Having loose and watery stool is a problem for many of us. Aside from the stool form, diarrhea also gives you pain in the abdomen and fever. Yet, a famous fruit can help you if you have such digestive problems. Bananas are the best source of vitamins and nutrients that our body needs. They are common and sold in markets.
1. Makes Stool Firmer
Every day, lots of water goes into the small intestine. Afterward, the body will absorb it. But if you have diarrhea, the water that goes out of you is more than the amount that your body gets.
So, how can the yellow fruit help? One importance of banana is in its ability to absorb water in the body. Hence, an unripe banana has a starch which is pectin. The small intestine will not digest this starch. Therefore, it will go to the colon, where it will become acids. These acids will help in the absorption of water and salt in the colon. As a result, the stool will become firmer.
2. Prevents Stomach Upset
Moreover, bananas do not only make the stool less watery. Pectin helps in the production of mucus in the colon and small bowel. Also, the mucus serves as a shield between the stomach lining and the acidic substances. So, it prevents that may cause stomach upset.
Unripe banana is better than the ripe one. Once the fruit ripens, its fiber will turn into a soluble sugar. So, it may not work well like how the ripe one does.
3. Refills Potassium Level
Furthermore, this fruit does not only stop stomach upset. Another importance of banana is it restores the potassium in your body. Banana is high in this mineral. If a person has diarrhea, they lose a lot of water and electrolytes that go with the stool. Therefore, it will result in a lack of water. Potassium controls electrolyte balance in the body. It allows the muscles to contract and the nervous system to pass on messages to the body.
A medium raw banana has about 422 mg of potassium. Eating a banana will help in restoring electrolyte balance in the body.
4. Increases Good Bacteria
This fruit has sugar that feeds the good bacteria in the colon. As a result, good bacteria will overpower the bad ones. It will help the body to absorb nutrients from food. It also protects us from foreign germs.
Instead of using antibiotics, which may also harm good bacteria, eat this fruit. Banana benefits the colon and does not harm good bacteria. A small red banana has 3 grams of fiber. Also, yellow and red banana benefits the digestive system.
5. Helps Absorb Nutrients
Raw bananas are good for people with diarrhea. Likewise, it helps in nutrient absorption. A study found out that bananas also increases calcium absorption of the body. So, it will result in stronger bones and body functions.
It is not only the yellow one that helps. Red banana benefits us because it is rich in potassium and vitamins.
6. Restores Energy and Body Weight
Aside from water loss, diarrhea will also make you weak, and you will lose bodyweight. Banana benefits you by restoring your energy. A study found out that green plantains led to a gain in body weight.
Do not expect to see results after one and random eating. Banana’s effect on you will take about a day before it shows.
Ideal Ways to Eat Bananas
- Boil it. Boil raw bananas with their skin for 7 to 10 minutes. After that, peel off the skin and mash the bananas. Add a bit of butter and salt. You can eat this twice a day.
- Dry Banana Flakes. Try 1 to 2 tbsps of dry banana flakes. It has 25 gm of carbs and 0.5 gm of fiber per tbsp. Some try eating it every 8 hours. Therefore, this diet helped those people. One can also try a pureed ripe banana. For a yummy and healthy snack, try a small amount of banana puree on your toast. You may add a tsp. of honey to it.
Explore other healthy diets and eat it with bananas. Keep your body healthy by eating clean foods. Drink plenty of water and have proper hygiene.
