Knowing what fruit to eat and how much fruit to eat can be tricky for diabetes patients. This is because fruits tend to be sweet and filled with natural sugars. Banana has one of the highest carbohydrate content of all fruits. So are bananas safe for diabetes and how much can you really eat?
Nutritional Fact of Banana
An average-sized banana consists of up to 30 grams of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are mostly made of sugars. As such, it is safe to say that the bigger the banana, the higher its sugar content. However, bananas also contain lots of important nutrients, such as the following:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B-6
- Potassium
- Manganese
Benefits of Eating Bananas if You Have Diabetes
Although there are limited studies on the benefits of eating bananas for those with diabetes, it is thought that the starch found in under-ripe bananas can help to improve one’s blood sugar level and increase the body’s response to insulin.
As mentioned, bananas have Vitamin B-6 and this vitamin can help to minimize stress while regulating metabolism at the same time. Both of which play an important role in managing diabetes. Furthermore, bananas can help in digestion due to the high fiber content. It also has potassium that contributes to the overall health of your body.