Information On The Calories In A Banana

Bananas are among the most consumed fruits in the whole world. They are also among the best-selling. Just as is the case with most fruits, the calories in a banana come from starch and sugar. This fruit has a lot of value to the human body. For 100 calories one fruit has about 3 grams of fiber. It also has more than 10% of the amount of vitamin B6, vitamin C, manganese and potassium required daily.

Fruits like grapes and oranges have more water content than bananas. This means that if you consider one ounce, juicier fruits have slightly less calories. An average banana has 105 calories while an apple and an orange contain 95 and 65 respectively. Most grown-ups require at least 1600 per day. This means that the small difference is not very significant. To get most nutrients experts recommend consuming many different fruits.

The nutrients that you obtain from bananas have many benefits to the body. They provide energy that is needed for the body's physical movement and basic metabolism. Energy is generated from fats, proteins and carbohydrates. In bananas most of the energy is obtained from carbohydrates. This source makes up over 95 % of the total energy. Carbohydrates include fiber, starch and sugars.

An average fruit of this kind has about 6 grams of starch, 3 grams of fiber and 14 grams of sugar. Small traces of fats and proteins are also found. They make up about 4 % of the energy content. There are different types of bananas. The most common is the long and yellow type. It can easily be found in supermarkets. Other kinds such as the baby, plantain and red bananas can also be found.

Plantains have more energy than the other types that are consumed raw. Generally the kinds that are eaten raw produce the same amount of energy even though the ratio of starch to sugars is different. Of course the bigger the fruit the higher the energy it has. If you want an exact calorie count you must follow a specific recipe that defines the size well.

Information from the National Nutrient database held by USDA a 90 calorie banana should measure 6 to 7 inches in length. It should weigh about 3.5 ounces. One that has 105 should be about 7 to 8 inches long and it should be 4 ounces in weight. A 121 calorie banana should weigh 4.75 ounces and it should be 8 to 9 inches long.

Bananas have been used to make flavors for different packaged foods and recipes. Yogurt, snack bars, cereals, bread and muffins are some of the products that have this flavor. What you need to know is that most of these foods that are processed have additional fat, sugars and other ingredients.

You should be careful because these extra ingredients add empty calories. The calories in a banana are essential for healthy growth and development of the body. This fruit is recommended because it has dietary fiber, manganese, potassium as well as vitamins C and B6. It also has low sodium, cholesterol and saturated fat content. You should however consume other fruits as well to get many other nutrients that are required.