Experts claim that this delicious fruit can help boost your immune system.
Bananas are America's most popular
fruit, and it's easy to understand why: they're delicious, cheap, and can be
found almost anywhere food is sold, from gas stations to grocery stores. On the
other hand, Bananas can provide a surprising amount of support to your immune
system, keeping you healthy in the long run if you include them in your daily
routine. Continue reading to learn about the surprising health benefits of
bananas for your immune system.
1. They may help reduce your chance of developing the flu.
Do you want to avoid becoming sick during the flu season? Now is the time to incorporate some bananas into your daily routine. It was discovered in a PNAS study report published in the year 2020 that an engineered banana lectin (a type of indigestible protein that binds to sugar) had influenza virus-fighting activity against different strains of the influenza virus. The research article was published in the journal PNAS.
2. They may help reduce your risk of colorectal cancer.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer among men and women in the United States, and it also has the third-highest death rate (CDC). Consuming resistant starch-rich foods like bananas, on the other hand, may help reduce your risk. Resistant starch is excellent at reducing inflammation and may help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, according to a 2013 review of evidence published in Current Opinion in Gastroenterology.
3. They may give your body an immune boost after working out.
Were you looking for the perfect diet to fuel your exercises while supporting your immune system? Rather than reaching for a protein bar, go for a banana. Individuals who ate a banana before a 75-kilometer cycling time trial had less pronounced immune system-weakening responses to the strenuous exercise, including lower levels of exercise-induced inflammation and oxidative stress, according to a 2012 study published in PLOS One.
4. They may reduce your risk of post-surgery complications.
When it comes to reducing adverse post-surgical outcomes like graft-versus-host disease, resistant starch, such as that found in bananas, could be your secret weapon (GVHD). According to a 2016 study published in Nature Immunology, resistant starch, such as that found in bananas, can modify bacteria in the human digestive tract for the better, reducing the risk of GVHD.
5. They may improve your overall gut health.
Because the large bulk of your immune cells lives in your digestive system, gut health is critical to overall health. On the other hand, Bananas can aid in the maintenance of a healthy balance of good bacteria in your gut, providing your immune system a huge boost.
Resistant starch, such as that
found in bananas, can help good gut bacteria flourish while also improving
lipid metabolism, according to a 2017 study published in the American Society
for Microbiology journal mBio.