Yelakki Banana: Calories, Nutrition and Health Benefits
One small yelakki (elakki) banana, about 50 g of fruit, has roughly 45 calories, 11 g of carbs, 1.3 g of fiber and 6 g of natural sugar. It is the small, fragrant banana grown mainly in Karnataka's Malnad region, and per 100 g it matches a standard banana at about 89 kcal.
Quick Nutrition Facts
Per 1 small yelakki banana (about 50 g edible)
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 44.5 kcal |
| Protein | 0.55g |
| Carbohydrates | 11.4g |
| Fiber | 1.3g |
| Sugars | 6.1g |
| Fat | 0.17g |
| Sodium | 0.5 mg |
Macronutrient Breakdown

NUTRITIONIST'S INSIGHT
Yelakki is a regular banana in a smaller package, so the useful point is portion: one fruit is about 45 calories and 11 g of carbs, and two or three still land near one Cavendish. It has little protein or fat, so pair it with yogurt, nuts or peanut butter if you want it to hold you over. Per 100 g it carries about 358 mg of potassium, and riper fruit has more sugar and a faster glucose rise.
Myth Busters
MYTH #1: Yelakki bananas are lower in calories per gram than regular bananas.
TRUTH: Per 100 g they are about the same as other bananas, roughly 89 kcal. A yelakki has fewer calories only because the fruit is smaller, about 45 kcal for 50 g of flesh. USDA FoodData Central: Bananas, raw (SR Legacy 09040); Swiggy Instamart: Yelakki Banana (Baalehannu) listing with nutrition per 100 g
MYTH #2: Bananas are too sugary to eat when you are watching your weight.
TRUTH: A small yelakki has about 6 g of sugar and 1.3 g of fiber for roughly 45 kcal. The risk is eating several in a row, not one fruit. USDA FoodData Central: Bananas, raw (SR Legacy 09040)
MYTH #3: Bananas are off limits with diabetes.
TRUTH: Bananas have a medium glycemic index, averaging around 51 in published tables, and unripe fruit sits lower than ripe fruit. A small one counts as about 11 g of carbs in a meal plan, so portion and ripeness matter more than a ban. Atkinson et al. 2021, International Tables of Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load Values, Diabetes Care; USDA FoodData Central: Bananas, raw (SR Legacy 09040)
MYTH #4: A banana alone covers your daily potassium.
TRUTH: At about 358 mg per 100 g, a 50 g yelakki gives roughly 180 mg. The NIH adequate intake for adults is in the thousands of milligrams a day, so bananas are one contributor among many foods. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Potassium fact sheet for health professionals; Organic Mandya: Banana varieties including Elakki (size, region, taste)
NutriScore by Health Goals
| Health Goal | NutriScore | Why This Score? |
|---|---|---|
| Weight Loss | ![]() | About 45 kcal and 1.3 g of fiber per small fruit makes a low-calorie sweet snack when you stop at one or two. USDA FoodData Central: Bananas, raw (SR Legacy 09040) |
| Muscle Gain | ![]() | Quick carbs and potassium help around training, but 0.55 g of protein per fruit means you need to add a protein source. USDA FoodData Central: Bananas, raw (SR Legacy 09040); NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Potassium fact sheet for health professionals |
| Blood Sugar | ![]() | Medium glycemic index that rises with ripeness. A single small fruit with protein or fat is manageable; several ripe ones at once are not. Atkinson et al. 2021, International Tables of Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load Values, Diabetes Care |
| Heart Health | ![]() | Naturally almost sodium-free (about 1 mg per 100 g) and a source of potassium, which the NIH links to blood pressure control. USDA FoodData Central: Bananas, raw (SR Legacy 09040); NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Potassium fact sheet for health professionals |
PERSONALIZED NUTRITION
Track your meals with NutriScan for personalized NutriScores based on your specific health goals!
Blood Sugar Response to Yelakki Banana
One small yelakki has about 11 g of carbs and 1.3 g of fiber, so glucose rises gently, peaking around 45 to 60 minutes and settling by two hours. Riper fruit raises glucose faster than firm, just-yellow fruit, and eating several at once moves the peak up and out. Atkinson et al. 2021, International Tables of Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load Values, Diabetes Care; USDA FoodData Central: Bananas, raw (SR Legacy 09040)
Estimated Blood Sugar Response (1 small yelakki banana)
Modeled estimate for a person without diabetes, not a measured trace. Individual responses vary.
How to flatten the spike
- Choose firm, just-yellow fruit over spotted, very ripe ones.
- Eat it with yogurt, nuts or peanut butter to slow the carb absorption.
- Stick to one or two small bananas per sitting and count them as 11 g of carbs each.
- Have it after a meal or a walk rather than alone on an empty stomach.
Cultural Significance
Yelakki, also spelled elakki and called baalehannu in Kannada, is a small, aromatic banana grown mainly in Karnataka's Malnad region around Shimoga, Chikmagalur and Hassan. Organic Mandya describes it as sweeter and more fragrant than Cavendish. It is eaten fresh, offered in South Indian temple rituals, and used in milkshakes and banana halwa.
Compare & Substitute
Yelakki Banana vs Similar Foods
| Nutrient | Robusta banana (1 medium, 118 g) | Apple (1 small, 149 g) | Papaya (100 g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 105 kcal | 77 kcal | 43 kcal |
| Protein | 1.3g | 0.4g | 0.5g |
| Carbohydrates | 27g | 20.6g | 10.8g |
| Fat | 0.4g | 0.2g | 0.3g |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many calories are in a yelakki banana?
One small yelakki banana, about 50 g of edible fruit, has roughly 45 calories. Per 100 g it is about 89 kcal, the same as a regular banana.
How many carbs are in a yelakki banana?
About 11 g of carbs per small fruit, including 1.3 g of fiber and 6 g of natural sugar.
Is yelakki banana good for weight loss?
Yes in moderation. At about 45 kcal each it is a low-calorie sweet snack, but it has little protein, so pair it with yogurt or nuts to stay full.
Can people with diabetes eat yelakki bananas?
Usually yes in small portions. Bananas have a medium glycemic index, which is lower for firmer fruit. Count one small banana as about 11 g of carbs and check your own glucose response.
How is yelakki different from a regular banana?
It is smaller, about 8 to 10 cm long, and sweeter and more fragrant than Cavendish. Calories per 100 g are about the same.
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