Peanut butter and banana are a classic combination that many of us have grown up eating. These two foods are staples in most homes, especially during breakfast time. So what if they’re so common? It doesn’t make them any less delicious. Peanut butter and banana go together like strawberries and cream, or perhaps apples and cinnamon. These complementary flavors also offer a ton of benefits when you combine them in the same dish. Peanut butter and banana create the perfect balance of protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. They are both low-calorie foods that can fit almost any diet plan. And not only are these two ingredients great on their own; they taste even better when combined! Let’s take a look at the health benefits of peanut butter and banana:
Is Peanut Butter And Banana Healthy?
Peanut butter and banana are a common combination for a sandwich, but it tastes good as a smoothie, too. Aside from the peanut butter and banana, you can add other fruit, such as berries. If you’re using frozen fruit, you can add ice cubes to make it cold and healthy. Ingredients: 2 Tbsp of peanut butter, 1 frozen banana, and 2 Tbsp of fresh or frozen berries (raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries).
Rich In Protein And Fiber
1. Peanut Butter And Banana Are Rich In Protein
Peanut butter and banana are both high in protein. One tablespoon of peanut butter provides 19 grams of protein, while a one-half cup of mashed bananas contains 6 grams. That’s not a huge amount of protein, but it’s enough to keep you going throughout the day. And unlike other plant-based foods, these two have plenty of healthy fats as well. This combination is also a great source of fiber, which is important for digestive health.
2. Peanut Butter And Banana Are Low In Calories
Peanut butter and banana are low in calories, which makes them great for people who are trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. They don’t contain any saturated fat, which is a type that increases your risk for cardiovascular disease. The good news is that this combination has no cholesterol at all! Although peanut butter and banana have few calories compared to other types of food, they still contain a decent amount. One tablespoon of peanut butter contains 43 calories, while a half cup of mashed banana contains 47 calories.
3. Peanut Butter And Banana Are Good For The Heart
Peanut butter and banana are good for your heart because they’re rich in potassium, which is important for keeping your blood pressure low and preventing heart disease. Potassium helps your heart by helping to lower blood pressure, which reduces the risk of stroke or heart attack. It also helps to regulate the heartbeat and promote muscle contraction in the heart. The potassium content in peanut butter and banana is also beneficial because it can help prevent high blood pressure from developing into hypertension.
4. Peanut Butter And Banana Are High In Fiber
Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that helps keep you full between meals, lowers cholesterol levels, and can even help prevent constipation when you eat more fiber-rich foods like peanut butter and banana frequently throughout the day. Fiber also has other health benefits such as preventing cancer and lowering the risk of heart disease.
5. Peanut Butter And Banana Are Good For Weight Loss
Peanut butter and banana are good for weight loss because they’re low in calories, which means that you can eat more of them without gaining weight. And since they’re high in fiber, peanut butter and banana help to keep you feeling full between meals, so you won’t be tempted to overeat or eat foods with extra calories.
6. Peanut Butter And Banana Are Good For Skin Health
Peanut butter is rich in vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect your skin from free radicals that can cause acne or wrinkles. Vitamin E also helps to keep your skin looking young by preventing it from drying out or wrinkling up too much. Vitamin E also protects your skin from harmful ultraviolet rays, which can accelerate the aging process when exposed to sunlight. These two foods are also great sources of vitamin C, which is important for the healthy growth of collagen and elastin in your skin.
Boost Your Brain Health
1. Peanut Butter And Banana Are Great For Vision
Vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant that can help to prevent blindness or vision problems by fighting free radicals, which are molecules that can damage cells in your eyes. You can get vitamin A from many different foods, including carrots, spinach, and dark green leafy vegetables. But peanut butter and banana are also rich in vitamin A because they’re high in beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A. Beta-carotene is an antioxidant that protects the eyes and other tissues from damage caused by free radicals.
2. Peanut Butter And Banana Are Good For Your Heart
A half cup of mashed banana contains 47 calories, while a half cup of peanut butter has just 27 calories. Peanut butter is also rich in potassium, which helps to keep your blood pressure low and reduces the risk of heart disease. Potassium helps to regulate the heartbeat by helping to lower blood pressure, which reduces the risk of stroke.
3. Peanut Butter and Banana Are Good for Your Bones
A half cup of mashed banana contains 32 calories, while a half cup of peanut butter has just 23 calories, which is very low in calories. A diet rich in potassium helps to maintain strong bones and prevent osteoporosis, which is the early stage of bone loss that makes your bones brittle and weak.
4. Boost Your Digestive Health.
Peanut Butter and Banana Are Good for Your Bowels Peanut butter is high in fiber, which can help to keep you feeling full between meals so that you won’t overeat or eat foods with extra calories. Fiber also helps to promote regular bowel movements by keeping your gut healthy and working properly, which can help to prevent constipation or diarrhea. A diet high in fiber can also help to prevent colon cancer by making your body produce less of a substance called fecal waste that can be harmful to your health.
Helping Depression And Anxiety
1. Bananas Are A Good Source Of B Vitamins
B vitamins are vital for the production of the neurotransmitters in your brain, which help to regulate moods and feelings of happiness. Vitamin B6 is an important nutrient that helps to make serotonin, a chemical that is crucial for regulating your emotions. Studies have shown that people with low levels of vitamin B6 in their diet are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety.
2. Bananas Are A Good Source Of Magnesium
Magnesium is an essential mineral that helps to regulate many body functions, including muscle and nerve function, heart rate, and blood pressure, and it also helps to produce the calming chemical serotonin. Magnesium is also important for maintaining healthy bones because it helps to maintain the integrity of your bones by preventing calcium from leaching out and forming deposits on your bones.
3. Bananas Are High In Potassium
Potassium keeps blood pressure low by helping your heart beat properly and by helping muscles contract so that you can move around easily. Potassium also helps to regulate muscle contraction so that you can feel relaxed at rest without being stiff or tense after long periods of sitting still or lying down, which can lead to back pain in some cases.
4. Bananas Are High In Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 helps to regulate your mood by helping to produce the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is critical for regulating your emotions and moods. Low levels of vitamin B6 can lead to depression or anxiety, which is why you should eat plenty of bananas for their high levels of vitamin B6.
Bottom Line
Overall, peanut butter and banana are a match made in heaven. These two ingredients are rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They can boost brain health, help lower anxiety and depression, and protect against certain cancers and eye diseases. Now that you know the benefits of peanut butter and banana, you can enjoy them even more. This classic combination can be enjoyed in many different ways, so don’t be afraid to experiment with new recipes. You can enjoy a delicious PB&B sandwich, smoothie, or even a homemade protein bar!