Green, ripe yellow and bananas with brown spots: Which one should you have? Find out here

A banana's colour changes during different stages till it gets ripened (Picture Credit: Pexels)

There are not different types of bananas per se, but a banana goes through many stages during its ripening process. At each stage, the colour and nutritional benefits that a banana has to offer also changes slightly. For instance, an underripe banana has low sugar content, but is considered extremely healthy if you want to boost your immunity or heart health.

Moneycontrol's team reached out to Dt Ginni Kalra, Head Dietician, Aakash Healthcare, to understand the different stages of banana during its ripening process.

Underripe (green) banana and its nutritional content

Dt Kalra shared that underripe (green) banana should be eaten to regulate blood sugar levels, improve digestion, manage weight, boost heart health, immunity and support gut health. It is one of those low-sugar fruit options and is extremely healthy.

It contains high amount of resistant starch and fiber, both of which act as prebiotics that nourish good gut bacteria.

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Barely ripe (slightly green) banana and its nutritional content

A barely ripe banana, which is just turning yellow but is still slightly firm, offers the best balance of fiber and potassium. Neither its sugar content is too high nor is its starch content is too high. People who want to boost their digestion and improve their energy levels must have this kind of banana. The only difference between green banana and this one is that the latter contains some resistant starch while also providing more natural sugar compared to green bananas.

Ripe yellow banana and its nutritional content

The ripe yellow bananas are naturally sweet in taste and are easy to digest as well.
At this stage, much of the resistant starch of banana gets converted into simple sugar and this explains why one by consuming it, one can get an instant boost of energy. Ripe yellow bananas are also rich source of vitamin C, vitamin B5, and antioxidants.

Very ripe bananas
Very ripe bananas have brown spots over it. They should be eaten for they offer maximum sweetness and softness. You can use them to make smoothies or when baking something. The concentration of sugar is really high in these bananas. You can say they offer around 17 gm of sugar per 100 gm. Also, by consuming these bananas which are a rich source of antioxidants, you can expect fast cellular repair.

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Overripe bananas

Overripe bananas, which are mostly brown in colour, are extremely sweet and soft. They offer a quick dose of energy and are a rich source of antioxidants also. However, these bananas have a low fiber content and they can cause spike in blood sugar levels really fast. So, people with diabetes or insulin resistance should consume these bananas sparingly.

FAQs on different stages of banana during its ripening process:

1. How many stages does a banana go through while ripening?

Bananas typically pass through 7 color stages, from green to fully brown-speckled.

2. Are green bananas safe to eat?

Yes. They are firmer, less sweet, and higher in resistant starch.

3. When is a banana at its sweetest?

When it turns bright yellow with brown spots—this is peak sweetness.

4. Are overripe brown bananas still good?

Yes. They’re very soft and sweet, perfect for smoothies or baking.

5. Which stage is best for digestion?

Yellow or lightly speckled bananas are easiest to digest and provide quick energy.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.