Plantains are a type of fruit related to the banana. They look similar to bananas, with a thick green skin covering a pale, firm interior. Caribbean and African cuisines use plantains, often in a cooked or fried form. Plantains contain several vitamins and minerals that your body needs.
Vitamin A
Plantains are a good source of vitamin A, which your body uses for skin and bone development. Adult men need 900 micrograms of vitamin A per day, while adult women need 700 micrograms. A medium plantain contains 100 micrograms of vitamin A, as measured by retinol activity equivalents. Plantains contain the vitamin in the form of alpha-carotene and beta-carotene, molecules your body converts to the usable form of vitamin A.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps your body maintain connective tissue and promotes cell membrane integrity. Adult men need 90 mg of vitamin C per day to stay healthy. Adult women need 75 mg per day, although they need more when pregnant or breastfeeding. A medium plantain has approximately 33 mg of vitamin C.
Vitamin B-6
Plantains also contain vitamin B-6, one of eight B vitamins your body needs for good health. A variety of metabolic functions depend on the presence of vitamin B-6, including the creation of new red blood cells and proper nervous system functioning. A medium plantain contains about 0.5 mg of vitamin B-6. Adult men and women need 1.3 mg of the vitamin per day, while older adults need slightly more.
Folate
Folate is the naturally-occurring form of folic acid, a vitamin needed during pregnancy to ensure proper fetal development. Your body also needs folate to build DNA molecules, create red blood cells and perform other important metabolic functions. A medium plantain contains 39 micrograms of folate, about 10 percent of an adult's daily needs. Adult men and women should get 400 micrograms of folate per day, although pregnant women need more.
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