This is why you shouldn’t throw away overripe bananas | The Times of India (2024)

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This is why you shouldn’t throw away overripe bananas | The Times of India? ›

02/7Prevents cells from getting damaged. Overripe bananas are rich in antioxidants. When you consume them, overripe banana helps boost immunity which prevents several diseases. Not just that, they also help in preventing the cells from getting damaged.

"The riper the bananas get, the more levels of bacteria could be on them," he says. Those bacteria include spoilage bacteria, which are typically not harmful, but could also be pathogenic bacteria (which can make you sick) picked up during harvesting, processing, or at the grocery store.

Rotten bananas will often have a fermented or alcohol-like smell. While it's okay if the banana peel is dark brown or even black, if the inside is too, then the fruit is beyond ripe and now on its way to rotten. Another sign that bananas have gone bad is if they start leaking any fluids.

That's not a problem on its own per se, since bananas also have fiber, vitamins, and other nutrients your body needs to thrive. But experts say that noshing on a banana first thing in the a.m., before you eat any other food, can potentially mess with your blood sugar levels—impacting your energy, mood, and more.

Bananas with black spots are safe for consumption and do not pose any health risks. However, exercise caution if a banana with dark spots emits a bad odour. In such cases, it is advisable to steer clear and opt for a fresher alternative. Trust your senses when it comes to ensuring the quality of this nutritious fruit.

Nutrition and public health experts have said rotten bananas are unsafe for human consumption, stating that they contain harmful bacteria, fungi, and toxins that could lead to severe health complications when consumed.

Could a late night banana harm your sleep? Bananas are rich in carbohydrates. And researchers have suggested that eating carbohydrate-rich foods in the evening reduces the release of melatonin. Some scientists also think that blood sugar spikes may interfere with sleep.

Eating too many bananas or other high-potassium foods can cause excess potassium in the body, also called hyperkalemia. This can cause serious health problems, including heart issues. While most people wouldn't be able to stomach the number of bananas necessary to cause this to happen, it's something to be mindful of.

If the banana is totally brown with no yellow showing, is soft or squishy, is showing signs of mold, is leaking fluid or smells rotten, it is beyond saving. A banana that is ripe will have a yellow skin covered in brown spots, will smell sweetly of banana and will be the texture of a ripe avocado.

Mokillo, moko, and blood disease bacterium are bacterial diseases that can also cause red discoloration in bananas. While unappealing to eat, these diseases affecting bananas are not a threat to human health, however when in doubt, throw it out or compost them.

Do bananas raise your blood sugar? ›

Bananas contain carbs, which raise blood sugar

This is because carbs raise your blood sugar level more than other nutrients, which means they can greatly affect your blood sugar management. When blood sugar levels rise in people without diabetes, their bodies produce insulin.

A dull, grey color indicates they have been either chilled or overheated during ripening and/or storage. There is no need to be concerned if bananas appear a little greyer than usual. There is nothing wrong with the bananas and is safe to consume.

Bananas are incredibly tasty and easy to eat. What's more, they're rich in many essential vitamins and minerals. Most people eat bananas when the fruit is yellow and ripe, but green unripe bananas are also safe to eat. However, some people dislike their taste and texture.

Eating too many bananas might disturb this equilibrium, resulting in blood sugar fluctuations. Weight gain: Bananas are higher in calories and carbs than other fruits, so eating too many can lead to weight gain. Fatigue: Bananas contain tryptophan, an amino acid that helps produce serotonin, which helps with sleep.

“Bananas, when fully ripe, contain soluble fiber and thus can help treat constipation,” Lee says. “However, unripe, or green, bananas have high levels of resistant starch, which can be very binding and cause constipation.” Because of this, unripe bananas can be used to treat diarrhea, she notes.

Overripe bananas are also lower in digestion-slowing fiber, having only 1.9 grams of fiber (7% of your daily value of fiber) whereas yellow bananas contain 3.1 grams, or 11% DV of fiber (making yellow bananas a "good" source of fiber).