Banana ice cream, banana smoothie, banana on toast with peanut butter or Nutella; have you got bananas on your mind more than usual? As simple as this fruit may seem, it does appeal to the tastebuds all over the globe. Yet, you may wonder, ‘Why am I craving bananas?’
From being nutritious and delicious to satisfyingly filling, there are several reasons to crave this perennial fruit.
Why Am I Craving Bananas?
Packed with essential nutrients, a sweet taste, and a creamy texture, bananas make a pretty healthy craving. Here are the reasons why you may crave it more than usual.
1. A Potassium Deficiency
Potassium is crucial in maintaining proper fluid balance and supporting healthy muscle function. It also helps maintain healthy blood pressure and heart function.
Bananas are high in potassium; a 100-gram serving of banana contains 358 mg of potassium.
Do you not eat sufficient fruits and vegetables or have a thyroid disorder? Or do you drink too much caffeine or alcohol? These are reasons for your body to be potassium-deficient.
Watch out for potassium deficiency signs like constipation or diarrhea, racing heart, feeling weak and tired, or muscle cramps.
If you have low blood potassium levels, a condition known as hypokalemia, you may desire potassium-rich foods like bananas.
And while you may satisfy your banana cravings, you mustn’t have more than three a day.
2. Your Body’s Low on Fiber
Fiber helps regulate digestion and keeps you feeling full for longer, and bananas contain a good amount of fiber. One medium-ripe banana has about 3 grams of fiber.
The average adult requires about 25-30 grams of daily fiber intake. If you don’t eat enough fiber, then your body starts signaling with carb cravings when in fact, what it wants is fiber.
If you must, start with a banana to satisfy that craving, then mix it with other high-fiber foods like apples, beans, oranges, broccoli, etc.
3. An Energy Boost
Your craving for bananas could be because you’re low on energy.
Bananas are a good source of carbohydrates; the natural sugars in bananas can provide a quick energy boost to your body.
Moreover, with a low glycemic index of 51, bananas release sugar slowly into the bloodstream, helping stabilize blood sugar levels. The glycemic index is the ability of a carbohydrate food to increase blood sugar levels in the body; a score of 51 is good!
The fiber and other nutrients also help in keeping you sustained for longer.
4. It’s Your On-the-Go Snack
There’s no denying; snacking on a banana is a healthier alternative to other sugar-loaded unhealthy snacks.
It’s your ‘something sweet’ without the guilt. A medium banana contains about 12 grams of natural, unprocessed, sugar.
If you’re busy most of the day, bananas make a quick, healthy snack. They’re easy to pack and fit into your lunchbox, backpack, or purse.
5. You’re Fond of Bananas
Maybe you crave bananas because of their natural sweetness and pleasant taste. Possibly, you have a sweet tooth or enjoy snacking on the fruit.
Apart from the taste, the texture and aroma of bananas can evoke delightful sensations, triggering a desire to consume more.
6. Vitamin Deficiencies
Banana contains vitamin C and B6, among other nutrients supporting overall health. Vitamins C and B6 contribute to immune function and brain health, respectively.
A vitamin C deficiency manifests in fatigue, easy bruising, and vague muscle and joint aches.
How do you figure out if your body has a low level of vitamin B6? Look at the whites of your eyes; if they’re yellow, it indicates a vitamin B6 deficiency. Feeling numbness or tingling in your hands and feet are other symptoms.
There’s the chance you’re low on vitamins C or B6 and craving bananas.
Of course, you can also take vitamin supplements to supply your body with what it needs, besides eating foods like bananas.
7. Hormonal Changes
Women may crave bananas during their menstrual cycle due to hormonal fluctuations. The hormonal changes involving estrogen and progesterone increase cravings for sweet foods often.
If you crave bananas, go right ahead; it also reduces the chances of bloating and improves digestion.
And if you’re suffering from anemia, eating a banana will provide you with much-needed energy and increase your hemoglobin levels.
Pregnant women often experience intense cravings for certain foods, including bananas, owing to hormonal changes and nutritional needs.
Potassium in bananas can help prevent leg cramps, and fiber helps with constipation, which is often a common problem during pregnancy. As for the vitamin B6, it helps reduce morning sickness.
8. You’re Stressed
Stress, anxiety, or emotional distress are some of the leading causes of cravings. Bananas contain tryptophan which can help regulate mood and stress levels.
It isn’t uncommon to crave bananas as comfort food during stress or emotional turbulence.
The neurotransmitter serotonin, responsible for mood regulation, is also in bananas. An increased level of serotonin in the brain induces feelings of joy and well-being. That’s all the more reason this fruit is so appealing.
9. Cultural and Social Influence
Unknowingly, cultural and social factors also give rise to cravings at times.
In some cultures, bananas are considered a staple food item and may be consumed more frequently, leading to cravings.
Looking at advertisements that involve bananas or seeing luscious, photo-shopped images of foods or recipes containing bananas is bound to push you to crave this fruit subconsciously.
Things to Keep in Mind for Banana Cravings
Bananas are versatile fruit; while you can eat them as is, you can also add them to different snacks or foods. Bananas with oatmeal, peanut butter, Nutella, a smoothie, yogurt, or almond butter are mouth-watering and make a healthy snack.
Certain medical conditions or nutrient deficiencies may cause banana cravings. For example, those with low levels of potassium or iron may experience strong urges to eat foods that contain these nutrients, including bananas.
While bananas are generally considered healthy, they contain sugar and calories. Eating too many bananas could result in weight gain if not balanced with other nutritious foods and regular exercise.
Going Bananas for Bananas? Now You Know Why!
Did the irresistible need for bananas have you thinking, ‘Why am I craving bananas?’ Well, now you know the possible reasons.
Whether you enjoy the taste of bananas or are low on potassium levels, there’s no need to think twice before peeling one or two to satisfy your cravings.
Don’t forget; our ancestors relied heavily on bananas for sustenance and to obtain essential nutrients. Maybe it’s in the genetic makeup that makes us crave this nourishing fruit once in a while.
What do cravings mean? Know more by reading into The Real Reasons You’re Craving These 11 Foods.