Are plantains healthier than bananas?

Bananas and plantains have very similar nutrition profiles. Both are good sources of several vitamins, including potassium, magnesium and vitamin C. They’re also good sources of fiber. Bananas do have more sugar, though, and plantains have more starch. The relative nutrition of bananas vs. plantains might depend on how you eat them. Fried, sugar-dusted plantains will obviously be less healthy than a ripe banana eaten raw from the peel.

The nutritional profile of plantains and bananas are very similar. Plantains offer similar nutritional properties to their banana cousins, including potassium, magnesium, folate, and vitamin C, but there are some differences, too. Plantains are slightly higher in calories and have more carbohydrates than bananas. That said, don’t worry: The carbs in plantains (and bananas) are “good” complex carbohydrates, which means they’re nutrient dense and aid digestive health, Anderson says. Bananas boast a lengthy list of health benefits, and are known for being good sources of potassium, which aids in muscle function, nerve transmission, and kidney and heart function. But the nutritional benefits don’t stop there. Anderson says bananas also contain magnesium (which supports muscle and nerve function; blood sugar levels; healthy blood pressure levels; and protein, bone, and DNA production). Plantains become less healthy when they’re fried or sweetened. Deep frying and pan-frying plantains changes their molecular structure and degrades their nutritional value, Anderson says.