Are overripe bananas safe to eat?

Bananas offer numerous health benefits, ranging from promoting digestive health and boosting the immune system to regulating blood pressure and maintaining cardiovascular health, while also helping to stabilize blood sugar levels.

However, when eating bananas, people tend to complain that they are overripe and have turned brown. So, are overripe bananas still safe to eat, or should they be thrown away?

Dr. Vedika Premani, a clinical nutritionist at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital (India), will explain this issue in detail.

Bananas that turn brown due to overripening are usually still safe to eat.

Dr. Premani said: Initially, unripe bananas are green, then they gradually ripen and turn yellow, and finally, when they become overripe, they turn brown.

When bananas turn brown, it could mean they are overripe, or that the peel is damaged or the banana is bruised.

Is it okay to eat overripe bananas that have turned brown?

According to Dr. Premani, bananas that turn brown due to overripening are usually still safe to eat, according to the health website Only My Health.

The truth is, overripe bananas are still nutritious. Nutritionally, both ripe and overripe bananas have similar components, such as being rich in fiber, potassium, and vitamin C.

However, overripe bananas are sweeter because the ripening process converts starch into simple sugars, which increases blood sugar levels after eating, the doctor added.

A 2021 study published in the scientific journal Plos One showed that as bananas ripen, their fiber content decreases significantly. Conversely, their sugar content increases noticeably as they change from green to yellow.

Therefore, people who avoid sweets or are concerned about blood sugar levels should choose bananas that are just ripe rather than ripe or overripe ones.

Furthermore, for these individuals, consuming bananas in moderation, along with a balanced diet, may not only not cause harm but may even be beneficial.

For those avoiding sweets or concerned about blood sugar, green bananas are a better choice than yellow or brown ones.

In fact, many people find brown bananas easier to digest than yellow bananas, while those with irritable bowel syndrome or other digestive problems may experience the opposite.

Additionally, the riper the banana, the higher its tyramine content, which can lead to increased blood flow to the brain and cause headaches after eating.

When should you throw away bananas?

According to Dr. Premani, if bananas turn completely brown, start to get moldy, emit an unpleasant sour smell, and leak juice, they are likely to have spoiled and are no longer safe to eat, according to Healthline.

Dr. Premani notes that bananas with many brown spots or that have turned completely brown may look less appealing, but are usually still safe to eat and can be used in smoothies or banana bread.

However, the doctor reiterated that if the banana has a strange smell or mold growth, it's best to throw it away.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chuoi-chin-ruc-co-nen-an-185240918084245241.htm