There’s a rumor floating around the internet that it’s possible to go into cardiac arrest if you eat more than six bananas at once. I found this out when a friend of mine decided to give up meat for Lent and ended up eating eight bananas in one day. It’s okay, he survived (and if you were really worried, don’t be. The likelihood of you overdosing on bananas is slim to none).
But what about green bananas? Can you eat green bananas without fear of death? For those of you who love bananas as much as my friend does but hate having to wait for them to ripen, I have some good news for you: green bananas can be eaten. So the next time you return from the grocery store with a bundle of unripe bananas, you can eat them right away.
Yellow vs Green Bananas
Although ripened bananas are highly nutritious in terms of their high levels of potassium, fiber, and antioxidants, they do contain more simple sugars. Simple sugars are the carbohydrates that are easy for the body to break down. As a result, they serve as a quick boost for the body’s energy levels. Simple sugars can be found in foods such as fruits, baked goods, and honey. While these foods do increase your energy levels, they only do so for a short period before your body crashes and craves more energy.
Green bananas, on the other hand, have a lower glycemic index, and therefore a lower simple sugar count. They also contain high levels of fiber and potassium, and since they have not yet ripened they are especially high in resistant starch, which acts like a soluble fiber and is able to keep you full for longer. The body is energized for longer because the starch is digested much more slowly.
Both ripe and unripe bananas have advantages and disadvantages. Because of their high resistant starch and low sugar content, green bananas have an appetite-reducing effect but taste less sweet. They may also make you experience bloating or gas, but it varies person to person. On the other hand, because of their higher sugar content, yellow bananas are sweeter but don’t keep you full for as long. Honestly, no matter if they’re yellow or green, bananas are a great source of nutrients and should be incorporated into your diet.