Getting enough iodine each day is extremely important for your thyroid as well as overall health. This mineral is most commonly found in fish and seafood but can be obtained from other types of foods.
For example, fruits also contain some iodine but most often not a lot. So, how about specific fruits like bananas? Are bananas high in iodine?
Table of Contents
Are bananas high in iodine?
Bananas don’t contain enough iodine to be considered rich in this mineral. They do provide you with a small dose, but it’s not enough to fulfill your daily need for iodine.
On the bright side, bananas are a rich source of several important vitamins and minerals, contributing to good health and disease prevention. So, even though they may not provide you with enough iodine, they are still a good addition to your diet.
How much iodine is in bananas?
A single medium-sized banana may contain somewhere around 4-6 micrograms of iodine. Larger bananas provide you with more, but it’s still not a lot.
So, if you wanted to get enough iodine each day just by eating bananas, you’d have to eat somewhere between 50-100 bananas, which is impossible.
Because of that, bananas, like most fruits, don’t make for a great source of iodine.
There’s some good to the fact that bananas are low in iodine, though. Some people have to follow a low-iodine diet for health reasons.
So, since bananas don’t contain a lot of this mineral, they make for a safe addition to such a diet.
Can you get too much iodine from bananas?
An average-sized banana contains minimal amounts of iodine. So, it’s impossible to overdose on iodine by just eating bananas, even if you ate them throughout the whole day.
On the other hand, this means that you have to ensure you’re getting a lot of iodine-rich foods in your diet.
Iodine deficiency happens quite often, so it’s important to eat a lot of foods like fish, seafood, and dairy to get what your body needs.
It’s also important to note that most healthy adults get enough iodine from food, especially if they regularly eat seafood and fish.
So, taking iodine supplements is often unnecessary and can lead to iodine overdose, which can be dangerous to your health.
Because of that, make sure to only take iodine supplements when you absolutely have to or when your doctor has prescribed them.
Are dried bananas high in iodine?
Just like raw bananas, dried bananas and banana chips aren’t rich in iodine. They are, however, much higher in calories, fat, and sugar than fresh bananas. So, it’s important to consume them in moderation.
What’s more, all other banana-based foods are also low in iodine unless they are made with iodine-rich ingredients.
For example, banana bread made with quality milk or yogurt can increase the iodine content of the finished product.
So, keep that in mind if your goal is to increase your intake of iodine each day.
Are bananas good for you?
Bananas are a very nutritious fruit, making them a great food to add to any diet. Firstly, a single medium-sized banana provides you with 3.1 g of fiber, which is around 12% of your daily need for this nutrient.
Fiber is crucial for good digestive health, as it helps soak up excess stomach acid, feeds the ‘good’ gut bacteria, and improves digestion. Because of that, it’s a very important type of carb.
What’s more, one type of fiber found in bananas is called resistant starch. This kind is not digested by your body, which means that it can help lower your blood sugar levels. Plus, it can regulate your appetite and aid in weight loss.
Bananas are also one of the best fruits in terms of their potassium content. A single banana contains about 422 mg of potassium, which is quite an impressive number.
Potassium is a mineral that functions as an electrolyte. This means that it helps maintain fluid balance in your body, ensuring proper hydration.
It also helps offset the negative effects of sodium on your blood pressure, thus reducing your risk of stroke.
Getting enough potassium can also protect your heart by ensuring regular heart rhythm.
Another micronutrient that bananas are especially high in is vitamin B6. In fact, a medium-sized banana contains 22% of your daily need for this vitamin.
Vitamin B6, also called pyridoxine, may help improve your mood and reduce the symptoms of depression. It also promotes brain and cognitive health, aiding in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.
Getting enough vitamin B6 is also important during pregnancy, as it helps treat nausea as well as other unpleasant symptoms.
Bananas also provide you with a decent dose of magnesium and manganese, which are both minerals important for bone health.
So, eating bananas can reduce your risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures.
Just like other fruits and vegetables, bananas are an excellent source of antioxidants. These plant compounds help flush out free radicals from your body, preventing oxidative stress and damage to your cells.
The antioxidants found in bananas are primarily flavonoids, which reduce your risk of chronic conditions like heart disease and degenerative illnesses. So, you can see how important it is to eat antioxidant-rich foods.
Additionally, eating unripe bananas has been known to improve insulin sensitivity, particularly in individuals who suffer from diabetes.
Experts believe that this benefit is both from the resistant starch found in bananas and various plant compounds.
So, even though bananas are high in sugar, eating them in moderation can be good for you.
Conclusion
Bananas don’t contain a lot of iodine, so eating them to up your intake of this mineral isn’t a good idea.
Like most fruits, bananas aren’t rich in iodine, so it’s best to choose other foods to meet your daily need.
Bananas do contain a lot of vitamins and minerals, though. Micronutrients like vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, and manganese are important for your health and overall wellbeing.
So, eating bananas is a great way to load up on these, even if they don’t contain too much iodine.
Sources: The Association of UK Dietitians, Nutrition Data, and National Library of Medicine