Whether you're looking for a portable grab-and-go snack or want to add a dash of sweetness to a smoothie or bowl of yogurt, bananas fit the bill. Not only are bananas naturally sweet and affordable, they are also packed with nutrients.
But if you really want to get the most nutritional bang for your buck, you may want to eat them a little unripe.
"Bananas are a source of resistant starch, especially when they are more on the green side," says registered dietitian Lauren Harris-Pincus.
True to its name, resistant starch "resists" digestion and is absorbed more slowly by the large intestines. There, it's fermented by the microbiome and produces molecules called short-chain fatty acids, which have been linked to reducing colon cancer and improving insulin sensitivity.
"Therefore, (due to the resistant starch), a less ripe banana will likely have a slower blood sugar response than an overripe one," notes Harris Pincus.
Learn more about the health benefits of bananas — and get 10 creative banana recipes.
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