Banana is the most important fruit around the world. It is cultivated nearly in all countries.
Bananas come from a family of plants called Musa. They are native to Southeast Asia. Warmer conditions are favorable for banana growth.
On the internet, there is a huge rumor about bananas. Some people consider them as iconic golden fruits while other people claim “ Banana is the cause of indigestion and a treacherous dietary component”.
But American Medical Association clearly defined the nutritional value of bananas and answered all the rumors about them. American Medical Association considered bananas as a superfood.
FDA said that banana is a good source of food for children and treatment for celiac diseases.
How many carbs in a Banana
Banana is a rich source of carbohydrates. Two types of carbs are found in bananas. In unripe bananas, starch is present while in ripe bananas sugar is present. Starch and sugar are a type of carbs.
During ripening the composition of banana is changed drastically. The green banana contains 80% starch by weight. Starch is the main component of unripe bananas.
With the passage of time means during ripening starch is converted into sugar. When the banana is fully ripened then starch becomes less than 1% by weight.
The content of sugar is increasing during ripening. When the banana is ripened fully the content of sugar reaches 16% by weight.
Banana calories vary depending on size and shape but standard-size banana has 105 calories.
In bananas, sugar is available in the form of glucose, sucrose, and fructose.
The glycemic index of bananas is 42-58 depending on their ripening conditions.
The following is the carb content in standard-size bananas.
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- Extra small has 19 grams of carbs (shorter than 6 inches, 81 grams)
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- Small banana has 23 grams of carbs (101 grams, 6-7 inches)
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- A medium banana has 27 grams (118 grams, 7-8 inches)
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- A large banana has 31 grams (136 grams, 8-9 inches)
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- An extra-large banana has 35 grams (152 grams, 9 inches)
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- A sliced banana has 34 grams (150 grams)
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- Mashed banana has 51 grams (225 grams)
Bananas contain 2-4 grams of fiber, depending on the size. To get net carb content, subtract fiber weight from the total carbs weight.
The content of carbs depends on the size and shape of the banana. But a standard-size banana 6-7 inches has about 25 grams of carbs. The content may be even less if the banana is unripe.
Banana Nutrition Fact
1 medium-sized banana (100 grams) has the following nutrients.
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- Water 75%
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- Proteins 1.1 grams
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- Carbs 22 grams
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- fiber 2.6 grams
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- fat 0.3 grams
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- sugar 12.2 grams
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- calories 89
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- potassium
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- vitamin B6
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- vitamin C
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- manganese
Types of Banana
There are four common types of bananas.
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- Cavendish banana
It is also called a dessert banana. This banana is very sweet upon ripening. It is yellow in color.
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- Plantain or Green banana
It is a bit larger and high content of starch and less sweet. It is also called a less-sweet banana. It is green in color and mostly used for cooking purposes.
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- Red Banana
The red banana is shorter than the Cavendish banana. It has a dark purple hue. When it is ripened it is sweeter than the Cavendish banana.
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- Lady finger
It is usually thinner and shorter than the Cavendish banana. They are sweeter like the Cavendish banana and people eat them raw.
How many carbs in banana bread?
Typically the content of carbohydrates in an average slice of banana bread depends on the recipe and serving size. However standard slices of banana bread contain around 20-30 grams of carbs. This includes carbs from bananas, added sweeteners or sugar, and carbs from the flour in the recipe. So it is difficult to determine the exact content of carbs in banana bread because of the variation of ingredients in the recipe.
How many carbs in a green banana?
Generally green banana or unripe bananas has a low content of carbs as compared to ripe bananas. The medium size of green bananas has 20-25 grams of carbs while the medium size of ripe bananas has 27 grams of carbs.
As bananas ripen, their starch content is converted into sugars, leading to an increase in the level of carbs. Therefore, if you want to consume less content of carbs then consume green bananas.
How many carbs in banana pudding?
The content of carbs in banana pudding is based recipe, serving size, and ingredients. However, half a cup of banana pudding has approximately 30-40 grams of carbs. These carbs come from bananas, milk, sugar, and other additional toppings or flavoring agents. When you are conscious about carbs intake then eat moderate size of banana pudding.
Summary
The nutrition profile of bananas is very good because it is not only macronutrients but also micronutrients. Bananas contain water, proteins, carbs, fibers, sugar, potassium, vitamins, and manganese.
Are bananas high in carbohydrates?
How many carbs in a whole banana?
Is one banana a day enough carbs?
How many carbs should I eat a day?
Are bananas keto friendly?
A ketogenic diet strickly limits the intake of carbs to induce ketosis. It is a metabolic state where the body burns fat for fuel instead of carbs.
