Are bananas really the waistline-wreckers that they’re often made out to be? How many calories are in one banana? Read on for the real facts about bananas.
We love bananas–they’re great for so many reasons. But thanks to the original Atkins diet and other low-carb diet programs that essentially banned bananas, the tropic fruit has become the poster child for what you can’t have if you want to lose weight. However, like all fruit, bananas can be part of any weight loss diet plan. Here’s why:
According to the USDA nutrient database, here are the calories in one banana (small, medium and a cup of sliced fruit).
One Medium Banana (7″ to 8″): 105 calories, 39 g fat, 27 g carbohydrates, 14.5 grams natural sugars, 3 g fiber
One Small Banana (6″ to 7″): 95 calories, .33 g fat, 23 g carbohydrates, 12 grams natural sugars, 2.6 g fiber
One cup sliced Banana: 134 calories, .5 g fat, 34 g carbohydrates, 18 g natural sugars, 4 g fiber
As you can see, if you choose a small banana or eat half of a medium banana, you certainly won’t blow your daily calorie budget. Many other fruits, like naval oranges and apples have about 80-90 calories per medium piece of fruit, so bananas are on par with other fresh fruit.
What’s more, bananas also contain resistant starch (the greener the fruit, the more resistant starch it contains). Resistant starch is known to help increase satiety so you’ll feel fuller longer. In addition, one study found that the smell of bananas also helped reduce appetite and hunger. Together, this is a win-win for diet-conscious banana lovers.
For more surprising health and nutritional benefits of bananas, read this.
