Bananas are one among the world’s most widely consumed fruits and are chock-full of essential nutrients that help ward off many physiological and psychological troubles. While most of us may go bananas over bananas, have you ever thought about the possible side effects they could have?
- Weight Gain
Agreed that bananas, in comparison to your favorite box of cookies or crisps, have lesser calories, but, they still have enough calories to make you put on weight. That is if you don’t keep a tab on your portion sizes.
A medium-sized banana contains 105 calories. That, in comparison to a medium-sized orange , a bowl of diced watermelon , or a cup of grapes is a lot higher. So, if you’re looking for a low-calorie snack to indulge in every few hours, bananas may not be the best choice. Instead, fruits and veggies with high water content like watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, peaches, cucumber, lettuce, zucchini, make for better snack choices. They have fewer calories and high fiber content to keep you full for long. - Migraine
If you’re often troubled by excruciating migraine attacks, you may want to avoid including bananas in your daily diet. Tyramine, a substance found in many foods like cheese, fish, meats, and bananas is a trigger for migraine headaches, the University of Maryland Medical Centre reports. Since banana peels contain ten times more tyramine than banana pulp, be extra cautious about removing the stringy pieces of peel from the fruit before eating it. - Hyperkalemia
Hyperkalemia is a condition caused due to excess potassium in the blood and is identified through symptoms like uneven pulse rate, nausea, and irregular heartbeat that can even lead to heart attack. As per the Linus Pauling Institute of Oregon State University, a dosage of potassium greater than 18 g can cause hyperkalemia in adults . There are certain diet plans like the GM diet that recommend excess intake of bananas on certain days. If you follow such diets, you could just be calling for trouble. - Tooth Decay
Being high in starch, bananas can cause serious tooth decay if you don’t maintain proper dental hygiene. According to certain studies, bananas can be even more detrimental to your oral health as compared to chocolates, red licorice, and chewing gum . Starches dissolve slowly in the mouth whereas sugars dissolve quickly. Therefore, when you consume foods like bananas, their particles rest between the teeth for about two hours and thus attract more bacteria, resulting in more cavities. - Drowsiness
Always thought that beginning your day with a banana was a great idea? What you probably didn’t know was that bananas can make you feel drowsy, even if you’ve just started the day. They are rich in tryptophan, an amino acid that can reduce your mental performance and reaction time, apart from making you feel sleepy . Bananas also contain high doses of magnesium, a mineral that aids muscle relaxation. These properties, however, make them a good snack before bedtime. - Abdominal Pain
If you indulge in bananas that aren’t ripe enough, you may end up with a severe stomach pain. You may also experience nausea along with the abdominal pain. Unripe bananas contain a high amount of resistant starch that takes a long time for your body to digest. You may also experience immediate vomiting or diarrhea. - Gas
Consuming bananas can result in gas. They contain soluble fiber and fructose, both of which can cause gas. If you suddenly increase your intake of fiber or consume it in huge amounts, it takes a lot of effort for your large intestine to break down the fiber, and it can thus cause gas. Similarly, in the case of fructose, when taken in large amounts, your body can find it difficult to digest it.