Do you throw away bananas with black spots? You need to rethink

Who doesn’t love this sweet, mushy and irresistible fruit? Bananas are versatile and easy to consume. Besides that, they are a perfect superfood as they give us energy, keep us full for a longer time, and provide our body with all the essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals, and natural sugar.

Fuelled with vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, it can be a perfect addition to your breakfast. According to studies,bananas contain three natural sugars that are sucrose, fructose, and glucose combined with fibre. A banana gives an instant, sustained, and substantial boost of energy. And research also indicates that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout!

The iconic golden fruit is wholesome, but is surrounded by doubts for causing weight gain or constipation. Many people also say one should not consume this fruit when black spots start to appear on its skin, and when it is fully ripened as its sugar content may be high. We also usually throw the away when the black spots start to appear on it, as it turns mushy and we mistake it for being rotten as in the case of most fruits. But that is not true!

Why we should not throw away bananas with black spots?

1. Higher content of TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor)

The dark spots on the skin of the banana are not a sign of rotten fruit but are the signs of ripening of a banana. The more black-brown spots on the bananas the better it is to consume. Dt. Upasana Sharma, Head Dietician, Max Hospital, Gurugram, tells HealthShots, “The black spots on the banana represent the TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor), TNF is a cancer-fighting substance which helps in fighting against the abnormal cells in the body, hence more the black spots, the more TNF in the bananas”.

2. Higher antioxidant content

The bananas, when fully ripe are said to be high antioxidant fruit.  It also helps to increase the immunity system against viruses and cancer cells. Sharma comments, “The more the black spots on banana skin, the riper it is. It may look too ugly to be consumed, but it’s definitely nutritious for the body. As the antioxidant properties increase in the ripened banana, its ability to boost the immune system also goes up.”

3. Fights chronic diseases

As the bananas get more ripened, the magnesium content gets higher. High magnesium is excellent for people suffering from hypertension, and it instantly lowers high blood pressure. Further, ripe bananas are good for the heart, depression, aid digestion, and healthy bowel movement.

4. Natural antacid

Bananas are natural antiacids and help in relieving heartburn instantly. If you are feeling a little heartburn, consume one banana it will give your relief within a few minutes.

5. Relieves constipation

Eating ripened bananas reduces the symptoms and speeds up time to recovery from diarrhea due to various causes. Since bananas are high on fibre, it also relieves from constipation. They can stimulate bowel movement.