What Each Ripeness Level Of Your Banana Actually Means For Your Health

Here’s something you may not have thought about: For some foods (in this case we’re talking about bananas), the nutritional effects on your health can vary depending on the ripeness level when you eat it.

As a banana ripens, its nutritional content — the amount of sugar, starch and vitamins — changes. Meaning, if you need more sugar before a workout , or less sugar because of diabetes, you may want to eat your banana at a certain ripeness level.

Ahead, registered dieticians share the various ripeness levels, what a banana looks like at each stage, and the health conditions or goals that are best addressed at each level of ripeness.

Underripe

Bananas at this stage look green; they’re firm and difficult to peel.

“This stage has the highest resistant starch and low sugar content,”