Benefits of Banana Chips

When bananas reach their perfect ripeness sothat their natural sweetness can be deliciously preserved by drying, they become more convenientthan their fresh counterparts that bruise easily and cannot be stored well.  As far as the flavor – not only arethey yummy, but also many people prefer dried banana chips due totheir crunchy texture!

It has been proven that there are manyessential nutrients in banana chips that nourish our body and benefit ourhealth.  Naturally, like with most treats and snacks, they should beconsumed in moderation.

One half a cup contains 6 to 8 percentof magnesium, 3 percent of phosphorus and 4 to 6 percentof vitamin A.

Also, banana chips are rich in fiber,iron, and potassium.

Their fiber content is one of the majorbenefits of consuming banana chips: a 4-ounce serving contains 8.7 grams ofdietary fiber!  This accounts for about one-third of the daily-recommendedfiber intake for women, and 23 percent of the daily-recommended fiber intakefor men - according to the Linus Pauling Institute, a research institutelocated at Oregon State University with a focus on health maintenance. Fiber prevents constipation, lowers your blood cholesterol, controls yourblood sugar levels, and helps prevent other diseases, including cardiovasculardisease and some types of cancer.

Banana chips also serve as a good source of theessential mineral iron.  A 4-ounce serving contains 1.4 milligrams ofiron.  This represents approximately 8 percent of the daily iron requirementfor women, and about 18 percent for men, according to the Linus PaulingInstitute.  Iron helps form two proteins, hemoglobin, and myoglobin, whichprovide body tissues with a fresh supply of oxygen.  Iron also activatesenzymes necessary to support your metabolism, so that it can produce energy.

Also, banana chips, just like fresh bananas,will boost your intake of potassium.  A 4-ounce serving of bananachips provides 607 milligrams of potassium – that’s 13 percent of thedaily-recommended intake, according to the NYU Langone Medical Center. Potassium, along with other minerals, controls your blood pressurelevels, helps your nerves communicate, aids in muscle contraction and maintainsyour body's fluid balance.  Eating banana chips can also help prevent thenausea, fatigue and constipation developed due to potassium deficiency.

Now that you know the health benefits of bananachips, you can think of more ways to consume them.  Banana chips canbe incorporated to a wide variety of dishes.  Add them to youroatmeal, make snack mixes or use chopped banana chips as sweet salad toppers. Make your own surprisingly enticing trail mix by combining banana chipswith dried fruit and mixed nuts for a snack rich in protein and fiber.