Are Banana Chips Bad For You?
Also Known As: plantain chips
Short answer
Banana chips can be a great healthy snack but you must watch for harmful cooking oils that add unnecessary fats.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Bananas are a very nutritious food with plenty of potassium and fiber offerings benefits to your health. Banana chips are made by frying or dehydrating slices of banana. Both of these processes can deplete nutrients, though, so fresh bananas will always be superior for your health than banana chips.
Most companies choose to fry their banana chips for the sake of saving time. Unfortunately, frying is the unhealthiest option adding roughly 8 grams of saturated fats. While not all saturated fats are bad for you, consuming too much or those from the wrong sources cam be.
Typically, banana chips are fried in sunflower or coconut oil. If you can find the coconut oil varieties, they will be the best and contain a healthy saturated fat. Sunflower oils vary – if a hydrogenated sunflower oil is used it will contain trans fats that can greatly increase your risk of heart disease. Sunflower oil is otherwise an omega 6 fatty acid, necessary for our health, development and brain function. The problem is that the standard American diet is high in omega 6 and low in omega 3 which increases inflammation in the body leading to an increased risk of developing IBS, obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Dehydrating banana chips is a healthier way to go. This method requires no extra oil or seasoning. Slice, dehydrate, eat! The result is nothing other than a dried banana.
When you consume a fresh banana, your body gets roughly 420 milligrams of potassium which can help improve digestion and muscle function, maintain a normal heartbeat, and balance electrolytes. Unfortunately, when you turn that same banana into chips, you only get about a quarter of that amount. The rest is lost to heat and processing.
Fiber is another great benefit in eating bananas. The processing of forming banana chips has a slight impact on fiber content. Where a fresh banana may provide around 3 grams of fiber, a 1-ounce serving of banana chips will drop that amount to about 2 grams. Fiber is important to keep in your diet to lower heart disease and diabetes risk. It also helps keep your digestion and bowels healthy and regular.
Some varieties of banana chips will also include additions like sugar or honey, which you should watch out for. Frying and dehydrating the banana already increases the sweetness, so their additions are just extra calories.
There is, of course, a way to consume banana chips that is downright healthy. Make them at home! You’ll know their exact ingredients, what kind of oil you used and what you added to them if anything. Not the mention they will be fresh and ready to add to oatmeal, salad or eat on their own!
Possible short-term side effects
- allergic reaction
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blood sugar spike
Possible long-term side effects
- inflammation
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heart disease
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diabetes
-
obesity
Ingredients to be aware of
Benefits
- good source of:
-
potassium
-
iron
-
fiber
Trusted brand
(what is this?)
Bare Natural Banana Chips
- Only ingredient: bananas
- Fat-free
- Gluten-free
- Non-GMO
- No added sugar
- No preservatives
Learn More!
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