Are overripe bananas bad for you?

In this article, we will answer the question “Are overripe bananas bad for you”? and discuss the benefits of overripe bananas? 

Are overripe bananas bad for you? 

No, overripe bananas are not bad for you.  Mostly, people discard overripe bananas because they think overripe bananas are no longer fresh and not good to eat. 

Overripe bananas are very good for health although they may not look fresh as their peel turns black and brown. 

Overripe bananas are healthier and more nutritious than others. You can use them in multiple recipes, from smoothies and milkshakes to banana bread.

Are overripe Bananas healthier?

Yes, overripe bananas are healthier. It provides more nutritional values to our body. Overripe bananas have more antioxidant activity as they have higher levels of antioxidants compared to green or yellow bananas. It also has Tumor Necrosis Factor which is a cancer-fighting substance. 

Is eating overripe bananas safe?

Eating overripe bananas is safe until there is no bad odour and mould. Bananas do not pose any health risks until they are extremely overripe. If you notice bruises, do not throw them away, simply remove them with a knife. 

What are the benefits of overripe bananas?

Lowers Blood Pressure: Overripe bananas can improve our circulatory system function, lower blood pressure and fight against heart attacks and strokes

Relieves Heartburn: Overripe bananas with a black spot known to act as an antacid. Overripe bananas can protect the stomach from irritation and harmful acid as compared to unripe bananas which contain more potassium nitrate which causes heartburn.

Helps Digestion: overripe bananas have more simple sugar that makes them sweeter and easy to digest because it has less starch to break down when consumed. Overripe bananas are also useful for constipation or digestive disorder. 

Brown-Spotted Bananas Are Immune Boosters: Brown spots on overripe bananas are considered immune boosters because they are rich in antioxidant contents that are associated with cancer prevention. 

Rich In Vitamin B6: Ripe bananas have a high content of Vitamin B6. vitamin B6 can reduce the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and help in temperature maintenance in our body.    

Overripe Bananas Help Soothe Your Ulcers: Overripe bananas have a soft texture that can help coat an ulcer patient’s stomach lining thus, preventing acid from aggravating the ulcers. However, it has been noted that eating bananas won’t cause any additional pain during an ulcer flare.

Natural Energy Booster: Overripe bananas can act as an energy booster. They contain more natural sugars which are a good source of carbohydrates. If you eat two or more bananas it provides you with enough energy for about 90 minutes workout.

Can diabetic patients eat overripe bananas?

Eating overripe bananas may increase the blood glucose level in diabetic patients. People with diabetes should be more concerned about the type of banana. Diabetic patients should eat green or under ripe bananas, not overripe bananas as starch in bananas converts to sugars as it becomes yellow or overripe. They should not consume excessive bananas. 

If you are concerned about the number of calories you consume, you should remember that both unripe and overripe bananas have the same amount of calories. Bananas contain the highest calories in all fruits.  

How To Store Bananas? 

Don’t throw your overripe bananas in the bin because you can simply store them in the freezer for future use. 

Don’t store your bananas in the freezer with the peel on because removing frozen bananas peel is a difficult task for you. Before storing them in the freezer you should remove the peel first then cut them into a slice and wrap slice kitchen white bags or ziplock bags. 

Then store them in the freezer. If you want to use it for muffins or banana bread, bring them out from the freezer and defrost them in the fridge overnight. For ice creams or smoothies, take bananas straight from the freezer, put them in the blender and blend until they become smooth. Overripe bananas can be stored in the fridge for more than two months. Save your overripe bananas in the freezer for the rainy day. 

How to use overripe bananas? 

Overripe bananas can be used in different recipes even if they become saggy,  lose their firmness and become unattractive to eat. 

Overripe bananas can be mashed and used for different snacks, smoothies, cookies, and many others. Overripe bananas can be used in making ice cream at home. 

They are also used in banana bread for flavour. You can make a delicious pancake with just two ingredients, an overripe banana, and an egg. It can also be added to milkshakes and smoothies. You can also add them to cookies and muffins. 

Other FAQs about Bananas which you may be interested in.

How to preserve bananas

Can a toddler eat too many bananas?

Can dogs eat banana peels?

Conclusion 

In this article, we answered the question “Are overripe bananas bad for you”? and discussed the benefits of overripe bananas.  

References 

https://www.livestrong.com/article/519389-do-overripe-bananas-still-have-nutritional-value/
https://chifranejournal.com/why-you-should-eat-brown-bananas/