Bananas are radioactive, but Science explains why it is safe to eat the fruit

Believe it or not, every time you eat a banana, you are ingesting radioactivity. This, in fact, is not something exclusive to this fruit. Several foods, such as Brazil nuts, beer and, amazingly, water, have this component in their structure. But is that harmful?

Calm down, let’s get this straight: no, bananas are not harmful to your health due to their radioactivity. This is because the amount of the component present in the fruit is not enough to be harmful. The presence is so minimal that, for a person to develop cancer by eating bananas, they would need to eat a million at once.

Radioactivity is present in various foods

We don’t realize it, but almost all the food we eat contains some degree of radioactivity. This is the explanation given by researchers at the Center for Nuclear Technology (CDTN). According to the experts, radioactive materials have always been present on Earth.

This presence causes them to be transmitted to the food we grow and even to the water we drink. There is also a certain impact of radiation in the atmosphere. It enters our bodies every time we breathe, meaning we also have radiation inside us.

Understand banana radiation

Generally speaking, the radiation present in food is derived from potassium. The banana, rich in this element, is therefore a radioactive fruit. However, the measurement is very small. The banana has 0.1 microsievert (μSv), which is the unit used to indicate the impact of radiation on humans.

An interesting fact is that the banana is considered a unit of measurement for radiation. To calculate this, simply understand that the equivalent dose of a banana corresponds to 0.1 μSv. This means that if we sleep next to a person, we are exposed to 0.05 μSv, which is equivalent to half a banana.

The amount of radiation that could lead to immediate death in a person is 5 million μSV. However, researchers point out that a truck full of fruit could trigger a radioactivity detector if it were more sensitive.

Furthermore, to conclude, they explain: our body is used to receiving small doses of radioactivity. This is even important for us, as it keeps living beings in constant evolution. In other words, it is essential for the diversity of the planet. Curious, isn’t it?

Therefore, there is no need to fear. Despite the radioactivity, bananas are not harmful to our health, quite the opposite. This fruit is extremely beneficial, being an excellent source of vitamin C and B6. In addition, it is an important antioxidant for our body, contributing to the balance of the immune system.