Bananas are quite popular and widespread not only in our country, but also in the world. Today you won’t surprise anyone with them. The same cannot be said about dried bananas. They are much less common on shelves, despite the fact that they are just as tasty and healthy. There are also dried bananas; they are smaller in size than fresh fruit, but not in softness. When it comes to dried bananas, they are distinguished by their crunchy texture. It is to them that we will pay attention in this article, we will look at the benefits and harms of dried bananas, and how they should be consumed.
Bananas contain a huge amount of vitamins A, C, group B, as well as microelements such as potassium, calcium, iron, fluorine, zinc. Not all fruits can boast of a similar chemical composition. Despite this, in certain cases, consuming this fruit can have a negative effect on the body.
The difference between sun-dried and dried bananas
Bananas also exist in dried form. They are also smaller in size than fresh fruit. You can easily distinguish a dried banana from a dried one. The color of the former is brown, and the latter is yellowish. The first ones are soft to the touch, and the second ones are hard.
The main difference is the method of preparing the fruit. When preparing dried bananas, they are cut lengthwise into four parts, boiled in sugar syrup, and then dried. Fruit prepared in this way contains a large amount of moisture and retains all the beneficial substances.
Dried bananas are higher in calories than dried bananas. In addition, they contain more sugar. For healthy eating enthusiasts and all sweets lovers, both types are an excellent option.
Are dried bananas harmful?
Let's consider the benefits and harms of dried bananas. They have the following effect on the body:
- Remove excess water from the body.
- Have a beneficial effect on brain activity.
- Helps strengthen the heart muscle.
- Help cleanse the body of harmful substances.
- They fight problems with gastritis, ulcers and anemia.
- Positively affects the condition of the skin and hair.
- Helps cope with depression.
This list allows you to understand whether dried bananas are healthy. These dried fruits are champions in potassium content, which helps in the functioning of the heart muscles. Therefore, including bananas in the diet of smokers, as well as people suffering from heart disease, will only be beneficial.
One banana contains a daily dose of B vitamins. Thus, regular consumption of the dried fruit will help normalize metabolism, improve brain function and restore the nervous system. They also contain vitamin C, which serves as an excellent preventative against colds. Dried banana is not a medicine, but it is a good product for prevention. Eating small handfuls of this fruit can significantly improve your immunity.
For those who need to gain weight, doctors advise adding dried bananas with milk to their diet. This cocktail will help quickly solve the problem. It is worth considering that such a prescription is given directly by a doctor, because uncontrolled consumption of bananas can contribute to weight gain rather than weight loss.
This miraculous dry fruit contains fiber, which is an excellent preventative against constipation. It helps to gently get rid of such problems without irritating the gastric mucosa. This product can be safely included in the diet of children under 3 years of age. Thanks to the nutritional properties of banana, the child will be able to quickly feel full, so a couple of slices of dried banana a day for dessert will be enough.
They are quite high-calorie fruits, and when dried, their calorie content increases five to six times. Therefore, it is worth limiting the use of this product to those people who are on a diet. It is advisable for pregnant women and people watching their weight to avoid banana chips. They contain a decent dose of carcinogens, especially those that were cooked in boiling oil, which, accordingly, negatively affect the body.
What are the benefits and harms of high-calorie treats?
Nutritionists advise taking them for breakfast, then the benefits of eating them will increase many times over. A person can gain energy by eating a dish of oatmeal with dried bananas in the morning. People suffering from diseases take them with great health benefits:
- Gastrointestinal tract;
- diabetes mellitus;
- of cardio-vascular system.
This high-calorie treat helps relieve anxiety, promote better sleep and a restful sleep.
It is not advisable to consume more than 100 g of dried bananas per day. Before starting your next meal, nutritionists advise eating a little of these dried berries - this will replenish the body with a significant amount of microelements and vitamins.
Dried banana - calorie content per 100 g can be seen above. Over the course of a day, the human body receives:
- fiber – approximately 1/3 of the norm;
- iron - men receive a little more than 10% of the norm, women - approximately 6%;
- potassium - approximately 25% of daily needs.
No one can complain that after eating dried bananas a person felt much worse. They, in combination with milk products, help to gain weight due to their increased calorie content.
People with diabetes should treat this product with great caution due to the sucrose content. Unbalanced consumption of dried treats in some cases is characterized by metabolic disorders.
Contraindications
Dried bananas, the benefits and harms of which are obvious, have a modest list of contraindications. Experts have found that dried bananas increase blood clotting. Therefore, this product is prohibited for use by people who have survived a stroke and heart attack, as well as those who suffer from atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Those who have a genetic predisposition to the above diseases should also avoid them. Those who suffer from diabetes should also not eat dried bananas, because they contain a huge amount of sugar.
Calorie content
Many people are interested in how many calories are in dried bananas. 100 grams of this product contains 345 kcal. It is in the dried form that the calorie content of the fruit is higher than in the fresh form. The process of drying bananas occurs at a temperature no higher than 40 ° C, so all useful substances are preserved. When losing weight, you should avoid this product, as its glycemic index is quite high. Despite this, with moderate consumption of bananas, metabolism improves thanks to vitamin B6, which is contained in the dried fruit.
Chemical composition of dried bananas
In terms of the content of vitamins, minerals and other useful substances, dried bananas are almost as good as fresh ones. And the con in dried fruit is even higher. Many people know that fresh fruit contains a lot of potassium and magnesium. Dried banana contains even more of these substances. By eating 100 grams of the product, we will replenish the daily potassium requirement by 59% and the magnesium requirement by 27%. This is several times more than in fresh fruit. The concentration of pyridoxine, vitamin B6, is also high here: 100 grams of product contains 22% of the norm for an adult. It also contains other vitamins of this group, including folic acid. By eating a 100-gram serving of dried bananas, we will receive more than 7% of the daily requirement of vitamin C and slightly less of vitamins A and E.
The product is also rich in manganese, phosphorus, selenium, iron, and zinc. The last trace element, by the way, is rare in products of plant origin.
Therefore, it is useful for vegetarians and those who adhere to a meat-free diet to periodically include dried bananas in their diet. By eating 100 grams of the product, they will receive the daily requirement of the substance. You can read about other products with zinc in our separate article.
Dried fruits are not deprived of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids and essential amino acids.
BJU of dried banana per 100 grams:
- Proteins 4 g
- Fats 1.9 g
- Carbohydrates 88 g
BJU of banana chips:
- Proteins 2.3 g
- Fat 33.7 g
- Carbohydrates 51 g
The product is rich in fiber - almost 10 grams, which is half the daily requirement. It also contains 3 grams of ash and water. In terms of the amount of water content, dried fruit “loses” to fresh fruit, and this is obvious, because the process of preparing the product itself comes down to removing moisture from it. This allows the product to be stored for a long time, giving it a bright sweetness and increased nutritional value. Almost half of the product consists of mono- and disaccharides.
The benefits and harms of dried bananas during breastfeeding
Every mother strictly monitors her diet while breastfeeding so as not to harm the baby. Can a nursing mother have dried bananas? Do not forget that banana is an exotic fruit, so when consuming it, the development of allergic reactions and digestive disorders is possible. Therefore, it is necessary to begin introducing small portions of this product into the diet of a nursing mother. With moderate consumption of dried fruit, the mother will be able to protect the baby from adverse reactions. For a nursing woman, banana is an excellent source of vitamins. Dried banana not only tastes good, but also performs important functions:
- Reduces irritation and relieves pain.
- Provides the body with those vitamins, minerals and amino acids that are important during breastfeeding.
- Improves well-being.
- Increases hemoglobin levels when feeding a child.
- Helps fill the body with energy, which is necessary when breastfeeding.
In the first month of a baby's life, there is a risk of getting an allergic reaction. If a nursing mother introduced an exotic fruit in the first month, then it is necessary to monitor the child’s reaction. If no negative symptoms are found, then you can leave this product in the woman’s diet. During breastfeeding, it is recommended to consume dried bananas as a snack, 20 grams per day.
The benefits of dried bananas for the human body
A diverse vitamin, micro and macronutrient composition and high nutritional value make the product quite healthy. But only moderate consumption of the dish can benefit our health.
The B vitamins contained in the composition improve metabolism, have a positive effect on the health of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, and improve brain function. This is a good snack for children and adults, which can improve memory and increase attentiveness.
We said that the product contains a lot of potassium and magnesium, and this also has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. The high fiber content improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, cleanses the intestinal walls, stimulates metabolism and creates a feeling of fullness in the stomach. And this is another plus in favor of snacking on dried bananas - a seemingly high-calorie product that helps with weight loss. But their use should be strictly limited and not measured in hundreds of grams per day. Otherwise, the opposite effect will occur. Choose relatively low-calorie dried bananas that have not been soaked in syrup.
Consumption of the product leads to increased production of serotonin, the hormone of joy, which improves mood and performance, and energy is in full swing. For this reason, dried bananas are especially beneficial for women during PMS and the menstrual period. It is much healthier to “lift” your mood with dried fruit than with a high-calorie cake. At this moment, a woman’s body needs an additional portion of iron, and 100 grams of dried bananas contain over 1 mg of the trace element, which is 6.5% of the norm.
Drying bananas yourself
This dried fruit can be purchased not only in the store, but also prepared at home. First you need to choose it correctly. Only ripe bananas without any defects are suitable, the peel of which should be smooth and yellow. First you need to rinse the fruit well under running water and dry it. Next, peel the banana and cut the pulp into strips or small circles. To prevent the banana pieces from darkening during the drying process, you need to sprinkle them with lemon juice.
There are several ways to prepare dried bananas:
- Electric fruit dryer. To do this, you need to place banana slices on a special tray at a short distance from each other, load them into the machine and set the time from 10 to 12 hours. After the expiration of the established period, the bananas must be transferred to a well-ventilated area for a couple of hours.
- With the help of sunlight. This method is only possible in favorable weather. To do this, pre-prepared bananas must be placed on a baking sheet and covered with gauze to protect them from various insects. Place the baking tray in a place where direct sunlight falls on the fruit. So you need to dry bananas outside during the daytime, and put them indoors at night. A white powdery coating on the fruit will indicate readiness. The duration of this method is from three to four days, depending on weather conditions.
- In the oven. Place the sliced bananas on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, which must first be greased with vegetable oil. You need to place the pieces of pulp at a short distance from each other. Next, you need to place the baking sheet in the oven. The temperature should be no higher than 40 degrees so that the banana does not lose its beneficial properties. The cooking time for dried fruit depends on the size of the workpiece; the larger the pieces of fruit, the longer it will take to dry. On average, the drying process lasts up to ten hours. If there is a ventilation function in the oven, you need to use it or open the oven door for a while. To ensure even cooking, it is important to turn the banana slices periodically.
How to make dried bananas at home
Drying bananas at home is carried out in various ways. Fruits can be dried naturally, under the sun, using an oven, microwave or a special electric dryer for vegetables and fruits. All these methods are easy and simple, so even a beginner in cooking can prepare a tasty and healthy delicacy.
First of all, you need to prepare the fruit. To do this, rinse the bananas, dry them with a towel and carefully peel them, being careful not to deform the flesh.
Bananas can be dried either whole or cut. To get natural fruit chips, cut them into thin slices 3-4 mm thick, for homemade dried fruits - 1-2 cm. The thicker the slices, the longer it will take to dry them.
In natural conditions
The most popular and easiest cooking method is drying bananas in the fresh air. But this recipe is also considered the most dangerous, since during drying dust settles on the fruit and insects can land. For protection, banana slices must be covered with thin gauze.
How to dry bananas in the sun:
- To dry fruit, prepare baking sheets or trays and cover them with sheets of baking parchment.
- You can dry both whole peeled fruits and cut into slices.
- Spread the banana slices in a thin layer and cover with gauze.
- For uniform drying, fruits need to be turned 1-2 times a day.
- Once a dried golden crust appears on the surface of the bananas, you don’t need to turn them over anymore; leave them until fully cooked.
When drying bananas under the sun, you need to monitor the weather. In case of rain, as well as at night, trays with fruit preparations should be brought indoors.
In the oven
You can use the oven to quickly dry banana slices. To prevent the fruit from sticking to the baking sheet, you need to line it with baking parchment or a silicone baking mat.
How to make dried bananas in the oven:
- Arrange the banana slices on the baking sheet in a single layer. You can also dry whole fruits by laying them in a thin layer.
- Place the pan in the oven and open the door slightly.
- Preheat the oven to 60-70°C, if the appliance has a convection mode, turn it on.
- After 50-60 minutes, remove the tray and turn the dried bananas over.
- Send the workpiece to dry again for 2-3 hours.
To dry thin slices, 1-1.5 hours are enough; whole bananas take up to 3 hours. Leave the finished dried fruits on the table until they cool completely and only then pour them into a container for further storage.
In an electric dryer
Drying banana slices in an electric dryer takes 7-12 hours; whole fruit will take up to 24 hours. This method has gained popularity due to its ease of preparation, uniform airflow and the absence of overheating of the fruit.
To prepare dried fruits, place slices or whole fruits in a thin layer on the mesh of an electric dryer and turn on the device at 50-55°C. Leave the bananas to dry for 2-3 hours, then increase the temperature of the device to 70°C. Let the dried fruits cool at room temperature.
What can you cook
Dried bananas are considered a ready-to-eat meal, so they are well suited as snacks. They are a great snack to take to work or on the go. Dried bananas are often used as an ingredient in a variety of dishes. The simplest and most popular way is to add dried fruits to oatmeal. Dried fruits can be used in making desserts and baked goods. Dried banana in chocolate glaze is considered a delicious delicacy. There are many recipes for various salads, fish and meat dishes with the addition of this exotic fruit.
