Bananas are very rich in potassium, but people seldom know the amount of potassium present in them. This article will specify the aggregate amount of potassium present in bananas.
A banana is not just an average tropical fruit, but there are many health benefits attached to it. Bananas are easy to peel, non-messy, sweet, and delectable fruits, that easily form a part of an average diet. You can even carry them around in lunch boxes as a filling snack, and earn some brownie points on health.
An average banana contains two times more carbohydrates, as compared to an apple. It is rich in vitamin A, iron, phosphorus, as well as natural sugars. Apart from nutritional facts, bananas fall under the category of ‘potassium rich food’. Potassium is vital for delivering oxygen to the brain and other parts of the body through the circulatory system. Banana health benefits also include regulation of blood pressure, heartbeat and maintenance of water balance in the body. A person suffering from low potassium level in the blood should consume more bananas, as they will make up for the deficiency of potassium.
Potassium Content in a Banana
There are myths, that the consumption of one or more than one banana in a day, can result in exceedingly high potassium levels. However, this is untrue. A single banana contains about 400mg of potassium. This is just about 10 to 20% of the daily requirement of potassium by the human body. Thus, in no way can a banana cause an overdose of potassium level in the blood.
Potassium mEq in a Banana
Milliequivalent is defined as “the amount, in milligram, of a solute equal to 1/1000 of its gram equivalent weight.” As the amount of substance in equivalents has a very small magnitude, it is often represented in milliequivalents (mEq), wherein milli stands for a measure divided by 1000. Mostly, the evaluation is done in terms of milliequivalents of solute per liter of solvent (or milliNormal, where mEq/L = mN). As an example, this is done especially while measuring the amount of potassium (in fluids); say in blood, its levels lie in the range of 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/l. As for an average-sized banana, the amount of potassium found equals 11.6 mEq.
Potassium in a Banana Peel
A banana peel is loaded with potassium, and can be added to compost as a fertilizer. Also, you can rub a fresh peel of banana, the yellow side out, around your eyes. This will help reduce eye wrinkles, worry lines and eye bags. You can even rub these banana peels on insect bites to reduce the swelling and itching. These peels contain about 40% of the total potassium (in mg) in an average banana.
As we know, potatoes contain more potassium than bananas. However, a banana also contains vitamin B6, vitamin C, and has a high fiber content. They also contain tryptophan, which relaxes the mind and makes you feel happy. The high fiber content helps in restoring normal bowel movements, and the potassium level boosts brain power. Bananas are an excellent fruit to be eaten with plain yogurt or honey. It serves as a cure for hangovers. Eating a banana daily, will sooth ulcers and make up for an iron deficiency.