Over-Ripe Bananas

[WebMistress]

I saw this, speaking of Bananas....

Hafeez058 - Got me on a Banana kick. Now I can't stop reading about them... (notorious researcher of all kinds of information).

Thoughts?

Seems contradictory, right? Considering it's also the stage when the banana has the most sugars!

[Zest]

Hi WebMistress

That is interesting - maybe I will do more reading about bananas too. I always choose the greenest ones I can find in the supermarkets, because then I don't need to rush to use them up - but by the time I use them, they are usually yellow - and I rarely leave them to 'stage 8' of the diagram you show - but if they get to that point, they go in my homemade seeded Banana fruit cake.

Zest

[WebMistress IF Star in reply to Zest]

And, banana breads and banana cakes are so delicious! To think that these bananas contain a protein that fights virus reproduction is such good news, especially for people who have bad colds. Nothing better than some hot lemon ginger tea and a slice of banana bread when feeling down.

[Zest in reply to WebMistress]

Mmmm, Hot Ginger tea and Banana Bread sounds wonderful.

Zest

[WebMistress IF Star in reply to Zest]

Oooh, Zest, read this article (about naners):

spoonuniversity.com/lifesty...

[Zest in reply to WebMistress]

Hi WebMistress

I can't access this, as it says it isn't available in the UK.

But thanks for trying to share it with me.

Zest

[S11m in reply to Zest]

Try this:

youtu.be/5ktCZzw20B0?list=P...(Not working as expected?)

[Zest in reply to S11m]

Thanks, that link worked fine. Some nice ideas there for using bananas - I especially liked the look of the pancakes.

Zest

[WebMistress IF Star in reply to Zest]

Haha, that wasn't the link I sent, but that is sure funny!

[WebMistress IF Star in reply to Zest]

Here's what was on that link, I hope it's okay to copy and paste it. I will give source at bottom.

How a Banana’s Ripeness Affects the Nutritional Value

Green vs. brown: which type of banana is actually better for you?

By: Louisa McBride, Colorado College

Bananas are a great source of fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, antioxidants and are known to be good for cardiovascular and digestive health.

People can be very specific on how ripe they like their bananas. Some people won’t even touch a banana with a brown spot, while other people will try anything to get their bananas to ripen quicker.

So what exactly is happening in the ripening process? Basically, the starch in the banana is turning to sugar. While this is happening, the peel of the banana loses chlorophyll and the green will start to turn yellow.

banana

So when is the right time to eat a banana? Well, it actually depends what benefits you’re trying to get out of it.

Let me break it down for you.

Benefits of Unripe Bananas

1. Lower Sugar Content

banana

Since unripe bananas contain more starch, this means they have less sugar in them (which is usually why they don’t taste as sweet). This can be especially beneficial to people trying to avoid sugar, like someone with diabetes.

2. Higher Starch Keeps You Full Longer

banana

Photo by Becky Hughes

The starch in unripe bananas can make you feel full faster and keep you full longer. This makes them a great snack in between any meal. This can also help you burn more fat quickly.

3. Higher Probiotic Prevalence

banana

Probiotics are all around good for you, especially for your colon. These can also help you absorb nutrients better (especially calcium).

Benefits of Ripe Bananas

1. Anti-Cancerous Properties

banana

The brown spots on bananas indicate TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor). TNF helps fight against abnormal cells in the body.

2. Easier to Digest

banana

Your body can easily break down the carbohydrates in ripe bananas and they can even aid in digestion.

3. Higher Antioxidant Levels

banana

Antioxidants have various health benefits, including improved immunity, anti-aging effects, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Regardless of the stage of ripeness, bananas pack a ton of nutrients into one fruit. They are a great snack that maintain blood sugar levels and can keep your energy levels up all day long.

One last fun fact is that bananas have also been found to help with anxiety and depression. This is because bananas contain tryptophan which the body then converts to serotonin. These little fruits have great overall health benefits and are easy to include in your everyday diet. Eat them alone, in smoothies, with peanut butter, or in your cereal. They add a touch of sweetness and a whole bunch of other benefits.

Source: healthunlocked.com/api/redi...

[Zest in reply to WebMistress]

Thanks for this WebMistress - it is definitely very interesting.

Zest

[WebMistress IF Star in reply to Zest]

I just realized when I read it again that I didn't specify the stages that are numbered, and forgot to pull out some of the silly things like "banana" or "photo by...." Oh well.

Speaking of fruit... I'm wanting a banana now. Maybe tonight after work.

[Caz28]

Interesting, I buy them at 3/4 and eat them at 6/7, if they get to 8 I cook with them xx