An apple and banana a day, will keep the Gastroenterologist at bay
Jokes aside – both bananas and apples are packed with fiber and promote digestion- bananas have some unique properties to them that our guts love.
So, read on to learn how to protect your gut health and avoid going to the doctor. Especially the specialists. They are rich enough. Do give your primary care doc some apples and bananas though!
How bananas and apples help the gut
While apples and bananas both have solid nutritional reputations, bananas are part of a special diet called BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) created to soothe an upset stomach (nausea, vomiting and diarrhea).
Though BRAT has come under fire in recent years due to its lack of nutritional content (lacking in fiber), it is a good short-term solution to an upset stomach. Bananas are high in potassium, an electrolyte lost in people with diarrhea. And they have natural antacids to coat the lining of the stomach, and reduce irritation from stomach acid (helpful if you are vomiting or have acid reflux)
All fiber is not created equal
There are two main types of fiber- soluble and insoluble and they both affect digestion differently. Soluble fiber adds bulk to your stool. It is soluble (dissolves) in water, creating a type of gel that softens stool and makes bowel movements easier. Bananas and apples have it.
Insoluble fiber is made up of the parts of food we cannot digest (like the skin and seeds of a fruit). And don’t worry, if you swallow the seeds an apple tree won’t grow inside of you (like the kids in my science class thought).
But go easy on the fiber! Too much (especially if you have a low-fiber diet), may cause bloating and gas.
While apples and bananas are equally delicious, I do have a preference for one. For my daily pack lunch (to save money and avoid costcochondritis), I find myself reaching for the apple. For one, it travels better (bananas get mushy and are easier to crush than apples).
But also, ask yourself this: when was the last time you saw someone eating a banana in public? It’s just socially frowned upon, for some reason.
Team banana
Bananas are a comedic fruit. They’re yellow and shaped funny. I find myself using them as props in my standup. They make for an absurd-looking mustache, brightly-colored projectile (don’t heckle me!) and I love pissing off the Urologists with them too (along with apples, apparently it’s not a good way to teach male anatomy)
And other people even write songs about them, like Raffi’s “bananaphone”. Maybe I’ll write my own version someday! Stay tuned
Which fruit do you prefer, and why? When it’s bright-colored and packed with fiber, you can’t go wrong!