General information about bananas
Banana is in second place in terms of production and consumption after cereals. This popular agricultural crop was first discovered in the Malay Archipelago, from where it gradually spread to all continents. In Russia, fruits grow in the Krasnodar region. The fruits ripen throughout the year at above-zero temperatures, which is impossible in our climate, which is why bananas are not grown for sale. The world leaders in the export of this product are Ecuador, Colombia, and Costa Rica.
Sometimes there is confusion in the definition of culture. It should be clarified that a banana is a herbaceous plant on which berries grow. But in cooking they are most often called fruits.
There are different varieties that differ in color and taste. Bananas are:
- yellow;
- red;
- blue;
- green;
- orange;
- gold;
- black.
Fruits will help with constipation
It is advisable to focus on raw fruits
, but don’t forget that baked ones have no less benefits. As a supplement, you can consume both canned fruits and dried fruits.
In case of constipation, you can eat the following fruits: apples, unpeeled pears, bananas, grapes, prunes, dried apricots
and many others.
Now let's focus on fruits and understand everything in detail.
Do apples weaken or strengthen the intestines?
Apples themselves are a very interesting fruit. Many experts say that when eating apples or their puree, a strengthening effect (fixes) on the body is manifested. However, if this fruit is baked in the oven, then in this case the effect will be the opposite, that is, it will have a laxative quality (weakens). If you want to enhance the “laxative effect”, you can eat a few fresh apples, but this should be avoided on an empty stomach. Honey taken on an empty stomach can enhance the effect.
Do pears weaken or strengthen the intestines?
This fruit, like apples, is very multifaceted, namely, it can weaken and strengthen. The result will depend only on the form in which you consume the fruit. In what cases does the pear weaken? It's simple. Simply eating pears raw has a laxative effect. Note that the pear must be juicy and sweet.
For the opposite effect, when you need to secure a chair, he recommends pear jelly as a folk remedy. Drying pears with oatmeal broth can also be an additional option. In these cases, the pear will strengthen.
Can be used for constipation
Constipation is a condition in which the normal excretory function of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted. The criterion for pathology is the absence of stool for more than 3 days.
Constipation occurs in people of all ages, causes discomfort and disrupts the usual way of life.
There are reasons:
- psychological;
- organic (there is a disease);
- physiological.
If you suspect a pathology related to the intestines, it is important to consult a physician or gastroenterologist in a timely manner. This will eliminate life-threatening conditions. In addition, the doctor will select medications and a diet to which bananas can be added.
The main causes of constipation.
In the absence of health problems, it is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract, and also analyze the daily diet for the presence of products in it that provoke a delay in bowel movements. If such were found, you can independently establish regular bowel movements. To do this, it is not necessary to use pills, enemas and suppositories. Change your diet by adding a delicious and healthy fruit - banana.
Operating principle
There are several features of the fruit that help restore the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and get rid of constipation.
Dietary fiber should be present in the diet every day. There are a lot of them in a banana: to achieve the daily requirement, it is enough to eat 1 fruit per day. Fiber gently moves along the intestinal walls, collects all undigested particles and moves them towards the rectum. Potassium is a sodium antagonist and helps water molecules to be pushed out of the body rather than stored. This helps avoid swelling. In addition, the fruit itself contains a lot of water. It facilitates the passage of feces into the gastrointestinal tract and prevents their hardening.
Resistant starch serves as food for beneficial bacteria, the balance of which is important for normal intestinal microflora. Bananas contain a lot of pectin, which makes bowel movements easier.
Considering all these facts, nutritionists and doctors often recommend the fruit as a remedy for constipation.
Laxative effect
The high amount of fiber makes bananas an effective remedy for constipation in adults. Fiber allows you to speed up the natural processes of bowel movements. It pushes out stagnant feces naturally, and also cleanses the intestines of waste and toxins.
Moreover, bananas are also useful for treating and preventing stomach diseases such as ulcers. A large number of beneficial substances have a gentle effect on the intestinal walls and stimulate its functioning. That is why regular consumption of fruits helps to avoid the development of various problems with the digestive system.
When a banana enters the stomach, it absorbs excess gastric juice and helps restore normal intestinal microflora. For a therapeutic effect, three ripe fruits per day are enough. In addition, you can prepare a variety of desserts based on fresh fruits.
Rules of application
There are no strict rules for using bananas to treat constipation. Buy ripe fruits and wash them thoroughly with soap and running water.
If the problem with bowel movements does not resolve within a week, consult a physician to determine if there is a medical condition or to adjust your diet.
For adults
Persons over 18 years of age are recommended to regularly take 1–2 pieces of fruit. It is better to eat it in the first half of the day, so that the fructose included in the composition does not disturb night sleep, and the dietary fiber has time to travel all the way through the gastrointestinal tract. If you have diabetes, you need to calculate the glycemic index of a serving and include it in your daily diet. If necessary, 30 minutes after eating, you need to determine the level of glucose in the blood to avoid its sudden jumps.
For children
Children can also eat banana to relieve constipation. You need to start taking it with half a teaspoon of fruit. This will allow you to track possible allergies. If there are no negative manifestations, gradually increase the dose. Infants are allowed to eat up to 100 g of the product, after one year - 1 whole fruit per day.
Green fruits
Compared to ripe ones, green fruits contain a large amount of tannins and starch. This leads to complication of digestion processes and hardening of stool. Eventually constipation occurs. That is why green bananas are not recommended for both adults and children to avoid the development of various problems in the digestive system.
Only very ripe fruits have a positive effect on the functioning of the stomach. Therefore, it is recommended to choose fruits that are deep yellow in color with brown streaks. Green fruits can be left for several days to ripen.
Healthy banana recipes for constipation
When you don’t want to eat fruit separately, delicious recipes come to the rescue. Their use will help diversify the menu and give new taste sensations. Give preference to recipes where there is no heat.
Smoothie
Take 1 banana, 200 ml of milk, a few strawberries. Blend everything with a blender until smooth and serve chilled.
Strawberry-banana smoothie is a nutritious and healthy drink.
Curd dessert
You will need:
- 1 banana;
- 200 g cottage cheese;
- 10 g gelatin;
- 100 ml cold water.
Make preparations in advance. To do this, soak the gelatin in water to swell. Beat the banana with cottage cheese in a blender. Put the gelatin on the fire, wait for it to dissolve and add it to the main mass, stir well. Place the finished mixture into molds and refrigerate for 4 hours.
Banana cocktail recipes
Eating bananas regularly and cleansing your intestines will help you avoid various problems such as constipation.
Based on ripe fruits, you can prepare a variety of tasty and healthy dishes:
- To prepare a medicinal cocktail, it is recommended to grind ripe fruits, for example, using a blender. The resulting puree can be diluted with water to obtain a liquid consistency.
- You can make a delicious and healthy pudding that children will definitely love. To prepare the dessert, you need to mix three eggs and three bananas until smooth. To the resulting mixture you need to add half a stick of butter, a few tablespoons of milk, a little flour and sugar. Mix all this thoroughly, for example, using a mixer. It is better to cook in the microwave at medium temperature for up to 10 minutes. A regular oven will also work.
- Bananas can be whipped together with milk, ice cream or cream. Prepare milkshakes or fruit purees.
Precautions and contraindications
There are almost no contraindications to adding bananas to your diet.
Even pregnant women and children are allowed to eat it. Endocrinologists allow the product to be included in the diet of patients with diabetes (taking into account its glycemic index). The only contraindication for use is an individual allergic reaction, but this practically does not occur. However, there are several features of the fruit that you need to know.
Unripe banana
Unripe fruit contains large amounts of resistant starch. It absorbs moisture, which in turn slows down intestinal motility. So, an unripe banana causes constipation. To avoid this, buy only ripe fruit.
Contraindications
Each fruit has both its advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, you should definitely consult your doctor before choosing any remedy for treating stomach disorders.
So, it is not recommended to eat bananas in the following cases:
- First of all, these are serious diseases of the cardiovascular system, for example, thrombophlebitis or ischemic disease. For any heart disease, you should definitely consult a doctor.
- Fruits should not be eaten if you have diabetes because of their high sugar content.
- Bananas are very high in calories and are not recommended for obesity.
- In some cases, allergic reactions may occur.
Before consumption, be sure to thoroughly wash the fruits to remove the protective chemical layer from the surface of their peel.
Can bananas cause constipation? Due to the large amount of fiber, fruits, on the contrary, lead to an acceleration of the natural processes of bowel movements.
Vegetables are an excellent laxative
We've talked a little about fruits and now we'll focus on vegetables. The question is still the same, which vegetables weaken the intestines?
Vegetables are a good laxative due to the large amount of dietary fiber they contain. The list of popular vegetables includes:
- green peas;
- white cabbage, cauliflower or broccoli;
- baked potato with skin.
I would like to pay special attention to cabbage. It is also recommended to eat seaweed - kelp
. Based on statistics, seaweed very often acts on the intestines as a strong laxative.
After fruits and vegetables, I would like to pay attention to products in general. If you have constipation, there is no need to run to the pharmacy and buy medications.
, in this case, foods that weaken the intestines, both in children and adults, will come to the rescue.
Before eating foods for constipation, it is important to take one necessary step, namely, start eating laxative fruits and vegetables. The reason is simple, food is just an addition to make the effect better.
Bananas to prevent constipation
These fruits facilitate bowel movements; when their fibers enter the rectum, they increase the volume of feces, which leads to stretching of the intestinal walls, which causes the urge to defecate.
It is advisable to consume bananas regularly to prevent constipation and improve general condition, as they contain beneficial substances.
Banana pulp:
- has a laxative effect;
- acts as a natural sorbent, which, together with feces, removes indigestible and toxic substances;
- produces dopamine and serotonin, which normalize the functioning of many organs and in particular the gastrointestinal tract;
- improve libido in both sexes;
- softens stool, especially when washed down with water.
Bananas can help women during menstruation; they will reduce the accompanying pain and discomfort before the cycle itself.
Benefits of bananas for the intestines
The normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract depends on the stability and balance of the products entering it. Peristalsis depends not only on the work of internal organs, but also on food. The functioning of the gastrointestinal tract improves when fiber is present in food; it is found in grains, bran, some vegetables and fruits, including bananas.
Slow bowel movement leads to constipation, and to correct this you should help the body and fill it with water and water-soluble dietary fiber.
The effect of banana on the intestines depends on the degree of its ripeness. Ripe fruits have a beneficial effect on the intestines, they envelop the mucous membranes and help remove accumulated food; they are also indicated for peptic ulcers. The pulp of this fruit helps restore intestinal microflora and improve the digestion process. Just be sure not to overdo it; in small quantities, fruits will help cope with constipation, but if you eat more than three of them at a time, you can cause diarrhea.
Ripe fruits contain a large amount of fiber, which cleanses the stomach of toxins and removes feces accumulated in the body.
