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Bananas are one of the healthiest fruits you can eat — most of the time.
One banana contains about 100 calories and no fat and is rich in potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and more. By all means, incorporate a banana into your diet, but don't rely on them to help you shed pounds. Here are four reasons why you shouldn't eat bananas for weight loss.
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Bananas Are High In Carbs
1) Bananas are high in carbs — a medium banana has 27 grams of carbohydrates and 14 of those grams is sugar. That's no small amount, particularly for a healthy fruit associated with weight loss. One way to cut down on carbs while enjoying the benefits of bananas is by slicing one in half and adding a protein source (scoop of peanut butter or a handful of almonds) to the mix.
Bananas Have More Than 100 Calories
2) Bananas are one of the highest calorie fruits you'll find. Clocking in at 105 calories for a medium-size banana, you'd actually have to eat 100 blackberries to obtain the same number of calories. Most experts say a banana's nutrients outweigh its calorie count, but it's definitely something to keep in mind if you are keeping track of calories.
Ripeness Can Add Sugar
3) You're probably not making a mad dash in the grocery aisle to snag all of the green bananas. But there's a little catch when it comes to ripe yellow bananas: they actually contain more sugar than green bananas, which have something called resistant starches that has been linked to weight loss and lowered blood sugar levels.
4) And, finally: if you're stocking up on bananas because you assume bananas are more filling than other fruits and will keep you satisfied for longer, the truth is: other fruits have an advantage over them in this department. Apples and oranges are more filling when you consider their balance of calories and fiber.
