Foods are either alkaline-forming or acid-forming in the body, depending on the compounds they produce when metabolized. Most fruits and vegetables, for example, are moderately to highly alkalizing, while most processed foods and animal products are slightly to highly acidifying. An alkaline diet consists of 70 to 80 percent alkaline-forming foods and limits the total intake of acid-forming foods to no more than 30 percent. Emphasizing alkalizing foods supports a balanced body pH to keep cells, tissues and vital organs functioning properly. Like many fruits, bananas are moderately alkalizing.
pH Nature
A food’s acid content isn’t an indication of its pH nature in the body. Nearly all fruits and vegetables have a high enough organic acid content to give them acidic pH values — but most fruits and vegetables are alkaline-forming in the body. Depending on its state of ripeness, the pH value of a banana can range from 4.5 to 5.2, categorizing it as a low-acid food. However, bananas are also rich in potassium citrate. When metabolized, potassium citrate becomes potassium bicarbonate, a highly alkalizing mineral compound.
Nutritional Profile
Bananas are the world’s second most important fruit crop, according to “The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods.” They’re excellent sources of potassium — the average banana contains 440 mg — and good sources of dietary fiber, vitamins C and B-6, magnesium, riboflavin and biotin. Bananas have a low water content, which gives them a higher calorie and sugar content than most other fruit. One 6.5-inch banana provides 89 calories, 1.1 g of protein, 0.3 g of fat and 22.8 g of carbohydrate, of which 2.6 g are dietary fiber and 12.2 g are the natural sugars sucrose, glucose and fructose.
Alkaline Diet
Coffee, soft drinks, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products and many legumes and nuts are acid-forming, as are all processed foods and sugary desserts. While it’s possible to eat small amounts of sugary foods and still maintain proper pH levels in the body, a balanced alkaline diet limits acid-forming foods to those that provide the most nutrition. According to “The pH Balance Diet,” nutritious acid-forming foods include cottage cheese, eggs, brown rice, yogurt, chicken and seeds and nuts. Because bananas are sweeter than most fruits, they provide a healthy, alkalizing alternative to cookies, cakes and other acidifying desserts.
Considerations
All alkaline-forming fruits are most alkalizing when fully ripe, but not yet overripe. This is especially true for bananas. According to “The pH Balance Diet,” allow green bananas to ripen until they become speckled before consuming them. Likewise, organically grown bananas are more alkaline-forming in the body than their conventionally grown counterparts, because pesticides reduce the alkalizing potential of food. Cooking bananas also diminishes their alkalizing capacity, and combining them with refined sugar destroys it, because sugar is very acidifying. Consequently, food products such as banana pudding or banana bread are highly acid-forming in the body.
References
- “The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods”; Michael Murray, N.D., et al.; 2005
- “The Acid Alkaline Food Guide”; Dr. Susan E. Brown, et al.; 2006
- “The pH Balance Diet”; Bharti Vyas, et al.; 2007
- “Alkalize or Die”; Dr. Theodore A. Baroody; 1991
- Oklahoma State University; The Importance of Food pH in Commercial Canning Operations; William McGlynn
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