Eating A Whole Banana Or Drinking Banana Smoothie – Which Is Healthier? Expert Explains

Name that one fruit always available in your fruit basket. It has to be a banana! Possibly one of the most popular fruits across the globe, it is affordable, easily accessible, and widely available year-round. And what adds to the popularity is the fact that it is fulfilling and makes for a versatile ingredient in the world of gastronomy. You can have it as a fruit, or a vegetable when raw, brew the peels for a healthy banana tea, and use the stem, flower and leaves for various other culinary purposes. Oh wait, the goodness doesn’t end here. Banana has a rich nutrient profile as well. The fruit is enriched with fibre, protein, healthy fats and several essential minerals and vitamins, all of which come together to boost digestion, and metabolism and promote overall nourishment. This is why, you will find people making a banana a part of their regular diet, either in the form of fruit or include it in their shakes, smoothies and more. Now, this brings up the question, what is the best of having the fruit? Fret not, we have found a possible answer for the same.

We recently came across a post on Instagram by nutritionist and macrobiotic coach Dr Shilpa Arora, where she explains if one should have a whole banana or include it in their smoothies for a nutritious meal. Let’s get going.

Whole Banana Vs. Banana Smoothie – Which Is Healthier?

We usually make a banana smoothie simply by blending milk and banana. Let’s start by saying that both the ingredients in the drink are loaded with health-benefiting properties and make a part of our daily diet. But, Dr Shilpa explains that when it comes to bananas, it is always better to have it as is – in the form of whole fruit. Here’s why.

“Fresh banana is a clear winner for me. In fact, I always say, stop throwing your banana in a blender and calling it your weight loss smoothie,” she states, explaining that throwing the fruit in a blender breaks down the fibre and increases its glycemic load. On the other hand, if you have the whole fruit, the fibre slows down the insulin spike, therefore relatively keeping your blood sugar in control.

“So if you are given the option to choose between the whole fruit and its blended version, I hope you choose the fruit,” the expert concludes.

Watch the detailed video post here:

Also Read: Why Banana Should Be A Part Of Your Pregnancy Diet? Expert Explains