Ever wondered how many calories in a banana?

The banana is arguably the most popular fruit on the planet. It is synonymous with it's bright and vibrant yellow color and can be enjoyed with any meal of the the day, or as a healthy snack in between mealtimes that will not spoil your appetite.

Hailing from some of the most exotic locations around the world, the banana is something that is exported to every corner of the globe in the millions of tons each and every year.

But how good are bananas for you, and for all you calorie counting number crunchers out there, how many calories in a banana? Here we are going to discuss not only where bananas come from but also what their nutritional benefits are along with the number of banana calories found inside them.

Whereby there is next to no fat in a banana, there are still calories to be found in them. It is not uncommon for people to want to know how many calories in a banana, considering just how many people are getting all calories conscious these days. The banana is of course a fruit and that means that it is healthy and offers a variety of nutritional benefits, but unfortunately it is not something that is calorie free.

Here we have listed some examples of banana calories for you, remember that bananas do come in different shapes and sizes so therefore some will have more calories than others.

* A small banana that is approximately six and a half inches long will have approximately 90 calories in it.

* A large banana that is approximately eight and a half inches long will have approximately 120 calories in it.

* In 100 g of banana there is approximately 90 calories.

* In 1 oz of banana there is approximately 25 calories.

When you look at the figures above you may think that there are more calories in a banana that you would have expected. Well this may be, but a banana is still a much healthier option as a snack considering a Hershey bar has approximately 300 calories in it and also contains both fat and sugar in larger quantities.

That is not to say that a banana is just something that is just to be had as a snack, it can be eaten as part of a low calorie breakfast that fuels your body for the day ahead, or as part of any main meal.

It is worth noting that there are not all that many more calories in a banana than what you would find in other popular fruits such as apples and oranges. A large apple has approximately 115 calories in it and a large orange will hold around about 90 calories.

Now that the key question 'how many calories in a banana?', has been answered, it is surely appropriate to divulge some further nutritional information on the appetizing yellow fruit.

Besides there being a moderate amount of calories in a banana, as far as fruits go, there are also some vital vitamins and minerals found inside them.

Potassium - There is approximately 350 mg of potassium in 100 g of banana. Potassium is one of the essential minerals that your body requires every single day, it contributes to the production of cells, regulation of bodily fluids and aids heart rate and blood pressure.

Vitamin C -Vitamin C is one of the essential vitamins that your body needs a daily dose of. In 100 g of banana you will find approximately 10 mg of Vitamin C. There are many benefits to be obtained from Vitamin C such as strong teeth, bones, muscles, tendons and veins. It also keeps your immune system running and helps the nervous system. Vitamin C is otherwise known as 'ascorbic acid'.

Vitamin B6 -Another of the essential vitamins that are found in the banana fruit, in 100 g of banana there is approximately 0.35 mg of Vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 helps to keep the immune system healthy and also to manufacturing the chemical serotonin that is needed in our brains.

Sugar - Sugar provides you with much needed energy and you will find approximately 20 g of sugar in 100 g of banana.

Dietary Fiber - Bananas provide a decent amount of dietary fiber which aids regular bowel movement.

As you can see there is much to be said for eating bananas so before you are worried about there being too many calories in a banana it is wise to recognise all of the good that this fruit can do for you if eaten on a regular basis.

When you are looking for the answer to the question 'how many calories in a banana?', it may be of little relevance to you as to how this delectable fruit got it's name. However, as this is a little known fact I am going to take the opportunity to sneak it in here.

The word banana derives from the Arabic word 'banan', which means 'finger'. The obvious connection here is the bananas shape!

No matter where you are in the world you will generally find that bananas are a food that can be found in restaurants, shops and at local markets. They are grown in tropical countries with warm climates and are huge exports for the following places:

* The Philippines

* India

* Guatemala

* Kenya

* China

* Colombia

* Thailand

* Mexico

* Costa Rica

* Honduras

* Vietnam

* Brazil

* Ecuador

There are many more countries that export bananas but these are some examples of the top exporters. The highest is India who actually export just shy of 30 million metric tons each year, now that is a lot of bananas!

When you look at all of the nutritional benefits that can be obtained by eating bananas it seems silly to still be asking yourself how many calories in a banana? If you are worried that 120 calories in a large banana is more than you want to consume from a fruit then go for smaller size bananas. But if you are that concerned about the well being of your body then you will surely be more focused on getting all of the essential vitamins and minerals that you need, and eating a banana or two a day can go a long way to helping you out in that respect.