Have you ever found yourself irresistibly drawn to the sweet, comforting taste of bananas, wondering why this fruit seems to be calling your name? Your sudden and intense cravings for bananas might be more than just a taste preference—they could be revealing important clues about your overall health and nutritional needs.

In our blog post, “Banana Cravings Unveiled: Discover the Top 11 Reasons,” we’ll dive deep into the intriguing factors behind your banana cravings. From potential nutrient deficiencies to psychological triggers, we’ll explore what these cravings could be signaling about your body’s needs and how they relate to your overall well-being.

As you embark on this journey of understanding, the Eating Enlightenment Food Journal App is here to support you. This app offers practical tools to help you track and manage your cravings, address emotional eating, and overcome binge tendencies. With its guidance, you can embrace mindful eating practices and foster a healthier, more balanced relationship with food.

Ready to uncover the secrets behind your banana cravings and what they mean for your health? Let’s get started on discovering how this seemingly simple fruit might hold the key to better understanding your body’s needs.

1 – You are low on potassium

The #1 reason you’re craving bananas is because you lack potassium!

Why might you be potassium deficient?

Here are a few reasons:

• You don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables
• You drink too much alcohol or caffeine
• You have a thyroid disorder

Here are a few signs you’re potassium deficient:

• You have muscle cramps
• You feel tired and weak
• Your heart feels like it’s racing
• You have constipation or diarrhea

2 – You need an energy boost

Low energy is another reason you might be craving bananas.

Bananas are a great source of natural sugars, which give you an instant energy boost.

Plus, they contain fiber and other nutrients that help you sustain for extended periods.

If you’re looking for an easy way to boost your energy, try eating a banana!

An individual banana contains:

• 90 calories
• 0 grams of fat
• 20 mg sodium
• 25-30 grams of carbohydrates (from fiber; see below)

An individual banana has a glycemic index of 51.

The Glycemic Index is an indicator for foods which raise blood sugar levels in the human body, and a score of 51 is considered good for your blood sugar levels on average.

So, bananas are a great option if you’re concerned about your energy and blood sugar level.

What happens to your body if you eat bananas everyday?

When you are eating bananas, one thing’s sure you are eating potassium and a lot of fiber. When using the Macro calculator for weight loss, you would find you are eating the best of the minerals and effective food for your nutritional requirements. 

Bananas get a bad rap because they have sugar and other carbs.

However, the sugars are natural. Natural sugars are better for you than processed sugars.

The carbs in bananas are mixed with fiber, so you don’t digest them too fast and get hungry quickly.

Of course if you overeat any food you’ll gain weight. Even healthy foods, if binged, will result in weight gain. Bananas are no different.

Overall, bananas are a healthy snack and you can have them in moderation!

3 – You might be low on Vitamin B6

Bananas also contain Vitamin B6.

Your body needs Vitamin B6 because it:

• Assists your body in making new protein
• It helps keep your blood healthy
• It helps you digest food

How to tell if you’re low on Vitamin B6?

One way to tell if you need more Vitamin B6 is by looking at the whites of your eyes. If they’re yellow, it means you’re low on Vitamin B6.

Another indication of Vitamin B6 deficiency is if you’re experiencing neurological problems, such as numbness and tingling in your hands and feet.

Talk to your doctor if you think you might be low on Vitamin B and are getting banana cravings!

They might recommend that you start eating more bananas because each banana has about .43 mg of vitamin B.

That’s about 20% of the recommended daily allowance for men and women!

Or take a supplement.

4 – You’re in the mood for a fruit

Sometimes you just have those food cravings for a banana!

Why? Many reasons!

• Bananas are tasty!
• Bananas have a creamy texture that is very unique
• Peeling the banana is unique, unlike most fruits!

It’s natural for humans to crave a variety of foods.

We aren’t meant to eat fried foods all day long!

(Remember, bananas do have sugar but they are not junk food!)

Here are the most popular fruits for diabetes.

5 – Your body wants the fiber

Bananas are a great source of fiber.

Fiber is essential because it helps keep your digestive tract moving.

If you don’t eat enough fiber, your body might start signaling to you via carb cravings that you’re hungry, even though it wants more fiber!

Not only does eating bananas give your body plenty of fiber, bananas are also a great source of potassium and vitamin C which help to prevent constipation too.

How much fiber should I eat every day?

The recommended daily intake of fiber is 25-30 grams per day.

Bananas can help you reach your goal!

One medium banana has about three grams of fiber. So, eating two or three bananas a day will give you the recommended amount of fiber.

Here are some more healthy foods to eat!

6 – You want a substitute for sugar in junk food

Want the sweet taste without the guilt?

Try a banana!

Bananas are a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth without all of the added sugar from certain foods.

Each medium banana has about 12 grams of sugar.

However, bananas are a healthier option than most sugary snacks!

Bananas have lots of fiber and additional nutrients. Plus, their sugar is natural and not processed.

If you’re looking for a sweet snack that will also give you some nutrients, reach for a banana!

7 – You’re on the go!

Eating bananas is a quick and easy snack, perfect if you are busy!

What’s better than having an energy boost for free?

Bananas are portable and easy to pack!

They fit easily into your purse, backpack or lunchbox. Plus they don’t need any refrigeration ( until you cut them open).

So if you’re looking for a healthy snack on the go, bananas are perfect!

How to pick out bananas

Although please note, be careful when you purchase bananas.

Some stores over-ripen their bananas in order to sell them faster, so they’re mushy and brown by the time they reach your hands!

If you want a perfectly ripe banana, look for green ones with no visible bruises or dark spots.

These will be firm but still able to give a bit when you squeeze them.

If the skin is entirely brown, the banana will be too ripe and mushy inside.

(Hopefully this doesn’t happen to you!)

8 – You’re hungry

Sometimes you’re just hungry and a banana will do the trick!

Not only are they easy to eat on the go, but bananas take about one to ten minutes or so to finish eating.

So if you don’t have time for lunch and your stomach is growling, grab a banana!

Bananas also come in their own biodegradable packaging (the peel) so there’s no clean-up required after you’ve eaten it other than putting the peel in a compost bin. Yay!

Plus they taste good too.

Each medium size banana contains three grams of protein which can help satisfy hunger pangs until your next mealtime.

You might even get an energy boost without all of that sugar crash later on because each banana has 25 grams of carbohydrate.

Potatoes are another great food to help you manage hunger, too!

9 – You’re pregnant

Pregnant women often crave bananas!

Why?

There are a few reasons why pregnant women get food cravings for bananas.

First, bananas are a great source of vitamin B, which is essential for pregnant women.

Second, they’re a good source of potassium which can help prevent leg cramps.

And third, they’re high in fiber which can help with constipation (a common problem during pregnancy).

So if you’re pregnant and craving bananas, go for it! You deserve it! Eat bananas!

10 – You want to have a snack

Bananas are a great snack to have around.

They’re healthy, delicious, and can give you an energy boost!

So why wouldn’t you want some bananas in your life?

Plus, bananas make the perfect snack pairing for so many different foods:

Just try a banana mixed with:

• peanut butter
• almond butter or sunflower seed butter
• yogurt
• a smoothie
• oatmeal
• chocolate spread

If you pair bananas with pretty much anything, you’ll get a healthy protein-filled snack that will keep you full for hours.

Your sugar cravings will decrease (even though you consume barely any sugar in the bananas!)

Try it and let me know which snack is your favorite, in the comments below!

11 – You’re feeling under the weather

Bananas can help you feel better when you’re not feeling well!

Why?

They’re a great source of vitamin C which helps your body to fight off infections and colds.

Plus they have potassium, which can help with muscle cramps during a workout, but also when you’re feeling under the weather.

So why not try having a banana to feel better?

Read here to learn more about how to choose food to boost your mood!

Health Benefits of Bananas

As you can tell from the above reasons, bananas have many health benefits!

Here are some of the main health benefits that bananas can provide:

• High in potassium, which helps with constipation
• It helps prevent leg cramps because it is a good source of potassium, magnesium, and B vitamins
• They are great for pregnant women because they contain vitamin B, folic acid, fiber, and C. They also help with nausea!
• It prevents anemia because it contains vitamin C, iron, and folic acid (just like pregnant women)
• It is high in fiber, which helps keep you satisfied until your next mealtime.
• They are suitable for heart health as they contain soluble fibers that can lower blood pressure and harmful cholesterol levels.
• High antioxidant level that fights free radicals to reduce the risk of cancer!
• It can help with depression by increasing serotonin production in the body. 

This makes us feel happier so why not give yourself some happiness? 🙂

Do bananas make you fat?

No!

Let me repeat … no!

Bananas are a great source of dietary fiber, vitamin C and potassium.

Dietary fiber helps to regulate digestion and prevent constipation. It can also help in weight management as it makes you feel full for longer periods of time.

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that helps the body fight infection and boosts the immune system. 

It is also beneficial for maintaining healthy skin, hair, nails and eyesight. 

Lastly, potassium is an essential mineral that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance. A lack of potassium can lead to muscle cramps, fatigue and hypertension.

So as you can see, bananas are not only a delicious snack but they are packed with nutrients that offer many health benefits!

Yes, if you eat many bananas each day then after many days you may gain weight.

But overall bananas score well on the glycemic index, have fiber and will help you manage your weight properly.

Craving Bananas Conclusion

As you can see, there are many reasons why bananas should be part of your daily diet!

They’re healthy and delicious and can provide a host of health benefits that will make you feel fantastic.

Try incorporating bananas into your diet today and see how they make you feel! 🙂

Read here for more information on what food cravings mean!