Apples and bananas have similar nutrition profiles and contain a mix of soluble and insoluble fiber, which means they are gut-friendly and will help you go to the bathroom. While apples have slightly more fiber, which is “healthier” depends on your needs and preferences.
Bananas vs. Apples: Nutrition Stats
Nutritionally, apples and bananas are similar, but apples have slightly more fiber than bananas:
Apple: 4 g of fiberBanana: 3 g of fiber
“Apples contain pectin, a prebiotic compound that can promote beneficial bacterial growth in the gut,” Samantha Dieras, DCN, RD, CDN, director of ambulatory nutrition services at Mount Sinai Health System, told Verywell.
“Bananas are high in inulin and resistant starch, which promote beneficial bacteria. Bananas that are less ripe, more green, are higher in inulin,” she added.
Apples Vs. Bananas
Apples
Bananas
Calories
95
105
Carbs
25 g
27 g
Fiber
4 g
3 g
Sugar
19 g
14 g
Calcium
2 mg
6 mg
Iron
1 mg
1 mg
Protein
0 g
1 g
Which Is Healthier Depends on Your Needs
Which one you should eat to strengthen your gut health may be a personal preference.
“What may be better for each person depends on their personal preference, health needs, and what is accessible to them,” Yasi Ansari, MS, RDN, CSSD, senior dietitian at UCLA Health in Santa Monica, told Verywell.
1. If You Need More Potassium
“If someone is on a higher potassium diet and needs more sources of potassium, bananas may be a better fit than the apple,” Ansari added.
2. If You Have Gastrointestinal Issues
Apples are a higher fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAP) food source, which could mean bananas are a better option.
“For those with irritable bowel syndrome or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, it can be helpful to limit foods higher in FODMAPs, which are fermentable short-chain carbohydrates and can make digestion of certain fruits and other foods more difficult, leading to excess gas and, in certain cases, abdominal pain,” Ansari said.
Alexandra Rosenstock, RD, CDN, registered dietitian at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian, added that people who avoid foods high in FODMAPs may need to pay attention to the bananas they pick up at the grocery store. “Very ripe bananas can be high in another high FODMAP sugar called fructan,” she explained.
3. If You’re Planning to Exercise
It’s also worth noting that bananas contain slightly more energy than apples, Ansari said. Because of this, they’re often a popular choice to grab before hitting the gym.
Adding a daily serving of each to your diet could do wonders for your gut health, especially if you aren’t currently eating many fruits or vegetables.
“I would not categorize one fruit as better than the other,” Dieras said. “Both provide valuable nutrients and can be included in a well-balanced, well-rounded diet.”
What This Means For You
Both apples and bananas are great for your gut health. If you’re looking to choose between one or the other, apples contain slightly more fiber. For people with gastrointestinal issues, bananas may be easier to tolerate.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Apples.
US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Bananas.
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