Bananas are grown in more than 150 countries, and 105 million tons of fruit are produced each year. The banana is actually a herb that can grow up to 30 feet tall in over 1000 different varieties. Bananas are one of the most consumed and cheapest fruits worldwide: they are the most traded fruit and the fifth most traded agricultural product.

From WebMD:

"Powerful potassium:A medium banana gives you 450 milligrams, which is 13% of what you need every day. This mineral is a big player in heart health. Potassium-rich foods help manage your blood pressure because they help you get rid of more sodium when you pee. Potassium also relaxes the walls of your blood vessels, which helps lower your BP.

What’s more, potassium:

• May lower your risk of stroke
• Can help keep your bones healthy as you age
• Helps your muscles work better
• Can help prevent kidney stones

But if you have kidney problems, too much potassium isn’t good for you. Check with your doctor to see how much you should have.

A feast of fiber: It’s no secret that the right amount of fiber in your diet is good for you. An average-size ripe banana gives you 3 grams of it. That’s about 10% of what you need each day. Most of the fiber in bananas is what’s called soluble fiber. It can help keep your cholesterol and blood pressure in check, and help ease inflammation.

Green bananas are full of something called resistant starch. It acts like insoluble fiber, which is the kind that can help keep your bowels working at their best. Resistant starch also helps lower your blood sugar."

In general, foods that are high in fiber make you feel full without extra calories. That also makes them a good choice if you want to shed a few pounds.