The article was professionally consulted by Specialization Degree Level 1 Dr Tran Quoc Vinh - Emergency Doctor - Department of Resuscitation - Emergency - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.
Bananas are not only extremely good for the body but also easily purchased anywhere, anytime, with simple storage and convenient carrying. You can eat a banana, make a smoothie, or combine it with many other dishes. But the question is, should people with stomachaches eat bananas?
1. The benefits of bananas
1.1. The proper amount of carbs
Like all other fruits, bananas also contain carbs (carbohydrates contain 1 or more sugar molecules for energy, also called carbs) but not much. The amount of carbs in bananas is just enough for diabetes patients to enjoy 1/2 fruit when they need a snack. Bananas are also very popular in low-carb diets.
1.2. Rich in fiber
One medium-sized banana provides 3 grams of fiber, equivalent to 10% of your daily essentials. Fiber can help your bowels function properly, while also controlling cholesterol, and blood pressure, and reducing inflammation.
In addition, foods rich in fiber also make you feel full without consuming many calories. So bananas are a top choice for people wanting to lose weight.
1.3. High in Potassium
This mineral is important for heart health. Potassium dilates the walls of blood vessels and, at the same time helps the body eliminate more sodium through the urine, increases myocardial contractility (heart strength), and regulates heart rate, thereby controlling stable blood pressure. Moreover, potassium also reduces the risk of stroke, keeps the bones of the elderly healthy, and helps muscles work better.
However, too much potassium is not good for individuals with kidney problems. Because the kidneys also regulate potassium levels in the blood, kidney failure reduces potassium excretion, which leads to high blood potassium levels (hyperkalemia), causing life-threatening arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats).
1.4. Good for the digestive system
Bananas are a source of prebiotics – the type of carbs that you can't digest and are a food source for gut probiotics (good bacteria) to develop. Probiotics can help treat diarrhea; treatment of yeast infections, urinary tract and digestive tract; improve irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, and some other allergy symptoms. Probiotics even make colds and flu less severe.
1.5. Contains a lot of vitamins
Vitamin B6 in bananas helps metabolism and plays a crucial role in fetal and infant brain development and immune system health.
One banana also provides you with about 10 mg of vitamin C (essential needs 75 - 90 mg/day). Vitamin C helps protect the body from the bad effects of free radicals from unhealthy foods, tobacco smoke, pesticides... Vitamin C helps improve the immune system and the body's ability to heal, recovering faster after a workout (compared to just drinking water). So, eating bananas every morning will give you enough energy to work all day.
2. Should I eat bananas if I have stomachache?
Many people think that if they have stomach aches, eating bananas will make the condition worse, the pain becomes more intense. The truth is that bananas are very good for the digestive system, we encourage patients with stomach aches to eat bananas for the following reasons:
- Potassium is good for supporting the digestive system, laxative, reducing stomach aches, stimulating production mucus production, and protecting the gastric mucosa;
- Pectin in bananas helps reduce pain, stimulating digestion, and improving stomach problems;
- The antioxidant delphinidin helps prevent the formation of stomach tumors, reducing the risk of cancers;
- Bananas also prevent the invasion of HP bacteria - the main cause of stomach diseases.
So should people with stomach aches eat green bananas? Although bananas are very good for stomachache, you can experience bad reactions because of your physical condition or eating bananas improperly. To reduce the symptoms of stomach aches from bananas, patients should note:
- Eating only ripe bananas, not green or underripe bananas because the substances in the banana’s latex may irritate the stomach, creating a feeling of hollow ache, uneasiness, and discomfort;
- Eat bananas after a meal for about 20-30 minutes, do not eat on an empty stomach;
Select suitable bananas such as chuoi ngu, chuoi cau, chuoi la, chuoi tay; - Should not eat chuoi tieu to avoid feeling full of stomach, discomfort, dull pain, and gnawing;
- Should eat 1-2 bananas per day, and avoid overeating.
- Diet will greatly affect stomach aches, so people with stomach aches must eat bananas properly to promote good results.
3. What should people with stomachache eat?
Bad eating habits are often a common cause of stomach aches, such as eating too quickly or skipping meals. Many people with digestive system problems also eat too many processed and sugary foods but don't get enough fiber, fruits, and vegetables.
Most digestive disorders, including stomachache, can be prevented with a healthy, balanced diet. The list of food that people with stomachache shout eat includes:
- Fruits: Apples, avocados, bananas, berries, canned fruits, cantaloupe, grapes, pears, kiwi, mangoes, peach & spring peach, papaya, pear, prunes, watermelon, etc.
- Vegetables: Asparagus, legumes, radishes, broccoli/white, brussels sprouts (tiny cabbage), white cabbage, carrots, corn, cucumber, kohlrabi, leeks, mushrooms, onions, peppers bell, potato, green onion, spinach, squash, tomato, vegetable juice, zucchini...
- Meat/protein: Eggs, dried peas, legumes and lentils, fish, lean meat, nuts, peanut butter, poultry, seeds, tofu...
- Starches: Multigrain breads, cereals, crackers, rice (brown or wild), whole wheat pasta.
Some people may experience problems after eating one or more of these above healthy foods. You should try a small amount of these foods to find the proper foods before adding them to your diet.
Around the question of whether people with stomach aches should eat bananas, doctors advised that bananas can help control symptoms quickly. You should eat bananas every day to protect your health and your family from stomach aches. However, it is necessary to eat properly, not eat chuoi tieu, or green bananas ... to avoid bad effects on the digestive system. In addition, the patient needs to combine with the medicine prescribed by the doctor, so the stomach aches can be cured.
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Reference source: webmd.com
