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What Are Sugar Bananas ?

Sugar bananas is a common "generic" name which is often used to describe many different varieties of extra sweet bananas, such as, Lady Fingers, Ducasse bananas, Fig bananas, Finger banana, Date bananas or Sucrier bananas.

Sugar (Ducasse) Bananas are often mistaken for Lady Finger Bananas .

However, It is easy to see why there is so much confusion between these Lady Finger and the Sugar Bananas (Ducasse): they are almost the same size.

The biggest difference, before peeling them, is that the Lady Finger Bananas are almost angular whereas Ducasse Bananas are more smoothly rounded in cross-section.

The main reason that "Sugar Bananas" are called "Sugar Bananas" is because when they are ripe (brown spots), they are much sweeter than other banana varieties such as the Cavendish Bananas.

Most of these bananas are small(ish) in size ranging about 2.5 cm in diameter and up to 10 - 12 cm in length (typically these are shorter and fatter than the common "Cavendish bananas" which are usually sold around 20 - 25 cms in length).

Also, the sugar banana's skin is quite thin and these bananas taste sweeter than common bananas.

FODMAP ("fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols" translated, this means short chain carbohydrates are poorly or partially absorbed in the small intestine). What are FODMAP foods you ask?

A typical fully ripe Cavendish banana (yellowish with some brown spots) is (approx) 20% glucose, 14% fructose and 66% sucrose. Research shows that a common ripe banana has glucose and fructose ratio in correct proportions.

For people with diabetes, it is medically recommended to avoid over ripe bananas due to high sugar content - this is because over ripe bananas have a much higher glycemic index. +

However, bananas which still show some green on the skin are safer.

Is the Sugar Banana low FODMAP?

A medium-sized firm (not yellow and still greenish) sugar banana weighs approx 112g and is low FODMAP, according to a research paper published by Monash University (FODMAP).

However as the "sugar bananas" ripen the FODMAP status changes.

From the same report it is seen that ripe sugar banana has excess fructose and is FODMAP-friendly with increased levels of fructans.

It is suggested that you should avoid large servings of ripe sugar bananas as they are exceptionally high FODMAP, especially for hyper kids.

Suggestions

• For kids 1 or 2 sugar bananas per "meal" is more than adequate.
• For adults who have a normal sedentary (inactive) lifestyle, 1 or 2 sugar bananas per "meal" is more than adequate.
• For adults who have a physically strenuous or demanding (highly physically active) lifestyle, several sugar bananas per "meal" may be considered.

Any serving that is 56g or less of sugar bananas is tagged as low FODMAP.

Just remember that unripe (greenish / firm) banana, be it "Sugar banana" or Cavendish banana, is low FODMAP.