Why Are People Going Bananas Over Bananas?

Bananas have been a go-to-breakfast food and healthy snack for generations. But why are people going bananas over bananas now? Why is this yellow tropical fruit trending on social media?

There are nearly 17 million posts on Instagram with the hashtag #banana, reported the BBC, and 17 thousand are just about banana lattes. TikTok is also full of people posting their favorite banana recipes. But how did this new trend begin?

You may only have to look as far as K-Pop. Bananas have long been used to flavor snacks and local drinks – like banana coffee – started in South Korea. But that doesn’t explain why the summer of 2006 saw bananas trending all over social media.

Graeme Welter, CEO of a New York marketing company posted on LinkedIn that bananas are a familiar fruit so it makes sense that they would take off. He wrote: “Banana is the most-produced fruit on earth. 139 million metric tons a year. Zero education tax. Familiar enough to grab without thinking, novel enough in a matcha to earn a post.”

Bananas are a Healthy Superfood
The banana trend is actually an extremely healthy one. They are fresh, available world-wide and packed with essential nutrients, antioxidants, and fiber, according to Healthline. Bananas are full of potassium, vitamin B6 and vitamin C.

Since bananas are a rich source of potassium, eating a medium banana a day could help lower your blood pressure and the risk of heart disease. The antioxidants help protect your health at the cellular level and are also good for your heart.

The fiber in bananas could improve your blood sugar levels as well as support your digestive health because they help the good bacteria in your gut as well as prevent constipation. The old saying  about apples should be changed to a banana a day keeps the doctor away.

Cooking With Bananas
Bananas are delicious raw, but you will miss out if you don’t try cooking and baking with them. That’s because bananas are naturally sweet, act as a binding agent and a fat substitute. Here are three banana recipes that will make you go bananas over bananas.

Banana Iced Coffee Recipe: This banana coffee recipe from Hola.com was introduced by actress Eva Longoria on her social media. Her homemade banana recipe uses caramelized bananas, freshly brewed iced coffee without flavored creamers. You will also need butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup to caramelize the bananas. You can add milk or oat milk to your iced coffee if desired. Then just enjoy your creation.

(Rimma Bondarenko / Shutterstock.com)

Easy Banana Bread: Who doesn’t love banana bread? From breakfast to dessert, homemade banana bread is always a hit. Bring a loaf to work or to a potluck dinner and wow your family, friends and colleagues with this super moist recipe from Southern Living.

It’s easy to make and only calls for seven ingredients and you may already have most of them at home. All you need is overripe bananas, butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking soda, salt, and pepper. All the prep only takes 15 minutes.

(wallace m chrouch / Shutterstock.com)

Banana Smoothie: If you are into smoothies, here is a five-minute banana smoothie recipe from Inspired Taste. It is incredibly easy to make. All you need is a ripe banana, an orange, plain Greek yogurt, water, or milk. It is best to use a frozen banana. You can add some of your favorite ingredients, fruit like berries, nut butter, chocolate, or avocado. Whip it up in a blender, pour and enjoy. You can even freeze leftover smoothies.

Quick Banana Blender Pancakes: Looking for a healthy banana pancake recipe for busy mornings? Here’s one from the blog Del’s Cooking Twist, which is gluten free and dairy free. The best part is that you can make it in a blender. All you need is gluten-free rolled oats, ripe bananas, an egg, cinnamon, and honey. Fry the pancakes using a neutral tasting vegetable oil and enjoy a delicious breakfast.

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