Can bananas be laxative?

Speaking of bananas, the first reaction of many people is “laxative”, but some people find that after eating bananas, there is no “laxative” effect, and it may even cause gastrointestinal distress. discomfort. At this point, the controversy arose, Can bananas be laxative? In fact, bananas have laxative properties, but only if the bananas are already ripe.

Ripe bananas have a laxative effect because they are rich in dietary fiber, with a content of 2.6g/100g, which can promote gastrointestinal motility. And dietary fiber contains pectin, which can fully lubricate the intestines, speed up the passage of feces, and prevent waste from staying in the intestines. Although bananas are rich in dietary fiber, it does not mean that eating more is better, and eating too much will be counterproductive. Excessive intake of dietary fiber can interfere with the absorption of minerals and micronutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc, so the recommended amount is 20-30 grams per day.

Unripe bananas, on the other hand, not only don’t laxatives, but can worsen constipation. Unripe bananas contain a lot of tannic acid, and unripe bananas can reach 100-250mg/ 100g. It has astringent effects on the digestive tract, inhibits the secretion of gastrointestinal juices and inhibits its peristalsis. Excessive intake can cause the stool to form a dry and hard fecal mass, induce constipation or aggravate constipation.

For most people, eating ripe bananas can help with bowel movements, while unripe bananas do not and can make constipation worse.

The author of this issue: Liu Xiaoting

Editor: Jiang Tingting

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