Can bananas make you sick?
This article will answer the question “Can bananas make you sick?”, and how many bananas can you safely eat per day?
This article also sheds light on the potassium overdose that may result from eating excessive amounts of bananas. The conditions that might make you feel sick after eating bananas are discussed in the article below.
Can bananas make you sick?
Yes, bananas can make you sick. This does not mean bananas are toxic. Rather the people who experience stomach sickness after eating bananas either have an allergy or other stomach-related issues. Let’s dig deep into this topic!
Ripeness
As per The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition findings, the starch content in the green unripe bananas is 12 times higher than the sweet ripe bananas. Such high levels of starch can be problematic for people already experiencing GI-related issues. The result is sharp stomach aches.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Bananas are a high-risk food for people experiencing IBS. in such individuals, bananas produce an excessive amount of gas that gets trapped in the stomach and causes bloating. The result is sharp stomach aches and even diarrhea.
Allergy
Yes, banana allergy exists. Individuals with banana intolerance are allergic to the protein, chitinase, present in the bananas. The same protein is present in kiwi, avocado, birch, and latex.
The common symptoms of allergy include skin rash and irritation, diarrhea, swollen lips and tongue, wheezing, and sharp stomach pangs.
Besides, people suffering from pollen-food allergy syndrome also experience allergic symptoms after consuming bananas. Symptoms include wheezing and a sore stomach. Similar allergic proteins are present in ragweed pollen.
Fructose intolerance
Individuals experiencing hereditary fructose intolerance react badly to even a small amount of fructose such as those present in bananas. Bananas only provide 5% fructose, as per the USDA National Nutrient Database.
Potassium overdose and bananas
The myth about eating 6 bananas at a time because eating 7 can b toxic or lethal is about to burst. You might not know but potassium is good for your body.
It regulates heartbeat, triggers insulin production to regulate blood sugar levels, and controls blood pressure.
Abnormal levels of potassium can result in an abnormal heart rhythm, stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea. In severe cases, cardiac arrest may occur.
But overdosing on potassium simply by eating bananas is quite impossible for a healthy person. You will have to consume at least 400 bananas to raise the potassium levels in your body to a toxic level.
The daily recommended dose of potassium is 3500mg as per the UK’s National Health Service. A 125g banana provides 450mg of potassium. So, you can eat about 7 ½ bananas before breaching the daily recommended value.
However, high potassium foods like bananas and tomatoes, etc should be completely avoided by those suffering from kidney issues. These people are at high risk of potassium build-up in the kidneys since their kidneys are not functioning normally.
The nutrition facts of bananas
A serving of 119g bananas contains the following nutrients in the given amounts.
| Calories | 105 |
| Carbs | 27 grams |
| Fiber | 3 gram |
| Fat | 0.3 gram |
| Protein | 1 gram |
| Vitamin C | 17% of the Daily Value (DV) |
| Vitamin B6 | 22% of the DV |
| Potassium | 12% of the DV |
| Manganese | 16% of the DV |
| Magnesium | 8% of the DV |
Some other compounds present in bananas are stress-relieving and anti-inflammatory.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, a healthy person should take a minimum of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables for a sound body and mind.
The major calorie portion of bananas comes from carbs. Less than 8% of the total calorie content of a banana is provided by fats and proteins.
To have a more nutritionally balanced snack, combine bananas with protein and fat-rich peanut butter, walnuts, or egg.
How many bananas can you safely eat per day?
Over-consumption of bananas can lead to rapid weight gain because of the large number of calories that come from carbs(over 90%).
Oversocmumtion of crabs is particularly dangerous for people with diabetes or pre-diabetes because of uncontrolled blood sugar spikes.
It is recommended to eat only 1-2 bananas per day for a healthy body. The number of bananas a person can safely consume per day depends upon their nutrient and calorie needs per day.
It is important to not obsess with one type of fruit but to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables to fulfill the demands of your body. Remember balance is the key!
Other FAQs about Bananas which you may be interested in.
Where are bananas imported from?
Where do banana seeds come from?
Conclusion
This article answered the question “Can bananas make you sick?”, and how many bananas can you safely eat per day?
