good option for breakfast. However, yellow fruits should be combined with other foods. Main purpose: neutralize the acidic nature. Thanks to this simple rule, you can avoid any digestive problems.
Contraindications
One fruit that should not be eaten in unlimited quantities is banana. You already know how long the product is digested in the stomach. But to whom is it contraindicated? Restrictions are related to the individual characteristics of the human body. So, the disadvantages of banana include:
- The fruit is strictly forbidden to be consumed by people suffering from diabetes. This is due to the fact that bananas contain a large amount of carbohydrates, and their energy value is very high.
- Due to its high calorie content, the product should be limited to overweight people.
- Small children enjoy eating bananas, but, unfortunately, they should not be given to children under 3 years of age. This is due to the fact that the fruits do not grow in our area, so they are alien to our climate. The child's body can react aggressively to these fruits.
- Bananas contribute to blood thickening, so people with coronary heart disease are highly discouraged from consuming them without consulting a doctor.
These disadvantages boil down to the fact that you can eat the fruit, but before doing so you need to consult a doctor. If you are a healthy person, then eat bananas in unlimited quantities. But remember about the possible manifestation of allergic reactions.
Bananas during pregnancy
Women in an interesting situation should not refuse healthy yellow fruits, because the tasty pulp can help eliminate common digestive problems that arise during pregnancy.
List of major benefits of eating bananas during pregnancy:
- elimination of unpleasant manifestations of toxicosis;
In the first trimester, a woman may feel nauseous due to toxicosis. Bananas are a rich source of vitamin B6, which is responsible for eliminating the unpleasant symptom.
- reduction of swelling;
Many pregnant women experience an accumulation of excess water in the body (especially at the end of the 2nd and beginning of the 3rd trimester), which is provoked by the hormone progesterone. Including yellow fruits in your diet will help reduce the amount of accumulated water.
- preventing heartburn;
The yellow flesh, when digested, releases a large amount of mucus, which helps protect the stomach and esophagus walls from acid.
The same mucus relieves the unpleasant symptoms of heartburn. So, high-quality fruits are absolutely safe during pregnancy. The yellow fruits contain many nutrients. But, like any other product, they should be eaten in moderation.
Important! Women with gestational diabetes should not consume more than 500 grams of bananas per day, as this can cause their blood sugar levels to skyrocket.
Why is it important to know the digestion time of food in the stomach?
Most of us understand that the foods we eat must be well digestible by the body. Otherwise, health problems cannot be ruled out. Understanding how the digestive system works helps you plan a healthy diet.
The gastrointestinal tract processes foods eaten (this allows them to be absorbed by the body), extracts nutritional components from them and removes residues that could not be digested. At the same time, substances foreign to humans, as well as harmful microorganisms, are neutralized. The main function of digesting food is assigned to the stomach and small intestine. After passing through these two systems, as a result of the action of gastric juice, enzymes, pancreatic juice, hydrochloric acid and bile, beneficial substances are absorbed into the body. Water and compounds that are not absorbed are sent further for processing and disposal. In the large intestine, remaining undigested products (waste) can remain for a long time, in some cases up to 20 hours. Through the large intestine, all waste that is no longer needed by the body is eliminated.
Helping the body digest food is not that difficult. It is enough to have an idea of the time of breakdown of different products and the degree of their absorption by the body.
The functioning and condition of the entire gastrointestinal tract depend on the time food remains in the stomach. When the system works properly, the liver, pancreas and gallbladder are less stressed. A person’s metabolism is normalized, weight is reduced, performance increases, his psycho-emotional state becomes better, he simply feels good.
We are accustomed to evaluating products by their taste characteristics and their compatibility with each other. However, not everyone pays attention to the rate of breakdown of food. But in vain. By studying the properties of the various products that make up your diet and choosing them correctly, you can get into good shape in a short time, without feeling hungry.
Important! When compiling a menu, it is recommended to include products that have the same rate of digestion and degree of absorption.
All products can be divided into two groups depending on the time of their breakdown, absorption and compatibility: slow and fast. By eating hard-to-digest food, we significantly increase the load on the gastrointestinal tract. At the same time, there are not enough enzymes to process it. As a result, food remains in the stomach for a long time in an undigested form, the normal functioning of the stomach is disrupted, which leads to discomfort in this section and a feeling of heaviness (even pain). This ailment is called dyspepsia. There are several reasons for the occurrence of this disease, but one of the most common is the incorrect preparation of the menu. Many of those who like to eat heavily and are not too careful about choosing the right foods, after eating cannot do without medications, because the stomach ceases to cope with the mixture that has entered it. And they are surprised at what is happening.
Important! You should not start eating, knowing that there is still food left in your stomach that you ate before. And about 4 hours before bedtime you should stop eating altogether.
It should be noted that the time it takes for food to be digested in a person’s stomach may be influenced by the characteristics of his lifestyle and metabolism, as well as gender and age category. However, it is so insignificant that it does not play a significant role.
How to eat bananas for diseases of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract
Bananas have not been considered expensive exotic fruits for a long time, and are used in folk medicine. In particular, the sweet pulp quickly relieves pain caused by peptic ulcers and gastritis. But the peel can be used to relieve the inflammatory process that has developed against the background of hemorrhoids. You just need to apply the inner part of the skin to the anus.
You can try using banana to treat stomach upsets. But in order not to aggravate the pain, it is recommended to use dry powder rather than pulp. The product can be purchased at health food stores and added to milkshakes, or simply washed down with water. Pectin will soothe a sore stomach, but at the same time will not allow side effects to develop, in particular, it will not radically change the sugar level.
Fruits and vegetables
On average, fruits take 30-60 minutes to digest. Digesting fruits requires almost no energy or enzymes.
Fruit and vegetable juices and vegetable broths - 20-30 minutes.
Semi-liquid juices, such as pureed vegetable or fruit salad - 20-30 minutes. For example, a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice will leave our stomach within 20 minutes after you drink it.
Juicy fruits: oranges, apples, pears, plums and so on. For example, a couple of eaten juicy and aromatic oranges will leave the stomach in 30-40 minutes. Grapefruits, grapes - 30 minutes. Apples, pears, peaches, cherries, etc. - 40 minutes
Fleshy fruits and dried fruits: bananas, figs, dates will take longer to pass through the stomach than juicy fruits, but still very quickly compared to the foods that follow. Watermelon - 20 minutes. Melons - 30 minutes.
Raw mixed vegetable salads - tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber, celery, green or red pepper, other juicy vegetables - 30-40 minutes
Leafy vegetables - spinach, endive, kale - 40 minutes
Zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, pumpkin, corn on the cob - 45 minutes
Root vegetables - carrots, beets, parsnips, turnips, etc. — 50 minutes
How to choose healthy bananas
There are no “bad” banana varieties. Fruits at different stages of ripeness are suitable for different purposes. Very green, hard fruits have less starch and sugar in their composition, so they are suitable for those who are on a diet or suffer from diabetes. More ripe soft bananas, when ingested into the stomach, will produce more healing pectin mucus, which is extremely useful for healing damaged stomach walls.
But still, when purchasing, you should pay attention to ensure that the peel of the fruit is not black or moldy. The banana should have a characteristic pleasant smell. It is best to buy the product only from trusted sellers who have all the permits.
About banana peel
Many people want to look for information about banana pulp, but hardly anyone knows that the peel also has amazing properties:
- Make a banana peel compress to relieve migraine headaches.
- High blood pressure? A decoction of the peel will help.
- For burns, apply the inside of a banana peel to the damaged area.
- Plantar warts are difficult to treat, but if you tie the peel to your foot and wait a few days, this method will give results.
Based on this, banana can be called a truly amazing fruit, since not a single part of it is superfluous. The product is not only very tasty, but also extremely healthy, and such a combination is rare.
Thus, it is recommended to eat banana if you have no contraindications. But doctors often allow the consumption of this fruit in limited quantities, even in the presence of diseases.
Recommendations for eating bananas
After familiarizing yourself with all the indications and contraindications, you can try introducing bananas into your diet. As mentioned above, it is better not to eat fruits on an empty stomach. Therefore, it is better to prepare breakfast or a snack according to the recipes below.
- Smoothie.
Smoothies are a great way to get your yellow fruit in for breakfast. You need to beat 300 ml of milk with the pulp of one banana. Add sugar if desired.
- Oatmeal.
Cook the porridge in milk or water according to the usual recipe. 2 minutes before cooking, add banana slices and nuts to the pan with oatmeal. This breakfast is high in fiber, carbohydrates, healthy vitamins and minerals.
- Banana ice cream.
Freeze banana slices. Grind the slices in a food processor, add heavy cream, egg white and powdered sugar. Beat until the volume of the mass doubles. Leave in the freezer for another 2-3 hours. The ice cream is ready.
If you eat bananas correctly, you don't have to worry about any negative side effects.
Dairy
Raw milk leaves the stomach slowly, pasteurized milk even slower, and boiled milk even slower. Milk that is rich in fat passes through the stomach more slowly than milk that is low in fat.
Skim milk, ricotta, low-fat cottage cheese, feta cheese, and homemade cheese are digested in about 90 minutes.
Milk is completely digested within 12 hours. Tea or coffee with milk: 24 hours.
Whole milk cottage cheese - 2 hours
Hard cheese made from whole milk, such as Dutch and Swiss, will require 4 to 5 hours to digest.
Fermented milk drinks – 1 hour
