Along with the apple, it is one of the foods that generate the most doubts as to whether they are constipated or not. Many people believe that banana is good for diarrhea and others, instead, associate it with fiber and use it when they have episodes of constipation, but who is right?Banana constipates or is it laxative?
At OneHOWTO we want to clarify what effects the banana has on your body, how to eat it for intestinal problems and settle the question of whether it is astringent or laxative. Likewise, we will also talk about what foods you should not eat if you are constipated. With all this, we hope to clarify your doubts about banana and intestinal problems, so do not miss anything.
Does banana constipate or is it laxative?
The answer to this great question has nuances and is that the banana is constipated, but if taken properly, it provides such a quantity of fiber that it can be a great ally in episodes of constipation, that is, as natural laxative, achieving the opposite effect.
Green banana is astringent, that is to say that it constipates, since it is a fruit rich in tannins and has a great capacity to absorb the water found in the intestine. In addition, the starch contained in green bananas is not well digested by the body and causes very heavy digestions that favor the onset of constipation. In addition, ripe banana is laxative because it no longer contains so much tannin, among other aspects.
ANDDoes banana constipate babies?
These considerations about the banana should also be taken into account in babies and children, since another very frequent question with this fruit is whether bananas constipate babies. Many babies who begin to make the change from liquid to solid feeding go through phases of constipation. The introduction of new foods in the fruit porridge together with the reduction of liquids, by not taking as much bottle, make the child suffer from this annoying problem.
It is recommended that you consult with your pediatrician which foods you should gradually introduce into your baby’s porridge or purees to avoid constipation. If the doctor has not advised against it, the ideal is to give the child alone ripe bananas to avoid constipation. You can include it in your fruit porridge or make them in the oven and mash them with a fork (this will depend on the swallowing ability of the baby), but never include green or underripe bananas in your diet. In this other article you can learn how to make fruit porridge with various recipes that contain ripe banana.
In addition to being a good fruit for constipation or diarrhea, depending on the point of maturity of the piece, the banana gives us many more benefits thanks to its properties. Here you can learn more about what are the benefits of banana.
How to eat banana for constipation
If you suffer from constipation, the only recommended way to consume bananas, as we have been telling you, is that they have an optimal degree of ripeness. Ripe bananasIn addition to being sweeter, they contain fructooligosaccharides, a type of Soluble fiber beneficial in your digestion and with a certain laxative power. To take advantage of its digestive benefits, we recommend not mixing it with acidic fruits, such as lemon, orange, grapefruit, etc., since the acids in these can impede the digestion process of sugars and starch and make you feel heavy after eating.
What is the best way to eat ripe banana for constipation? As long as they are ripe, you can eat them in any way, but at UNCOMO we recommend one of the tastiest ways to eat them: in smoothies or shakes. If you want to taste a delicious banana smoothie It is very simple:
- Add 2 ripe bananas to the blender glass.
- Add 250 milliliters of a vegetable drink (soy, oatmeal …).
- Add a pinch of ground cinnamon (just a little to aid digestion as large amounts can constipate).
- Beat on high speed for 30 seconds and serve chilled. If the bananas or milk are not very cold, you can add a couple of ice cubes before mixing everything.
Here we leave you a list of Fruits for constipation, so that you know more options of foods that do not constipate to add to your diet on occasions when you suffer from this problem.
Other foods that constipate
Now that we have clarified if banana is constipating or laxative and we have also explained how to eat it so that it has a laxative effect and combat constipation, we detail some of the constipating foods:
- Dairy products: Dairy products contain high levels of fat, lactose and lactic acid, which is why, in addition to causing constipation, they cause abdominal pain, gas or poor digestion. If you suffer from any of these problems, you can try vegetable drinks, a healthy alternative and with different options.
- Rice: Like the banana, its high starch content makes it an astringent food, which is why it is one of the most recommended dishes when there are episodes of diarrhea.
- Black tea: The tannins present in black tea act by absorbing water from the stool and reducing bowel movements, so you should not consume this type of tea if you suffer from constipation.
- Red meat: They are considered one of the foods that most constipate due to the amount of fat they have. The concentration of iron they have makes digestion more difficult.
- Eggs: Due to its high fat content, the egg affects the digestion process slowing it down, which is why it is a food that you should not abuse if you are constipated.
- Caffeine: Being diuretic, it causes great dehydration since it increases the elimination of water. The colon does not receive enough fluid to process stool, and this lack of fluid makes bowel movements inconsistent.
Expand this information on Foods that constipate with this other article.
This article is merely informative, at oneHOWTO we do not have the power to prescribe any medical treatment or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.