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Bananas contain radioactive elements such as potassium-40, the level is extremely small, making it safe as a fruit.
Bananas are full of antioxidants.
Bananas are widely popular because of their rich taste and nutritional value. They are also versatile and easy to consume. But, did you know that bananas are radioactive? According to BBC Science Focus, bananas contain Potassium 40, a radioactive isotope that makes them slightly radioactive. A lorry of bananas can trigger detectors because of their radioactivity. Does this make them unsafe to consume? Let’s find out.
Radioactivity refers to the decay and breakage of atoms over time. This can be a concern if the substances are reactive. As for a banana, it contains about 0.012% radioactive isotope potassium-40, or K-40, a naturally occurring isotope that accounts for a very small portion of banana radioactivity. Moreover, a banana exposes you to about 0.01 mrem due to its K-40 content. The radiation is very low and not life-threatening.
Interestingly, humans are more radioactive than bananas based on their potassium supplies. A normal adult contains about 140 grams of potassium, as per BBC Science Focus. This makes us about 280 times more radioactive than a single banana! When you eat a banana, your body briefly increases its content of potassium-40 by 0.4 percent which is rapidly cleared.
According to these figures, only an amount of as much as 400 bananas per day can bring your potassium levels to a potentially hazardous range. An average adult should consume approximately 3,500 mg per day. Therefore, eating 400 bananas would provide 168,800 mg of potassium, exceeding safe levels. Such consumption is nearly impossible for any healthy individual. Hence, bananas can be considered safe and nutritious.
Apart from this, many other food items contain potassium-40 and other naturally occurring radioactive isotopes. These include potatoes, spinach, and Brazilian nuts. Reportedly, Brazilian nut stands out for holding even higher concentrations of radium in bananas. Yet, this does not make any of them unsafe to eat, as they contribute merely negligible quantities of radiation exposure.
Although bananas contain radioactive elements such as potassium-40, the level is extremely small, making it safe as a fruit. On the other hand, bananas are a superfood packed with antioxidants that can prevent the risk of heart disease and macular degeneration. It also aids in weight management as they’re low in calories and nutrient-dense.
