What are banana benefits? Side effects? Are bananas vegan? Gluten free? Acidic or alkaline? Low fodmap? Good for you? Healthy? Sustainable? Here is all the info on bananas that every ethical consumer wants to know…
Food is something we consume every day and if youāre like me, you do all the research you can to make sure you donāt hurt yourself, the planet, animals or others when shopping. As an ethical consumer myself, I am giving you all the info Iāve found on banana benefits and side effects.
You are going to learn all about banana benefits and side effects. This will include banana benefits for your health and potential risks, banana water footprint and banana carbon footprint, banana sustainability, if bananas are vegan or impact animals in other ways, and much more.
After learning if banana are good or bad for you, the environment, animals and human rights, you will be prepared to make the best choices you can the next time you buy food.
This post is all about banana benefits and side effects that every ethical consumer should know.
Banana Benefits and Side Effects
Health
Banana benefits may include:
- better digestion
- boosted energy
- constipation relief (ripe)
- exercise endurance
- depression treatment
- increased muscle strength
- nervous system health
- cramp prevention
- reduced risk of diarrhea or constipation
- reduced appetite
- regulated blood sugar
- detoxification
- heart health and kidney health
- lowered blood pressure
- diabetes management and prevention
- colon cancer protection
- reduced risk of heart disease
- reduced bloating
- weight loss
Banana side effects may include:
- pesticide consumption if not organic
- do not over-consume, be sure to eat in moderation as with any food
Additionally, bananas areā¦
- Alkaline 8.0 pH level (ripe bananas) once digested
- Acidic 6.5 pH level (green bananas) once digested
- Low FODMAP
- Gluten Free
- Not a common Food Allergen
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Environment
Water footprint: low, it takes 790 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of bananas / 95 gallons of water to produce 1 pounds of bananas
Carbon footprint: low, 1.4 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of fresh bananas, a car driving equivalent of 3.25 miles or 5.25 kilometers
Destruction: moderate-high, bananas must grow in warm, tropical climates, the worldās primary banana exporters are Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica and Guatemala meaning bananas travel long distances to retail commercially, bananas use more agrochemicals per hectare than any other crop in the world, banana plantations involve monocropping, causing soil structure and quality to be so poor farmers must use chemical fertilizers to encourage plant growth and fruit production, pesticides and fertilizers contaminate ground water and become airborne, creating pollution, monocropping is not an issue if the product is organic
Bananas areā¦
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Sustainable Cooking
Animals
Kills: none, banana production does not require any animals
Harms: none, banana production does not require any animals
Indirectly kills or harms: fish and coral reefs, banana waste sometimes go into streams, while decomposing discards deplete the water of oxygen, which threatens fish and microorganisms, Caribbean banana plantation runoff causes damage to estuaries and coral reefs, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Bananas areā¦
- Vegan
- May negatively impact wildlife
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystems unless organic
Laborers
Health and safety: hazardous, exposure to toxic pesticides, toxic fungicides are sprayed from airplanes flying overhead, after being exposed to chemicals, they experience āheadaches, fever, dizziness, red eyes, stomach aches, nausea, vomiting, trembling and shaking, itching, burning nostrils, fatigue, and aching bonesā, must use sharp knives and machetes, must haul heavy loads of bananas, drink unsanitary water, sexual harassment
Living conditions: poor, in Ecuador (the worldās largest banana exporter) children as young as eight work on banana plantations where a typical workday lasts twelve hours, approximately 1% of banana workers are associated with workersā rights organizations, anti-union discrimination when hiring, lack adequate access to and bathrooms
Wages: low, children earn an average of $3.50 per day in Ecuador, approximately 60% of the legal minimum wage for banana workers, it is estimated plantation workers receive a mere 1-3% of a bananaās retail value
Bananas haveā¦
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- The fastest, easiest solution for making nutrient-packed smoothies.
- Load it up with your favorite whole foods like nuts, berries and spinach.
- Push, twist and blend your way to a healthier lifestyle.
- We love it!
Yes! Bananas are high in fiber, potassium, Vitamin B6 and magnesium.
India,Ā Ecuador, China, Indonesia and Brazil are the largest producers ofĀ bananasĀ in theĀ world. The worldās top banana exporting country is Ecuador, followed by Costa Rica, Guatemala, Philippines, Columbia, USA, Mexico, Germany, Honduras and Dominican Republic.
Check out this post on Food Miles: How Far Does Your Food Travel?
Are bananas alkaline or acidic?
Bananas are alkaline when ripe and acidic when green.
What is the pH level of bananas?
Bananas have an 8.0 pH level when ripe, once digested and a 6.5 pH level when green, once digested.
When you eat food, it breaks down to an ash residue that can be neutral, acidic or alkaline. Minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, silver, copper and iron produce an alkaline ash; whereas sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine and iodine, which are in meat, coffee, dairy and alcohol, leave an acid ash.
Going alkaline easier than ever with this: Acidic and Alkaline Foods List
Are bananas low fodmap?
Yes, bananas are low fodmap, a food you can eat if on a low fodmap diet.
A low FODMAP diet may help those with bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).
It’s all about knowing your body. Observe what works and what doesn’t. You body might even react negatively to a low-FODMAP food simply due to intolerance. Everyone is different! Be mindful and patient. Take time to get to know what’s best for your physical health and overall wellbeing.
Are bananas gluten free?
Yes, bananas are gluten free. Bananas do not contain gluten. Bananas are a type of fruit, therefore making it a naturally gluten free food.
While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivityā¦
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
Are bananas a common food allergen?
No, bananas are not a common food allergen. Some people may experience allergic reactions to bananas but it is relatively rare by comparison.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
- milk
- eggs
- fish
- crustacean shellfish
- tree nuts
- peanuts
- wheat
- soybeans
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
Water footprint of bananas?
Bananas have a relatively low water footprint compared to other foods.
What is the water footprint of bananas?
It takes 790 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of bananas / 95 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of bananas.
Did you know that water is a finite, non-renewable resource?
We must do what we can to conserve fresh water and a major way to reduce needless water consumption is to change the way we eat. Thatās not to say we need to reduce our water intakeā¦.quite the opposite. Itās important for our health to drink lots of water and eat foods that hydrate. The kind of water conservation weāre talking about here is behind the scenes.
Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
Carbon footprint of bananas?
Bananas have a relatively low carbon footprint compared to other foods.
What is the carbon footprint of bananas?
It takes around 1.4 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of bananas, a car driving equivalent of 3.25 miles or 5.25 kilometers.
When calculating carbon emissions, some factors areā¦
- farm equipment
- animal feed production
- hothouses (greenhouses)
- food processing
- packaging
- transport
- refrigeration
- freezing
- package waste and more
But thatās not all!
Itās best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping:
- shopping locally reduces transportation emissions
- food without packaging reduces waste as well as the carbon footprint
- refrigerated and frozen foods increase carbon emissions
- seasonal foods reduce carbon emissions from hothouses (greenhouses)
- growing plant-based foods at home is the most environmentally sustainable method with zero carbon footprint
Find out how much carbon your food emits with this: Carbon Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
Are bananas sustainable?
Banana production is moderately sustainable. Banana crops must grow in warm, tropical climates and the worldās primary exporters of bananas are Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica and Guatemala. Bananas tend to travel long distances and use more agrochemicals per hectare than any other crop in the world!
Additionally, banana plantations often involve monocropping, which causes the soil structure and quality to be so poor that farmers must use chemical fertilizers to encourage plant growth and fruit production. Pesticides and fertilizers contaminate ground water and become airborne, creating pollution. Monocropping is not an issue if the product is organic.
Be sure to buy non GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc. when using regenerative practices.
Read more about ‘What Makes Food Sustainable Or Unsustainable?’
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Sustainable Cooking
Are bananas vegan?
Yes, bananas are vegan. Bananas are a fruit and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food. However, bananas may negatively impact wildlifeā¦
Banana waste is sometimes goes into streams. While decomposing, the waste depletes the water of oxygen, which threatens fish and microorganisms. Caribbean banana plantation runoff causes damage to estuaries and coral reefs. Be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non-Vegan Foods List
Do bananas have human rights issues?
Yes. At this time there are many major concerns involving banana production! Itās important to stay aware of human rights concerns and worker exploitation that may come with specific brands.
Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
Some problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can face harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks.
Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation. Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
Finally, we can improve peopleās lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
Be sure to read up on this list of ‘Foods You Should Always Buy Fair Trade‘
Conclusion
Banana pros include:
- numerous health benefits
- sustainable
- vegan
- alkaline when ripe
- gluten free
- not a common food allergen
- low carbon footprint
- low water footprint
Banana cons include:
- acidic when green
- monocropping and environmental concerns
- harmful to wildlife and ecosystems
- often involves laborer exploitation (more than most foods)
- pesticide ingestion and contamination if not organic (more than most produce)
This post was all about banana benefits and side effects.
Sources:
Harvard, The Nutrition Source, Bananas
Bananas, raw – FoodData Central – USDA
Human Rights Watch: Ecuador: Widespread Labor Abuse on Banana Plantations
Food Empowerment Project: PEELING BACK THE TRUTH ON BANANAS
Foodprint: Labor and Workers in the Food System
