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    Home » Keto Diet Information » Carbs in Banana - Can you eat banana on a low carb diet?

    October 28, 2018

    Carbs in Banana - Can you eat banana on a low carb diet?

    If you are cutting carbs from your diet, then you’ve probably wondered about the world’s favorite yellow portable snack and makeshift meal. Bananas: what’s the deal? Can you eat a banana on a low carb diet? How many carbs in banana?

     

    Carbs in Banana

    If you’re thinking about trying keto or lowering your carb intake, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the carb counts in different ingredients. You might be surprised to learn that the energy in bananas comes primarily from carbohydrates, most of which is sugar.

    If that doesn’t surprise you, then surely you may have just come for the brass tacks nutrition facts. So here you go, my friend.

    In 100 grams of raw banana, there are 22.84 grams of total carbohydrate (per USDA). Of that total, 2.6 grams of that are fiber, and 12.23 grams is sugar.

    No kitchen scale? No problem.

    The actual carb count and nutrient composition of a banana depend on its size and preparation. According to the USDA:

    • An extra small banana (less than 6” long) has 18.5 grams of total carbohydrates with 2.1g fiber and 9.91g sugar.
    • A small banana (6”-6-⅞” long) has 23.07g total carbs, 2.6g fiber, and 12.35g sugar.
    • A medium sized banana (7" to 7-⅞" long) has 26.95g total carbs, 3.1g fiber, and 14.43g sugar.
    • A large banana (8" to 8-⅞" long) has 31.06g total carbs, 3.5g fiber, and 16.63g sugar.
    • An extra large banana (9" or longer) has 34.72g total carbs, 4.0g fiber, and 18.59g sugar.
    • One cup of sliced bananas has 34.26g total carbs, 3.9g fiber, and 18.34g sugar.
    • One cup of mashed bananas has 51.39g total carbs, 5.8g fiber, and 27.52g sugar.

    I’ve included a nutritional chart below for reference.

    Banana net carbs

    Using the information provided, we can calculate the net carbs in banana. Remember, net carbs are simply total carbs minus the fiber.

    Banana net carbs range from 16.4 grams for the small fruit to 30.72 for the larger varieties. When it comes to carbs in banana, size definitely does matter.

    Can you eat banana on a low carb diet?

    Are bananas keto friendly?

    As you can see above, bananas are not very low carb. No matter how thin you slice them, it would be pretty hard to deem bananas keto friendly.

    Nutritional ketosis is simply a shift in the metabolism from burning primarily sugars as fuel to burning fat; if you are fueling your body with foods high in carbohydrates, it prevents this metabolic state.

    Bananas are a relatively high carb food and would provide a source of sugar to fuel your body upon digestion. That’s why they aren’t a good choice for the keto diet, not because there are special diet rules that deem specific ingredients keto or not.

    To see where other fruit stacks up on the keto diet, visit the low carb fruit list.

     

    Does this mean bananas are unhealthy?

    No. That’s not what this means. Carbs aren’t “unhealthy,” fruits aren’t bad for you, and carbs aren’t evil incarnate. In the world of low carb and keto diets, many of us like to demonize all carbohydrates and label things as “bad” or “good.” It’s not that carbs are “bad,” per se, it’s excess carbohydrates that can be detrimental.

    The thing is that many of us eat to excess, whether it be carbs, calories, or both. That’s when the problems start. Insulin resistance, PCOS, diabetes, expanding waistline, etc. Let’s be real here for a second: it’s not bananas fault we’re fat, guys. It’s that we are eating too much.

     

    Are bananas fattening?

    As mentioned, one single food in and of itself is not “fattening.” It’s eating to excess that is fattening. Even with a higher number of carbs in banana than preferred, eating one will not make you fat. Taking in more energy than your body needs is the primary driver of weight gain.

    So if you’re asking questions like “Can bananas make you gain weight?” or

    “Can I eat banana if I want to lose weight?”, what you should really be wanting to know is how many calories are in a banana.

    Net carbs in banana

    Banana Calories

    That’s right, ladies and gents. Calories do indeed matter when it comes to losing and gaining weight. We've already checked out the carbs in banana; now, let’s take a look at banana calories.

    There are 89 calories in 100 grams of banana. That means banana calories range from a mere 72 calories for the extra small sizes to 135 calories for extra-long pieces of fruit.

    Not too shabby! If you were simply watching your calories in an effort to manage your weight and not restricting carbs, bananas could certainly fit the bill as a dietary choice.

     

    Low carb keto diets can help manage insulin

    Low carb keto diets can help with adherence. The diet that works is the one you can stick to. If you enjoy the kind of foods that are suitable for a low carb diet, then you are more likely to stay with the program. If the idea of not eating a banana sounds downright impossible, keto may not be the most sustainable way of eating for you.

    It helps you avoid EXCESS carbohydrates, which can be stored as fat and be extremely detrimental to your health. Even if you are cutting calories, if the calories you do eat are coming from excessive sugar and starch intake then you could be taxing your system. Not everyone requires a low carb diet, but for the people who have gained weight and taxed their system to the point of insulin resistance and beyond, then limiting carbohydrates becomes about managing health issues in addition to any weight loss concerns.

     

    Keto banana substitute

    So you decide to go low carb, what can you eat instead of bananas? That will depend on what you are trying to substitute.

    Flavor:

    If you simply like the taste of bananas and want to recreate the banana flavor in a low carb dish, your best bet will be pure banana extract. It’s low in carbs, and a little bit goes a long way. You can use it for baking, smoothies, or whenever you get the hankering for banana-esque flavors. Another option is to use a low carb protein powder that is banana flavored. Again, baking, smoothies, and shakes are great for this.

    Texture:

    If you are trying to replace the banana texture but need a low carb alternative, try avocado. The flesh of a ripe avocado has a texture pretty similar to a ripe banana, but the carbs in avocado are much lower and mostly fibrous.

    Banana Nutrition:

    If you hate the carbs in banana but love the micronutrients provided, there are several low carb options that you can reach for instead! Bananas are known for their high potassium content, but they are also a good source of vitamin B6, vitamin C, and manganese.

    Potassium intake is crucial on a low carb diet to prevent keto flu and balance electrolytes. Potassium also helps the body to maintain normal blood pressure.

    Keto friendly sources of potassium include: meat, spinach, avocados, beet greens, swiss chard, bok choy, brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus, cabbage, summer squash, mushrooms, celery, and bell peppers, just to name a few.

    Chances are if it’s green and leafy or ever had a face, it’s loaded with potassium.

    Vitamin B6 is important for carbohydrate metabolism, brain and nervous system health, red blood cell production, and liver detoxification.

    Low carb sources of Vitamin B6 include: tuna, spinach, cabbage, bok choy, garlic, cauliflower, turkey, beef, chicken, salmon, broccoli, brussels sprouts, greens (such as turnip, beet, mustard), and asparagus.

    Vitamin C is an antioxidant, offering protection against excess free radicals. It is also critical in collagen production, serotonin production, and supports overall brain health.

    Low carbohydrate sources of Vitamin C suitable for a ketogenic diet include: bell peppers, broccoli, brussels sprouts, berries (such as strawberries and raspberries consumed in moderation), cauliflower, cabbage, bok choy, parsley, greens (collard, turnip, beet, mustard), tomatoes, spinach, asparagus, lemons, and limes.

    The full banana nutrition info can be found in the table below.

    NutrientUnitper 100 g1 cup, mashed = 225.0g1 cup, sliced = 150.0g1 extra small (less than 6" long) = 81.0g1 small (6" to 6-⅞" long) = 101.0g1 medium (7" to 7-⅞" long) = 118.0g1 large (8" to 8-⅞" long) = 136.0g1 extra large (9" or longer) = 152.0g1 NLEA serving = 126.0g
    Waterg74.91168.55112.3660.6875.6688.39101.88113.8694.39
    Energykcal892001347290105121135112
    Proteing1.092.451.640.881.11.291.481.661.37
    Total lipid (fat)g0.330.740.490.270.330.390.450.50.42
    Carbohydrate, by differenceg22.8451.3934.2618.523.0726.9531.0634.7228.78
    Fiber, total dietaryg2.65.83.92.12.63.13.543.3
    Sugars, totalg12.2327.5218.349.9112.3514.4316.6318.5915.41
    Calcium, Camg5118456786
    Iron, Femg0.260.580.390.210.260.310.350.40.33
    Magnesium, Mgmg276140222732374134
    Phosphorus, Pmg225033182226303328
    Potassium, Kmg358806537290362422487544451
    Sodium, Namg122111121
    Zinc, Znmg0.150.340.230.120.150.180.20.230.19
    Vitamin C, total ascorbic acidmg8.719.613.178.810.311.813.211
    Thiaminmg0.0310.070.0470.0250.0310.0370.0420.0470.039
    Riboflavinmg0.0730.1640.1090.0590.0740.0860.0990.1110.092
    Niacinmg0.6651.4960.9980.5390.6720.7850.9041.0110.838
    Vitamin B-6mg0.3670.8260.550.2970.3710.4330.4990.5580.462
    Folate, DFE痢204530162024273025
    Vitamin B-12痢000000000
    Vitamin A, RAE痢374234454
    Vitamin A, IUIU6414496526576879781
    Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)mg0.10.230.150.080.10.120.140.150.13
    Vitamin D (D2 + D3)痢000000000
    Vitamin DIU000000000
    Vitamin K (phylloquinone)痢0.51.10.80.40.50.60.70.80.6
    Fatty acids, total saturatedg0.1120.2520.1680.0910.1130.1320.1520.170.141
    Fatty acids, total monounsaturatedg0.0320.0720.0480.0260.0320.0380.0440.0490.04
    Fatty acids, total polyunsaturatedg0.0730.1640.1090.0590.0740.0860.0990.1110.092
    Fatty acids, total transg000000000
    Cholesterolmg000000000
    Caffeinemg000000000
    Tasha
    Tasha

    Hi, I'm Tasha–nutritionist, recipe developer, and multi-published cookbook author.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sue says

      July 31, 2019 at 12:43 pm

      What about the pre biotics in bananas? What is a low carb substitute for that?

      Reply
      • Tasha Metcalf says

        July 31, 2019 at 2:57 pm

        Great question! Love your thought process! Bananas offer prebiotic benefit from the non-digestible carbs--namely the type II resistant starch and fructooligosaccharides (aka FOS)*. As these are non-digestible, they would act similarly to fiber and not directly impact ketosis. BUT, the natural sugars in even a modest serving of banana likely would.

        As for low carb substitute, you may want to look into prebiotic supplements (GOS, FOS, lactulose, inulin) to take with your foods. There are variety of low carb foods high in fiber that support gut health, but a 1 for 1 keto swap for banana with it's resistant starch and FOS profile escapes me. Hope that helps more than confuses! 😊

        I should update the post with the additional info when I get an opportunity and have more time to hunt for further resources!

        * Mitsou, E. K., Kougia, E., Nomikos, T., Yannakoulia, M., Mountzouris, K. C., & Kyriacou, A. (2011). Effect of banana consumption on faecal microbiota: A randomised, controlled trial. Anaerobe, 17(6), 384–387.

        Reply
    2. Laura Murphy says

      January 26, 2020 at 8:53 am

      I think a more sensible approach to banana lovers would be to eat a 1/4 cup of banana occasionally with full fat yogurt, nuts or flaxseeds.
      A wee bit of banana goes a long way, and a world without banana seems like an rather empty existence.

      Reply
      • Tasha Metcalf says

        January 27, 2020 at 7:52 am

        I like the way you think! 🙂

        Reply

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