Everyone loves a good banana whether it’s in a cereal bowl or dipped in peanut butter. They certainly have a reputation of being high in potassium and fiber–but do they have any other hidden talents? Here are 3 benefits of bananas you may want to think about…

1. Bananas will improve your mood–well, sort of. Bananas do have tryptophan, an essential amino acid needed to make serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in mood and sleep patterns–however, some might argue its a bit of a stretch

2. Bananas are high in Vitamin B6. B6 is needed to make red blood cells; it also helps the nervous and immune systems function efficiently; interestingly, it is also needed to convert tryptophan to niacin. A medium banana has .68 mg of Vitamin B6 or 34% of its Daily Value

3. Bananas protect against ulcers-they can have an antacid effect so anyone who suffers from gastrointestinal distress may want to try to sooth himself with a banana…I offer no guarantees it will work but it is certainly worth a try!