Do Bananas Have Vitamin C? [All You Need To Know]
Anmita Das
Yes, bananas are a nifty source of vitamin C, and when put together vitamins and nutrients, are extremely advantageous for our health. An average banana will provide 10 percent of your daily value of vitamin C, so simply imagine how much vitamin C you will get once you start consuming bananas daily.
In fact, from now on the famous quote should change from “An apple a day keeps a doctor away” to “A banana a day keeps a doctor away”. Yes, we are changing this legendary quote but wait until you know all the health benefits of bananas.
Bananas are tremendously beneficial for our health as we already know. Our mothers make sure to include bananas in our oatmeal or pancakes to get the most out of it because of how fibrous it is.
Still not convinced? Read more to find out if bananas have vitamin C, whether they are good for you when sick, or how much vitamin C they have in comparison to oranges.
Are bananas a good source of vitamin c?
Yes, we may not know this but bananas are a powerhouse of vitamin C. Bananas are mostly associated with being fibrous and packed with other carbohydrate nutrients but did you know that they are a great source of vitamin C?
A medium-sized banana will provide about 10 percent of your daily value of vitamin C. So, the next time you decide to devour tons of lemons and oranges to get the most of vitamin C out of them, remember that bananas are suitable substitutes as well.
Daily intake of bananas can help your body so much. The vitamin C in bananas will bring drastic changes to your body.
Vitamin C will protect your body against cell and tissue damage, the body will absorb iron better, your body produce collagen, and support brain health by producing serotonin, a hormone that affects our sleep cycle, moods, and experiences of stress and pain. You will find yourself being less sick and more healthy, your skin will be glowing more (notice how many people will ask you about the secret behind the glow) and you will find yourself going to bed early and waking up feeling refreshed.
So, on the next occasion you want to include vitamin C items in your diet, make sure to add bananas as well.
Do bananas have more vitamins than oranges?
No, sadly for bananas, they do not have more vitamins than oranges. Bananas are surely stuffed with fibrous nutrients and minerals but when it comes to the overloaded vitamins in oranges, they tend to fall short.
On the surface, you may think that bananas are full of fiber and oranges are bursting with vitamins. But, nope, that’s not all.
They are both powerhouses of vitamins that we are unaware of. Let’s take a tour of the vitamins in bananas and oranges.
Both bananas and oranges are jam-packed with vitamins. But once you start to pluck all the nutrients separately, you will see how many variations they have.
We all know that rainbow-colored fruits and vegetables are the finest medicines for our bodies. They help us fight off illnesses, boost immunity, and build collagen (essential for youthful skin). Oranges and bananas are a part of that rainbow, let us take a look at what they have in store for our bodies.
Let’s start with the vitamins alphabetically, with the first vitamin in both bananas and oranges being vitamin A.
Vitamin A is significant to our eye health and the proper functioning of our organs. It is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means it gets absorbed by the fats and travels through the bloodstream.
A typical orange contains 7 percent of the daily value of vitamin A, while a banana contains 2 percent of the daily value of it. In comparison, oranges are a better supply of vitamin A than bananas.
Now, onto vitamin C. Yes, we do know that oranges are a powerhouse of vitamin C. But do we know by how much?
An average orange holds 138 percent of the daily value of vitamin C. On the other hand, a banana holds a sad value of only a meek 20 percent of the daily value. So, again, oranges have won against bananas by being a better supply of vitamin C.
Although oranges have proved to be loaded with vitamins, bananas are richer in sugars, proteins, fats, and calories. They are both great on their own as well.
And who says you cannot enjoy the benefits of both of them?
You can start your day with a few slices of orange and top off your yogurt or oatmeal with slices of a banana. There you have it, enjoying the nutrients both of fruits!
Do bananas fight scurvy?
Yes, surprisingly, bananas have been found to miraculously fight scurvy. From a preliminary experiment by the American Public Health Association in St. Louis in 1925, it has been found that a diet consisting of bananas and milk has been a great cure to fight off scurvy.
When dealing with scurvy, we immediately go for citrusy fruits to fight the sickness. But does that mean that you should binge on lemons and oranges? What happens if you cannot find any citrusy food?
Other options can help you reap the same benefits as having a citrus fruit. Such as a banana. Did you know studies have found that bananas can help fight scurvy? Read more to learn how.
A preliminary experiment by the American Public Health Association in St. Louis in 1925 was conducted to see which types of bananas are a good source of vitamin C. They tested out raw, partly raw, and baked bananas to see which one has the most quantity of vitamin C.
With the advancement of science, new methods are coming out and helping us out. Thanks to such experiments and studies, we can look forward to other alternatives if we are out of the most basic ones.
The study also used pigs to test their suitability for the experiment. Guinea pigs given a daily dose of 10 grams of banana were protected from scurvy.
Yes, we know that humans and animals have different anatomy. So, here we have a study conducted on a human baby.
Through the courtesy of Dr. Joseph Johnston, of the Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Children’s Hospital, Boston, it has been found that a diet consisting of milk and bananas (yes, bananas) helped cure an eight-month-old baby from scurvy.
It is not known to many but bananas are indeed an amazing source of vitamin C. It may come as a shock to many when they find out that bananas can help fight scurvy since it is not citrus fruit.
But when a special concoction of banana milk is made from 570 c.c. of milk and 200 g. of ripe raw banana, you won’t believe the magic it can create. The special elixir saved an eight-month-old baby’s life. Therefore, it has been proven that this can also work on other humans as well.
So, the next time you, your child, or anyone you know has scurvy, don’t binge on only lemons and oranges. Try a diet of bananas and milk as well and see how fast it helps in recovery.
Read the paper here to know more about the experiment conducted by the American Public Health Association.
Are bananas good for when you are sick?
Yes, bananas are great food options to reach out to when sick. They are the ultimate superfood and are insanely nutritious and packed with fast-acting carbohydrates that give you a quick boost when you are all sick and weak.
Yes, we understand that it is typical to lose it and feel overwhelmed when you are sick. You are confused about what to consume, what will help you recover faster, and what will not make you sick again.
Bananas are one of the best things that you can eat when sick. You want to eat something soft and chewable and easy to digest when down with a fever, something like a banana. Not a crusty pizza that takes a whole minute to chew, another full minute to swallow and goodness knows how long to digest. Not to forget constant nausea that follows when eating something undigestable.
And let us not forget the amount of potassium that bananas contain. Our bodies demand electrolytes when we feel under the weather, and the potassium in bananas is there to replenish the missing electrolytes in our bodies.
If you feel weak, you will see a massive difference after eating a banana as it can provide instant energy and nutrition. It will also provide an antioxidant effect, reduce inflammation, and help restore your gut health.
But there is also a downside to eating bananas when sick. Bananas contain histamine. Histamine increases mucus secretion in the body. Moreover, histamine can also trigger allergic reactions such as tears, itching, excess secretion of mucous, swelling, redness, etc.
Make sure to avoid ripe bananas when sick as they contain slightly high histamine. Try opting for green, unripe bananas as they have lesser levels of histamine.
But be assured as our bodies are well-equipped to balance the excess histamine.
Overall, bananas are good for you when sick. You will feel instantly energetic, and your body will thank you for eating it.
Do bananas have vitamin C and fiber?
Yes, bananas do have both vitamin C and fiber. The two may seem like an unlikely combination but when the health benefits of vitamin C and fiber are combined together, it makes bananas the healthiest and the most nourishing superfoods out there.
Bananas contain 3 grams of fiber and 12 percent of vitamin C of the daily value.
The fiber in bananas is called soluble fiber. It is mostly found in ripe bananas. It helps ease inflammation in the body and keeps cholesterol and blood pressure in check.
On the other hand, there is resistant starch, which can be found in green bananas. Resistant starch can be also thought of as an insoluble fiber. It helps with bowel movements and making sure that it works fine.
On to vitamin C. The vitamin C in bananas helps and protects the body against cell and tissue damage. Your skin will be noticeably glowy as your body will produce more collagen and your iron levels will come to a steady rate after consuming bananas.
The fiber and vitamin C in bananas together will be like a treat for your body. You will find yourself free of various ailments after consuming bananas regularly.
Do banana peppers have vitamin c?
Yes, banana peppers are packed and stuffed with vitamin C. The vitamin C and the tangy taste of banana peppers make it one of the most underrated yet delicious ingredients to add to your meal. It is highly underrated and deserves more recognition for the health benefits it provides.
Banana peppers belong to the chili pepper family. They are medium-sized and have a mild, tangy taste. Although typically bright yellow, they can change colors from green to red to orange as they ripen.
They are bursting with nutrients that are crucial for the body. The vitamins and minerals present in banana peppers make a huge difference in our bodies when consumed daily.
Did you know that a one-cup serving of banana pepper contains 103 milligrams of vitamin C? The tangy taste in banana peppers comes from the vitamin C present in them.
Besides adding a quirky taste to the pepper and having an insane amount of antioxidants, the vitamin C in banana peppers also has immense immune-boosting properties. It has been shown to have anti-cancer properties as well.
So the next time you feel poorly and need a nutritious meal, make sure to add a couple of banana peppers to your meal.
Altogether, banana peppers are extremely underrated and if you happen to include them in your diet, you will be shocked by how many benefits you can reap from them. The next time you eat sandwiches, pizza, or salads, make sure to chop off a few banana peppers and add them to your meal. Your taste buds (and body) will thank you for it.
FAQs
Can eating too many bananas during a cold cause an allergic reaction?
Can I eat more than one banana to get the best out of it?
Are unripe bananas good for you?
Are over-ripe bananas not suitable for eating?
Can bananas make you sick?
Conclusion
Overall, bananas are an exceptionally good source of vitamin C. They are great to have when you are feeling sick or when you are low on iron levels.
If you or anyone you know happens to have scurvy, just make sure to add bananas and milk to their diet and see how easily it helps them recover. You will see how much you have underestimated the power of bananas.
Try consuming bananas every day for a week and see how many changes it brings to your body. I hope you find the article “Do Bananas Have Vitamin C? [All You Need To Know]” helpful.
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Anmita Das
Blogger and Web Developer
Anmita Das is an EEE graduate from CUET and a dedicated web developer. Alongside her professional work, she has a passion for blogging and enjoys writing on a wide range of topics. Anmita believes in spreading real, reliable information through her blogs, helping readers gain knowledge and insights on various subjects.