An increasing number of ‘diet-friendly’ products are labeled with ‘gluten-free’ labels. While it may be hip nowadays to go gluten-free, research has suggested those who are not suffering from celiac disease may derive no benefit from a gluten-free diet. Nevertheless, the demand and availability of gluten-free flours and products has increased. A relatively lesser known gluten-free flour is banana flour. Yes, you read that right! It’s flour made from bananas and it may sound bizarre, but it has been used in parts of Africa and Jamaica, as a cheaper alternative for wheat flour for years now. The flour has been promoted for use by ‘trendy diets’ like paleo and primal diets. With the world consuming so many bananas, it’s not surprising that people are asking the question: are bananas good for you?This article will take a look at the potential health benefits of bananas, such as improving heart health and promoting regularity. It also examines the possible health risks associated with them.It also comes with a unique flavour and a number of health benefits, which you might like to know about.ananas are extremely healthy and delicious.BThey contain several essential nutrients and provide benefits for digestion, heart health and weight loss.Bananas are among the world’s most popular fruits.Native to Southeast Asia, they are now grown in many warm parts of the world.Bananas vary in color, size and shape.ach banana has only about 105 calories and consists almost exclusively of water and carbs. Bananas hold very little protein and almost no fat.The carbs in green, unripe bananas consist mostly of starch and resistant starch, but as the banana ripens, the starch turns into sugar (glucose, fructose and sucrose).The most common type is the Cavendish, which is a type of dessert banana. Green when unripe, it yellows as it matures.Aside from being very nutritious, they are also a highly convenient snack food.urthermore, bananas also rank low to medium on the glycemic index (GI), which is a measure — from 0–100 — of how quickly foods increase blood sugar levels.Banana flour is made from green bananas and has a mild flavour of raw bananas. When cooked, banana flour loses that fruit flavour and hence, can be used as a healthier alternative to white or processed wheat flours.
Benefits Of Banana Flour
Besides being a great alternative for those suffering from celiac disease, banana flour may also offer some benefits even for those who don’t have gluten sensitivity. Take a look:
1. Rich in prebiotic fibre
Green bananas are known to be rich in prebiotic fibre, which is important for promoting gut health, as well as for reducing belly fat. Prebiotic fibre also improves digestion.
2. Rich in potassium
Potassium is one nutrient with multiple benefits including maintaining heart health and helping one deal with anxiety and stress. It also enhances muscle strength and boosts metabolism.
3. Rich in resistant starch
Banana flour is extremely rich in resistant starch, which is why it may help diabetics improve insulin sensitivity and maintain blood sugar levels. This is because it is not rapidly digested in the small intestine, but it reaches the large intestine where it is used as fermentable dietary fibre.Because of the fact that banana flour is so rich in starch, you can use a much smaller volume of the flour, as compared to other flours. It is for the same reason that banana flour has amazing characteristics for cooking and baking purposes. So you can try using banana flour in your next batch of brownies to reap its benefits.
