Archive · 12 Nov 2025
AIIMS-Trained Doctor Ranks Banana Ripeness for Gut Health
Imagine bananas are like little energy packages that change as they get older.
Green bananas are like tough cookies full of special food for your tummy's good bugs, with lots of fiber and not much sugar.
As they turn yellow, they get sweeter and easier to eat, with more vitamins.
The really spotted ones are the sweetest but have less of that special tummy food.
A doctor says that if you want the best for your tummy and to keep your sugar stable, the slightly green bananas are the winners!
They're still a great snack that gives you energy and helps your body.
Dr. Saurabh Sethi, an AIIMS-trained gastroenterologist, detailed the nutritional changes in bananas as they ripen.
Green bananas are rich in resistant starch, acting as a prebiotic for gut health, with about 3.5g of fiber per 100g.
Fully yellow bananas are lower in resistant starch but higher in Vitamin C, B5, and antioxidants, making them easily digestible.
Brown spotted bananas are the sweetest, containing peak antioxidants but less fiber.
Slightly green bananas are recommended by Dr. Sethi as the healthiest option for gut and blood sugar management.
- Who
- Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist
- What
- Explained the nutritional differences and health benefits of bananas at various stages of ripeness.
- When
- Recently (as per the article's publication)
- Where
- Via an Instagram video post
- Why
- To inform the public about which stage of banana ripeness is healthiest, particularly for gut and blood sugar health.
- Expert
- Dr. Saurabh Sethi (Gastroenterologist trained at AIIMS, Harvard, Stanford)
- Ripeness Stages Discussed
- Green, Slightly Green, Fully Yellow, Brown Spotted
- Green Bananas
- High in resistant starch (prebiotic), ~3.5g fiber/100g, 10g sugar/100g
- Yellow Bananas
- Lower resistant starch, richer in Vitamin C, B5, antioxidants, easier to digest
- Spotted Bananas
- Sweetest (~17g sugar/100g), slightly less fiber, peak antioxidants
- Healthiest for Gut/Blood Sugar
- Slightly green bananas