Bananas are a yummy, grab-and-go snack, but they may be getting a bad rap. Their relatively high sugar and carb content have them on some people’s do-not-eat list.
One large banana has about 120 calories and 17 grams of natural sugars, more than double what you’d get in a cup of sliced strawberries.
That begs the question: Are bananas healthy?
“Compared to some other fruits, it’s true -- bananas can be higher in sugars. But it’s far less than what you would get in a soda or a candy bar, and even a nutritionist will tell you, it’s unlikely you’re going to get fat or develop diabetes from eating a banana,” said Julia Calderone, Consumer Reports’ health editor.
Also, some of the carbohydrates in bananas come in the form of dietary fiber -- 3 1/2 grams in each large banana, which is about 15 percent of the amount you need every day. Eat green bananas and you get a bonus – resistant starch, which isn’t easily digested, so it can help reduce blood sugar levels.
Bananas are also rich in vitamins B-6 and C and a bunch of nutrients, including potassium, which can help promote heart health.