The A-Peel of a Banana
I could swear my son is half monkey—judging by all the bananas he eats! He’s a finicky banana-consumer, although, in that he only likes to eat these fruits before they fully ripen (still sporting a tinge of green around the peel’s edges). When I suggested that bananas taste better when their skins are fully yellow and showing a few “age spots”, he simply shrugged off my suggestion and said, “This is the way I like them.”
Truth be told, there isn’t a “right time” to eat a banana. While my son and I hold alternative views on a banana’s “edible readiness,” each state of ripeness has its own unique merit, all the while maintaining common, a-peeling character traits.
The banana is a true complex carbohydrate food—without an ounce of fat! Each pre-packaged, yellow smile contains 3 grams of fiber and only about 100 calories (for a fruit of medium-size). Whether they’re eaten under-ripe, “just-ripe”, or over ripened, they carry an impressive amount of manganese, potassium, and vitamins C and B6.
Now, if a banana is consumed in its starchy, yellow-to-slightly green state (the way my son finds them a-peeling), its fiber content is more insoluble and therefore better in assisting with regularity of bowel movements. Consumed when showing a bit of age (spots), bananas contain a higher concentration of antioxidants (anti-aging molecules) and soluble fiber, which has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels, though they do contain a bit more sugar at this point. So, if you’re blood sugars tend to run high, chose to eat your bananas in a somewhat pre-ripened state or eat only half a ripened banana with some nut butter smeared across it; the fat content of which will prevent a spike in your blood sugar.
Here’s a tip if you find your bunch of bananas is ripen too quickly for your taste: Wrap the “harvested end” of the bunch with Saran® wrap or masking tape. Depriving this end of oxygen will significantly slow the natural ripening process.
One final thing to note about bananas is that you do not have to spend the extra money to buy organic. These fruits are so thick-skinned, very little contamination can make it through such a venerable force-field!