If you’re serious about nutrition being a part of your health regimen, make bananas a part of your diet plan. Besides being a long curved tropical fruit with a yellow skin, bananas are common for their high amount of potassium. One single regular to medium size banana contains about 400 milligrams of potassium. What I like most about the potassium is that it can prevent muscle cramping after a strenuous workout. Bananas are also beneficial to athletes because they contain a good amount of vitamins and minerals which helps to replenish blood cells keeping the athlete energetic. An athlete that is engaged in highly aerobic activities can benefit from consuming bananas because they also contain iron and Vitamin C. During aerobic activities, iron helps the body transport oxygen while Vitamin C assists the body in absorbing dietary iron. Iron and Vitamin C are a good combination of nutrients within this same fruit.

What is both interesting and beneficial about bananas are the fact that they contain high levels of Vitamin B-6 which aids in the production of white blood cells. They coat the lining of the stomach against acids for the relief of ulcers. Providing relief from heartburn and acid reflux makes it a natural antacid. Bananas provide fiber which assists in digestion and antioxidants which provides protection from free radical cells that cause cancer.

Bananas lower blood pressure by balancing the negative effects of sodium. Your blood pressure is controlled with the help of kidneys by the amount of fluid that is stored in the body. The kidneys filter your blood and withdraws any extra fluid which is then stored in the bladder as urine. The more salt you consume, the more sodium you intake which means that your fluid levels will increase along with your blood pressure. High amounts of sodium in the bloodstream reduces the kidney’s ability to remove the water. Potassium helps to restore the kidney’s ability to work efficiently and helps to reduce blood pressure to a healthy and normal level. All the factors and information provided here about bananas motivated me to consume them on a daily basis.