Banana and groundnuts are a popular snack combo here in Nigeria. Although the two can be enjoyed separately or with other things, many people prefer to eat banana with groundnuts. As far as taste goes, banana and groundnuts remain undefeated. It was also a satisfying meal and could even pass for lunch or even dinner.
People also eat banana and groundnuts because it is natural. Rather than eat any baked or processed snacks, having banana with groundnuts is something some people will go for, especially those who want to maintain a healthy diet. When it comes to nutrients, banana is rich in a lot of nutrients, potassium calcium, magnesium, iron, folate, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin C. Groundnuts are also rich in a range of nutrients as well. When you take these together, you can already tell that your body would benefit from them.
So today, we would dive into some of the health benefits of eating banana and groundnut.
1. Good For The Heart
Eating banana and groundnut is good for your heart due to then potassium content in the banana. Potassium helps to regulate the heart as well as reduce blood pressure. This makes it very good for those who are hypertensive. You can check out other Nigerian foods that are good for hypertensive patients.
2. Good For Losing Weight
If you are looking for a way to lose weight the you should eat more banana and groundnuts. Banana contains a lot of soluble fibres that would help fill you up for longer. This means you would not have to eat as often as you normally wood. It also contains very few calories, which makes it perfect for those who want to lose weight. Although like with everything else, you should go easy on the amount of banana and groundnuts you consume. Also keep in mind that groundnuts contain fat, which is something you do not want a lot of.
3. Increases Good Cholesterol Levels
Eating groundnuts would increase the good cholesterol levels in your body while reducing the bad cholesterol levels. Bad cholesterol often causes heart diseases and other problems in the body. But good cholesterol is something your body needs, which groundnut contains a lot of.
4. Loaded with Protein
Groundnuts are rich are in protein, which help to give the body energy. Bananas also contain good levels of protein and dietary fiber. Banana and groundnut has great health benefits for growing children, because this combo is packed with protein.
5. Rich In Antioxidants
Antioxidants keep the body healthy and kill anything that could give you diseases by boosting your immune system. It also helps fight free radicals that could contaminate cells in your body. Banana and groundnut are rich in these antioxidants, and making them a part of your diet would help to keep your body healthy and keep you safe from infections and diseases.
6. Good For Digestion
Eating bananas is good for digestion as it contains resistant starch which aids the digestion process by acting like a prebiotic, which supports the growth of good bacteria in the large intestine, keeping your gut healthy. The fibre in banana also eases the digestion process by regulating the movement of the bowel and preventing constipation as well as other digestive problems.
7. Lowers Blood Sugar Levels
Medical and nutritional experts recommend eating bananas and other foods such as groundnut as they contain fiber. They say this because eating high fiber foods can help lower blood sugar levels.
A 2018 study boldly stated that eating a high fiber diet can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and can lower blood sugar in those who already have diabetes. Thus, banana and groundnut are part of the healthy Nigerian foods for diabetics.
8. Boosts Brain Health and Improves Your Mood
Have ever seen anyone angry eating banana and groundnut before? I’m not sure. Bananas contain tryptophan, an amino acid that may improve one’s mood. They can also help boost brain health by increasing a person’s ability to learn and remember things.
Groundnuts, on the other hand, are high in niacin, resveratrol and vitamin E, which are linked to protecting against brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and other age-related cognitive conditions.
As you can see, the health benefits of banana and groundnut are manifold. You should take this healthy snack combo often.
