Musa acuminata · Banana family (Musaceae)
Hi, I'm Banana! I come in my own yellow wrapper, ready to go!
Bananas give you quick energy to run and play.
🟢 Scientists are sure
Bananas give you potassium. It helps your muscles and heart work.
🟢 Scientists are sure
In tests, little kids with runny poo got well faster with green banana food.
🟡 Scientists think so
For kids OK in normal food Pills, powders & oils: ask a grown-up first
Bananas are a perfect first food for babies — just mash them. Older kids can pack one in their school bag.
⚠️ Ask a doctor first
People with weak kidneys may need to eat fewer bananas. Their doctor will tell them.
👀 Be careful
Some people who are allergic to latex, like in balloons, are also allergic to bananas.
Natural does not always mean safe. Always ask a grown-up before trying something new, and a doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplement. Try the safety check →
A banana is a long, soft fruit with a peel that is easy to open. Bananas grow in big bunches on a giant plant.
The banana plant looks like a tree, but it has no wood. It is really a giant herb! In Morocco, bananas grow in greenhouses near Agadir.
🔵 Grandma's wisdom — not proven by science
The banana plant is one of the biggest plants with no wood — a giant herb!
Bananas grow pointing up toward the sun, not hanging down.
A cluster of bananas is called a “hand”, and each banana is a “finger”.
💡 Each banana stem gives fruit only once. Then new baby plants grow from the bottom.
Answer 3 questions. Get 2 right to win this plant’s badge for your garden!
What is a banana plant, really?
The banana plant has no wood, so it is a giant herb, not a tree.
Which way do bananas grow on the plant?
Bananas curve up toward the sun as they grow.
Which mineral are bananas famous for?
Bananas are a good source of potassium for muscles and the heart.
🏅 You earned the Banana badge!
Almost! Read the page again and retry — you can do it! 💪
Print it, cut it out and collect them all!
Musa acuminata
Energy
Vitamins & good food
Tummy & digestion
🤩 The banana plant is one of the biggest plants with no wood — a giant herb!
General information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before using any herbal supplement — especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding, for children, before surgery, or if you take medicines. Medical disclaimer
| Use | Evidence | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 🟢 Strong evidence (several good human trials) | Per 100 g, raw banana provides 89 kcal and about 23 g of carbohydrate, including 12 g of sugars[1]. |
| Vitamins & good food | 🟢 Strong evidence (several good human trials) | Per 100 g, raw banana provides 358 mg potassium, 0.37 mg vitamin B6 and 2.6 g fibre[1]; bananas are among the fruits listed as good potassium sources[2]. |
| Tummy & digestion | 🟡 Some evidence (small human studies) | A 2024 meta-analysis of 9 randomised trials in 3,996 children aged 8 to 34 months found green banana foods, added to standard treatment, sped recovery from acute and persistent diarrhoea[3]. |
| Energy | 89 kcal |
|---|---|
| Carbohydrates | 22.8 g |
| Sugars | 12.2 g |
| Fiber | 2.6 g |
| Protein | 1.1 g |
| Potassium | 358 mg |
| Magnesium | 27 mg |
| Vitamin C | 8.7 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.4 mg |
✅ Reviewed by sm_owner on September 26, 2026.
Last updated September 26, 2026. How we write and check our pages
Natural does not always mean safe. Always ask a grown-up before trying something new, and a doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplement. 
How people use it
In the kitchen
Traditional uses
Home & garden
Fun facts
