6 Horrible Things That Happen When You Eat Too Many Bananas!

Last Updated on November 18, 2020

Bananas are definitely in the healthy food category. They are some of the most consumed fruits in the world, as you can always find them available all year round.

And if you think about it, they are a great and convenient snack that comes pre-packed by Mother Nature itself. Thus, the fact that they are known to be the pre or post-workout of choice for athletes and fitness enthusiasts is not surprising.

Bananas supply antioxidants, electrolytes, amino acids, and fiber, and much more. That’s where most of their health benefits come from.

They can make you lose weight by giving you a sense of fullness; the potassium and magnesium could prevent kidney stones; they can reduce bloating because the potassium counters the sodium’s role and maintains your potassium-sodium levels; among many other things. But, is there such a thing as eating too many bananas?

The answer is yes. Like every other food, eating bananas in excess could lead to a series of negative responses from your body, reverting their potential benefits. If you have a healthy diet (but really like bananas), exercise regularly but still experience the side effects listed below, you may be actually eating too many bananas.

1. Weight gain

If you compare bananas to the vast majority of snacks (mainly the processed ones) it may give you the illusion that they are really low on calories. But they’re not, because if you compare them to most fruits, they are actually highly caloric. A medium-sized banana contains about 105 calories.

That’s way more than an orange, for example, that contains only 60 calories. Now let’s do some math: if you eat 4 bananas a day, you are ingesting 420 calories. That’s almost the same as a MacDonald’s double cheeseburger (440 calories). You can see how it quickly adds up, and how easily it could make you gain a few pounds.

2. Hyperkalemia

Hyperkalemia is a condition caused by the excess of potassium in the blood, that could eventually lead to a heart attack. As we have already stated, bananas are highly rich in potassium.

If your diet includes lots of bananas and you are experiencing symptoms like nausea or irregular heartbeat please schedule a doctor’s appointment before it escalates to something more serious.

3. Diabetes

Overripe bananas have a high glycemic index, which means that its overconsumption could cause a spike in blood sugar levels and increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Though it’s highly unlikely to happen, you should be extra careful with overripe bananas.

4. Gas

The high amount of fiber present in bananas along with fructose can cause gas. If you rapidly increase your intake of fiber, your large intestine will notice.It will struggle to break down that extra fiber. These digestive issues can cause gas. A similar process happens with the intake of fructose.

5. Dental health problems

The overconsumption of bananas combined with poor dental hygiene could lead to tooth decay. That’s because bananas are high in starch, which dissolves slowly in the mouth. This means that after you eat a banana, its particles will rest between your teeth for hours, creating an ideal environment to lodge bacteria and allow it to grow.

6. Headaches

The substance present in bananas that can trigger headaches is called Tyramine. This is a substance found naturally in some foods.

Though researchers still don’t know exactly how the Tyramine triggers migraines, some argue that it happens because it causes nerve cells in the brain to release norepinephrine: the unusual levels of this chemical could lead to headaches.

To conclude, it is never a good idea to eat ludicrous amounts of the same food. Not even if that food is a healthy fruit like bananas. There are a lot of healthy options for you to choose from, so don’t get caught in your banana’s obsession.

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