The banana is Australia’s #1 best selling fruit. In fact, it is the bestselling fresh produce item at supermarkets. When you look at all the scientific research on the banana and its major nutrients, such as vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium, fibre and antioxidants, then there is good reason for the banana to be so popular.
People love its sweetness, its flavour and its simplicity of eating – the nutritional benefits are a thankful bonus. The banana is filling, with no fat, cholesterol or salt. A sliced banana on breakfast cereal makes the first meal of the day last through until lunch.
Athletes and other active people love the banana because it is a great carbohydrate source, providing the natural sugars to fuel the muscles. That’s why you see cyclists, tennis players, cricketers and people in active jobs eat a banana during breaks. It is the easy-to-eat muscle fuel food.
The banana has B group vitamins and is one of the best ever sources of vitamin B6, which is involved in making neurotransmitters and energy production in muscles. It is also a great source of vitamin C and has antioxidant compounds that help protect the body from future disease.
The banana is famous for its potassium and fibre. The potassium helps to keep blood pressure normal, while the fibre helps keep bowel function normal. It is one of the few fruit that has resistant starch, a type of starch that acts like fibre to keep the bowel lining healthy.
It’s almost like nature knew we would need a healthy energy snack to help fuel us through the day, without slowing us down, and one that everyone could enjoy throughout their lives. If it didn’t exist, somebody would invent something very close to the banana. Nature had it worked out long ago.
