When Is the Best Time to Eat a Banana? Experts Reveal the Healthiest Stage

One of the most common questions about eating bananas is whether it’s better to eat them just before they ripen or right before they start to rot. According to a medical expert, it’s possible we’ve been eating our favorite fruit at the wrong stage all along.

Some say that bananas are best eaten when they start releasing their “honey” – the sweet part that appears along with brown spots. However, Dr. Amir Khan, a well-known British family physician, claims this is not the best approach.

In a post he shared, Dr. Khan wrote that green bananas are actually the best choice. “They contain more soluble fiber, but also resistant starch – and both of these together slow digestion and keeps you feeling full for longer. Eating green bananas also helps feed the good bacteria in your gut, which keeps you healthier overall.”

He added that yellow bananas are better for baking because they contain more sugar, but everyone can have their personal preference. Resistant starch has many health benefits.

Interestingly, Australian dietitian Ryan Pinto also states that overripe bananas should be avoided. “The best way to understand how the nutritional value of a banana changes is to look at what actually happens inside during the ripening process,” he writes. “Young, green bananas are full of starch, which makes our digestive system work harder. That’s also why green bananas, although less tasty, make us feel full quickly. The starch can also cause bloating and gas. Eventually, the body converts this starch into glucose. Green bananas raise blood sugar more slowly – the only downside is they don’t taste as good.”