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Question:
How do you gauge a serving size of a banana according to the
food guide pyramid? How often should one consider eating bananas?
—
Denise, MD |
Rachel
Johnson
Answer:
A
medium size banana contains 105 calories and is a rich source
of potassium (450 milligrams per banana). Potassium is important
for the regulation of neuromuscular activity. Adequate intakes
of potassium may also protect against hypertension (high blood
pressure). One medium banana counts as a serving of fruit on the
USDA Food Guide Pyramid.
Experts recommend
that you include at least two servings of fruit and three servings
of vegetables in your diet each day. Eating plenty of fruits and
vegetables of different kinds may help protect you against heart
disease, stroke, some types of cancer and they promote healthy
bowel function. Include bananas regularly in your diet as they
are rich a source of nutrients and relatively low in calories.
| About
Rachel Johnson |
|
Rachel Johnson, RD, MPH, PhD is Associate Dean of
Research for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
and Associate Professor in the Department of Nutrition
and Food Sciences at the University of Vermont. Dr.
Johnson earned a Ph.D. in Nutrition from The Pennsylvania
State University, and a Master of Public Health degree
from the University of Hawaii. She's a member of the
USDA/USDHHS Dietary Guidelines Scientific Advisory
Committee, American Dietetic Association (elected
member, Commission on Dietetic Registration), and
the American Dietetic Association Pediatric Nutrition
Practice Group. Dr. Johnson has served as the chair
of the sugars subcommittee of the Dietary Guidelines
Advisory Committee (2000 edition). Her research expertise
is national nutrition policy, nutrition and young
children, dietary intake methodology, and energy metabolism.
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