What Is the Best Time to Eat Banana? - According to a Nutritionist!
Available year-round, cheap, and simple to eat, bananas are the most fuss-free yet healthy fruit there is. But, one doubt that has troubled banana lovers is whether it is good to eat bananas at night. We’ll settle the debate for you and tell you the best time to eat bananas.
Best Time To Eat Banana
You can consume bananas in the morning along with other breakfast foods. However, you should avoid eating them on an empty stomach.
Eating bananas at night should also be avoided if you have cough, cold, or breathing problems.
Two primary factors come into play when determining when you should be eating a banana. The first is the ripeness of the banana, and the second is your nutritional needs.
A newly ripened banana may be less sweet, but it can help you stay full for longer because of the starch that hasn’t broken down into simple sugar yet.
At the same time, a well-ripened banana is sweeter and easier to digest. It can also effectively serve the purpose of providing a spike of energy pre or post-workout.
Is It Good to Eat Banana at Night?
Truth be told, bananas are safe to consume at any time of the day. So, YES, it is good to eat bananas at night.
Eating bananas at night has been proven to help regulate the sleep cycle. It does so by helping the body produce serotonin - a brain chemical with multiple benefits, including regulating sleep.
Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that bananas contain, but our bodies cannot produce. This amino acid, in turn, helps the body produce serotonin.
Along with regulating your sleep-wake cycle, serotonin is also a natural way to manage mental health issues like insomnia, anxiety, and depression.
In conclusion, it is perfectly fine and even good to eat bananas at night.
Also Read: Banana Shake Benefits: 14 Reasons to Include Banana Shake in Your Diet!
What Does Ayurveda Say?
Being the science that has held up for centuries now, Ayurveda has some valid suggestions for eating bananas. Here are a few:
1. No Bananas on an Empty Stomach
Bananas are acidic in nature. Hence, they can cause digestive stress if consumed on an empty stomach. You can still consume them in the morning by pairing them with other foods and as part of a breakfast meal.
2. Bananas Aggravate Cold
As per Ayurveda, bananas can aggravate Kapha in the body leading to cold and cough. It makes them not ideal to be consumed injudiciously at night, during winters, or by people with asthma or other breathing problems.
3. Bananas are Effective against Diarrhea and Constipation
Increased Vata in the body can cause diarrhea or constipation - known as Atisar in Ayurveda. The absorbent properties of bananas can help control loose motions and restore the digestive system.
4. Bananas Can Improve Male Sexual Performance
Aphrodisiac properties of bananas can help with reduced libido, low erection time, and even premature ejaculation. Ayurveda suggests the regular consumption of bananas as an effective solution.
5. Bananas help Manage UTIs
UTIs come with a painful burning sensation. You can alleviate this burn and discomfort by consuming some banana stem juice. Due to its cold or, as the Ayurveda says, Sita properties, banana stem juice provides relief during UTIs.
Apart from these, Ayurveda also suggests against pairing any kind of fruits with milk, curd, buttermilk as it can lead to cough and cold.
Also Read: 10 Surprising Banana Stem Benefits For Your Health
Can Everyone Eat Bananas?
Both modern medicine and Ayurveda do not recommend certain people to eat bananas. No matter how much you love them, it may be wise to stay off the fruit if the following applies to you.
- You are prone to cough, cold, or are asthmatic
- You are on beta-blockers
- You suffer from kidney disease or other renal issues
- You experience itching, swelling, or other allergic reaction upon eating bananas
- You suffer from severe migraines
Contrary to popular opinion, it is safe for people with diabetes to consume bananas in moderate quantities with a balanced diet.
Conclusion
Bananas are healthy, nutritious, and one of the simplest ways to keep your physical and mental health in check. Apart from some cases, all healthy individuals can enjoy bananas safely. If you keep the precautions we mentioned in mind, it is always the best time to eat bananas!
References
- Nutjaree Pratheepawanit Johns, Suphat Subongkot, August 2013; Serum melatonin levels and antioxidant capacities after consumption of pineapple, orange, or banana by healthy male volunteers - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23137025/
- Mindy A Patterson, Madhura Maiya, Maria L Stewart, February 2020; Resistant Starch Content in Foods Commonly Consumed in the United States: A Narrative Review - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32040399/
- Inge Huybrechts, Carine Vereecken, , August 2015; Dietary fibre intake and its association with indicators of adiposity and serum biomarkers in European adolescents: the HELENA study - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25129656/