How Many Bananas Can I Eat Before I Die

Eating a single banana or even a whole bunch won't poison you, simply if you eat too many the excess potassium can harm you. (robin_24)

You probably know too much h2o and too many apple or cherry seeds can kill you, but did you know eating besides many bananas may lead to an early demise? It's not their high radiation signature. Information technology'due south because bananas contain potassium. But wait, you lot may exist saying, isn't potassium good for me? It is, only like everything else, too much potassium is bad for y'all. Likewise much potassium can pb to heart damage and cardiac arrest.

I was reminded of that when reading about an attempt to set a new world tape for eating bananas. Apparently the world tape attempt has been scaled back so that it involves more people eating bananas and not people eating as many bananas as possible. The reason for the change was to prevent health problems or death from over-eating bananas.

I couldn't help merely wonder exactly how many bananas you would have to eat in society to ingest a dangerous corporeality of potassium. I mean… what are we talking about hither? Three bananas? 10? I have a friend who ate vii bananas as part of some weird human being-challenge. He isn't dead and didn't go into cardiac arrest, but he assures me that is nearing the upper limit of banana-eating. How many bananas do you recollect it takes to toxicant you with potassium?

Comments

Meri says:

I, as a banana lover since childhood, often eat equally many every bit I buy, which is ordinarily five or more than during an evening. And I suppose that I Have eaten more, and yet no noticable damage has ever occurred.Judging by the data given at whfoods.org (a site I do trust) an average banana has 13.iv% of the recommended daily amount of potassium, then vii-8 bananas, if you lot don't swallow whatsoever other foods that are ich in potassium, seems to be the daily norm potassium-wise. Maybe all is not that dangerous

John says:

Corking question!

Here's what I institute on the subject: "The normal level of potassium in the bloodstream is in the range of 3.five-5.0 mM, while levels of half dozen.3-8.0 mM (astringent hyperkalemia) result in cardiac arrhythmias or even death due to cardiac arrest. Potassium is potentially quite toxic, however toxicity or death due to potassium poisoning is usually prevented because of the airsickness reflex. The consumption of food results in mild increases in the concentration of potassium in the bloodstream, but levels of potassium do not become toxic considering of the uptake of potassium by various cells of the trunk, besides as by the action of the kidneys transferring the potassium ions from the blood to the urine. The body's regulatory mechanisms tin can easily be overwhelmed, however, when potassium chloride is injected intravenously, equally high doses of injected potassium can easily result in decease." (Source: https://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/mutual/standard/transform.jsp?requestURI=/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/mineral_toxicity.jsp)

Knowing that, it seems like i could calculate how many bananas would demand to be eaten to go that level of potassium in the blood. I'1000 bold this is where calculus (ack!) would come in: Let's say it takes 100 bananas for like shooting fish in a barrel math. By the time you get to the 50th assistant, perchance the potassium from the kickoff five bananas has already finished its "bout" in the bloodstream and you know accept to swallow v more. You may never take hold of upward!

Tomato plant Addict says:

Information technology only takes ONE banana!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?five=5RKTSwAVaoU

Bob S says:

Bananas are rich in vaso active amines – particularly when they are dark-green. Is information technology possible that this is the origin of their reputed toxicity?

Sam says:

Well, I have pseudohypoaldestronism Type 2, and if I have manner too many bananas or anything with besides much potassium I tin can go very ill. The end upshot tin easily be a heart assail because my blood pressure level could easily become out of control.. I am taking hydrochlorothrozide which, well duh, lowers my blood pressure level.

Raj Sharma says:

My blood force per unit area had started going upwards-150/110. I started taking 7 bananas and 3 plums everyday. In three weeks my BP came downwardly to 120/80. Of course I did other things like cutting down drastically on salt, saturated fats etc.

Penny says:

I e'er had a banana for breakfast and I was a heavy smoker and I was in a rush and I found out that way that bananas are not entirely practiced for your heart considering my middle was racing and I but didn't feel very healthy. I stopped eating bananas after my forenoon cigarette soon later on and felt a lot better. I was merely reading bananas are supposed to exist good for your if you desire to quit smoking but I disagree after that. I don't smoke anymore and eat a counterbalanced diet and so problem solved there.

susan says:

I highly uncertainty that bananas are toxic. I am even wondering whether you are talking nearly something different:may be strange species of assistant! You never know, but from the snap am seeing, it is the usual banana i have consumed ever since i was weaned. Bananas are ma staple food. We eat bananas from January to Dec year after twelvemonth; but i accept never even heard of whatever unmarried complaint due to bananas. We take different species: nutrient (meals), snacks, juice or local brew, fruit to mention but a few. I have never heard of anyone in ma home area grumbling, and i do not expect to hear that in the near future!

Heather says:

People practise non realize that the body needs 4,500 of potassium a day which many of us are lucky if we become i,000 a day a lack of potassium can cause so many health issues mostly centre and muscle affliction. Yogurt has potassium in it, likewise as fruits similar bananas strawberries, and tuna fish. I would call up its incommunicable to go too much of this. I would look on the back of labels and see how much information technology has in it. Another important vitamin is magnesium, that besides is difficult to get plenty of in 24 hours.

Rob says:

A person tin can eat up to eight bananas a day and be ok as long as you don't go other potassium foods.

rahul says:

I swallow on average 25-30 bananas a day, with virtually a dozen at a time. I have had no centre problems. There is no such matter every bit "too many bananas".

Karlin says:

A average-size assistant contains 500 mg of potassium; If nosotros demand 5000 mgs per 24-hour interval, and so about 10 would exist platonic if that is our but potassium source. Bananas are wonderful nutrient, one of few that a person can swallow only that and survive.

richard murphy says:

you lot tin can live on bananas. the bbc did an experiment, chlesterol dropped 23%, the volunteers were happier, blood force per unit area dropped massively…
https://news.bbc.co.great britain/1/hi/magazine/6248975.stm

our nearest biological and genetic cousins live on them. my friend ate nil other than bananas for 5 weeks, i've never seen him wait so healthy and radiant.

Bandana says:

I tin't observe any records of anyone always beingness killed by eating a banana except from a heart attack caused past choking on a assistant or by slipping on a banana peel. H2o can rid you of the excess dietary potassium. If y'all take diabetes, however, the high level of blood sugar from to many bananas tin can eventually destroy your capillaries and kill you.

jeremy says:

since i was a child i accept loved bananas, though at present i cant eat them due to my acid reflux. im not sure exactly why they hurt my esophagus, but every time i swallow them, it gets very painful.

before they started bothering me, nevertheless, i would consume at to the lowest degree 4 a day, most of the time more than. i have eaten 15 in 1 day (but that was not in one sitting, it was throughout about 10 hours), and i am by and large fine. i remember as long as you drink a lot of water you would be ok.

nolan says:

It takes 190g of oral potassium to kill a 165lb person. If each banana contains approximately 500mg, that means that person would have to eat 95 bananas to cause cardiac arrest.

bob says:

prissy math, but information technology would actually take 380 according to your findings (500mg = 1/2 gram)

Joyce Due south. says:

Okay, whatever! 1 banana can NOT give you potassium poisoning!

Bananas in full general can't hurt anyone (unless you're allergic to them), but besides much potassium can. Similar Nolan wrote; "It takes 190g of oral potassium to impale a 165lb person. If each banana contains approximately 500mg, that ways that person would take to eat 95 bananas to cause cardiac arrest."

So, swallow your bananas, and stop worrying!

Derek says:

My best friend's ex-girlfriend is a strict vegetarian and used to consume lots of bananas every day, She ended upward with Potassium poisoning, and so yes it does happen. I imagine she had been eating a lot of them for a long time before it got to that dangerous level. The diagnosis was made past a medico who recommended she cut down on the bananas and she'southward been fine e'er since.

Patrick says:

Table 9.2 Safe upper level (or guidance level) and effect of excess for selected metals.
Metal Safe upper level per 24-hour interval/mg (developed) Trouble
potassium * (3700) tum hurting, nausea, diarrhoea
sodium * (2300) increased claret pressure (hypertension) increasing take a chance of eye attack or strokes
calcium * (1500) stomach pain, diarrhoea, kidney stones, milk alkali syndrome
magnesium * (400) diarrhoea
iron * (17) constipation, stomach pain, cirrhosis of liver, impaired eye function and failure
zinc 25 reduces absorption of copper and iron, leading to anaemia and weakening of bones
copper 10 stomach pain, damage to the liver and kidneys.
* Bereft data to institute a safe upper level – value given is a guidance value for supplemental doses producing no adverse reaction.

(38) Everyday Bikeathon says:

I bike to piece of work 26 miles a day. When I get at that place a man selling fruit gives up to a dozen small bananas for a dollar.. Sometimes I eat all of them without sharing throughout the day. They are always ripe and sometimes I through away the funky part. Somebody told me that maybe I should not be eating so many bananas simply it has been a while and I am however doing peachy. I notice that Mc Donalds sells 2 breakfast sandwiches for three dollars and lots of people get into that routine. I think to exist fair 12 bananas a mean solar day for a dollar is much safer and healthier than ten breakfast sandwiches a week and non to mention more filling and 10 dollars cheaper. I don't think I am making any intelligable betoken here put that what I was thinking. Perchance I should starting eating an orangish and 3-4 bananas. I should also avoid donuts and hashbrowns and anything via Mickey D'southward.

Katy says:

You'd have to eat quite a few and not urinate. Your kidneys would get rid of the backlog nutrient.

Alexandra says:

I have loftier potassium and when I eat even one-half of a banana I feel like my heart volition pop out my chest at any given moment.

Robin Nixon says:

Actually you can overdose on bananas and give yourself arrhythmias (irregular centre beat), if you are also on a potassium drug for lowering blood pressure. In which case you can go past the maximum dose level quite easily. And if you lot also use a low salt alternative containing potassium then you are definitely going to feel the effect if you besides have too many bananas. Basically, if yous are on a potassium drug you lot should use very little low common salt and simply i banana a twenty-four hour period to avoid possible side effects.

erlar says:

The toxicity of bananas might not come from potassium but from oxalic acid;
they incorporate a lot of it and it may cause lithiase.

julie says:

I'm known for my strange eating habits just I accept almost 16 apples and about 6 bananas a solar day. If I didn't I would accept bowel problems and therefore be on medication.

Mike says:

I crunched in the numbers and here'due south what I got: for a person weighing 60 kg, y'all will only need 17-18 bananas to induce a cardiac arrest. The actual number might be higher considering the kidneys remove excess potassium from the bloodstream.

Hither are some of the data and assumptions I worked with:

-each assistant contains 450mg of potassium
-the normal blood concentration of potassium is 3.5-5.0mM
-the concentration of potassium needed to induce a cardiac arrest is half dozen.3-eight.0mM
-a human body is sixty% h2o (w/w)
-To go on my calculations uncomplicated, I didn't consider the natural capability of the kidneys to remove backlog electrolytes.
-I didn't involve other xenophobic proteins in the body that might fight confronting potassium poisoning.

References:
https://www.answers.com/topic/mineral-toxicity
https://world wide web.ehow.com/how_4529727_much-potassium-banana_.html

dtrer says:

My girlfriend eats on average 8 bananas a solar day and we have been together for a year. No sign of cardiac arrest!

Monty says:

Why would anyone feel the demand to eat eight bananas a day? Is at that place no other food bachelor?

Lorenzo says:

Thank you all for posting, I came hither concerned, every bit I accept been eating 3 bananas per day. I like to make half of a sandwich using banana with peanut butter (real peanut butter), not brands with corn syrup and such. However, I leave here feeling comfortable that iii of these wonderfully satisfying treats per day will not harm my physical condition.

Abcedere says:

It's gotten worse, in a fashion. Freeze stale bananas! Once you start, you tin can't cease! Well, okay–You can stop, considering they fill you up. I don't know if these are new or non. They are new to me. They're 100% better than fried assistant chips

Potassium per 2.5 oz bag is 930 mg.

wanamakerparme1936.blogspot.com

Source: https://sciencenotes.org/how-many-bananas-does-it-take-to-poison-you/

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