I’m sure it’s something you’ve often thought about, can eating too many bananas be bad for you?
I love the yellow fruit just as much as the next person.
However, I’m sure, like me, you’ve often thought that perhaps you’re eating too many bananas.
This, of course, leads you to wonder whether all this banana eating can actually be bad for you.
Allow me to reveal all.
Eating too many bananas can be bad for you. An average medium-sized banana contains approximately 110 calories. Therefore, eating just 3-4 bananas a day could account for a high percentage of your daily calorie intake. Ripe bananas also have a high sugar content, which can lead to diabetes or heart disease. Plus, the level of sugar can also react with certain medications. An excess of bananas can lead to a wide variety of gastrointestinal issues, such as bloating, gas, and diarrhea.
1. What is the Connection Between Bananas and Calories?
Firstly, I will say that eating too much of any food can be bad for you.
So, it makes sense to eat a well-balanced and varied diet.
One of the main problems with eating too many bananas is their calorie content.
This is especially true if you’re trying to maintain or lose weight.
An average-sized banana contains 110 calories, whereas a large banana may have up to 120 calories.
So realistically, if you eat 3 or 4 bananas every day, you have consumed a fair percentage of your daily calorie intake.
Another issue here is that bananas lack protein and healthy fats.
This, of course, means that you’re mainly consuming carbohydrates, which isn’t helping to balance out your macronutrient consumption.
2. What About Bananas and Sugar?
Bananas, especially when ripe, contain a high amount of sugar.
Obviously, once more, this can impact your weight.
The carbohydrate in a green and unripe banana is typically very starchy.
However, as a banana ripens, this starch converts to sugar.
An excess of sugar can lead to various serious illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease.
In fact, if you are already diabetic or prediabetic, then you should be wary of your banana consumption anyway.
Furthermore, high levels of sugar may also interact with various medications.
So, if you do currently suffer from any illnesses or take any medications, it’s best to consult with your Doctor prior to eating bananas.
3. Do Bananas Cause Gastrointestinal Issues?
As I’ve already mentioned, eating too much of any food can be bad for you.
However, as bananas are mainly carbohydrates, both starch and sugar, they can cause various gastrointestinal problems when eaten to excess.
Additionally, as bananas contain fiber, they take longer than many other high-sugar foods to digest.
So, it’s not unheard of to suffer bloating, gas, or even diarrhea if you eat too many bananas.
Admittedly, this will be down to exactly how many bananas you eat on a daily basis.
With that being said, in order to avoid gastrointestinal issues, you should stick to no more than 1 or 2 bananas a day.
Bananas: Most Dangerous Fruit in the World
4. What About Bananas and Hyperkalemia?
One of the major benefits of eating bananas is their potassium content.
Potassium helps the muscles and nerves to function properly.
It can also regulate the heartbeat.
Plus, potassium plays a crucial role in metabolizing carbs and synthesizing proteins.
With that being said, if you have too much potassium in your bloodstream, this can eventually lead to a condition called hyperkalemia.
This is simply the medical term for someone who has too much potassium in their blood.
If hyperkalemia is left untreated, it can lead to muscle weakness and temporary paralysis and can often be the cause of serious heart problems.
Hyperkalemia is typically caused by kidney failure or kidney disease, but it can also be the result of excessive potassium consumption.
A banana contains approximately 400 milligrams of potassium, whereas a dose in excess of 18 grams of potassium can lead to hyperkalemia.
So realistically, as long as you’re not eating 45 bananas a day, you should be safe.
Well, you did ask if eating too many bananas was bad for you.
With that being said, a study by the National Institute of Mental Health found a patient with recurrent hyperkalemia who was eating up to 20 bananas a day.
Final Thoughts
So, as you can see, eating too many bananas can be bad for you.
However, realistically the same can be said for any type of food, so everything in moderation.
Bananas are daily calorie-dense and lack protein and healthy fats.
Plus, they are high in sugar content once ripened.
This can cause certain illnesses, interact with medications, cause gastrointestinal problems, and lead to weight gain.
Furthermore, excessive levels of potassium in the bloodstream can result in hyperkalemia.
Of course, this popular yellow fruit can affect your health in many ways, so let’s see if bananas contain any lactose.