Friday, May 3, 2013

Banana & Constipation - What You May Not Know About This Seemingly Innocent Fruit!


Bananas could cause constipation or diarrhea, although this really depends on the individual. For several people, bananas will bind them up. For other people, bananas could prove to have a completely opposite effect, causing diarrhea instead. It really depends on each person that eats the banana, as well as the banana's overall condition, in several cases.

Baby Constipation

The primary culprits in baby constipation happen to be apple sauce, breads, cereals, pasta, white potatoes and - you guessed it - bananas!

Victims of IBS

Bananas could benefit people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome and are constantly constipated. Bananas have insoluble fiber that can help in relieving constipation. Ironically, bananas could also be useful to victims of IBS that are plagued with diarrhea. By consuming some bananas everyday, diarrhea can stop. They also help with any gastrointestinal distress.

Unripe Bananas

A banana's ripeness can determine if it will make a person constipated. Green and unripe bananas can make people constipated since they are filled with heavy starches that could exacerbate constipation. Conversely, ripe bananas with their high fiber content have the ability to get bowels through intestinal tracts. Because of this, bananas would be ideal for constipation relief.

Enzymes and Potassium

The potassium found within ripe bananas can help stop diarrhea since its content replaces the body's required electrolytes. Enzymes known as fructooligosaccharide are also in bananas, hindering their fermentation after they make it into an intestinal track. This can help prevent constipation for several people and can help with natural digestion.

Theories of the Orient

Chinese medical practitioners have theories about heat and cold that might help in explaining why bananas have the ability to cure and cause constipation. Cold means having a little bit of energy that makes it hard for the digestive system to digest food efficiently and then get rid of it. This will give you insufficient energy for bowel movements. Heat means that the intestines are drying up, producing dry stools that also lead to constipation. Since bananas are cold due to their contribution to the body's cold condition, they counteract any heat conditions. If your constipation is in heat and involves dry stool and intestines, bananas might relieve the condition. If your constipation is cold, bananas are only going to aggravate the situation. When the system happens to be cold, the fluids are not processed properly. This is why diarrhea is seen as an extremely cold condition.

Experts Thoughts

Experts think that bananas might cause thicker stools. They also stick to the belief that bananas are contributors to constipation. Either way, bananas should only be consumed in moderation, preferably in yellow colors with black spots to indicate their ripeness.

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