凜 Health Benefits and Risks of Potatoes and Bananas 凜 Fresh, non-sprouted potatoes are beneficial: they support digestion and help eliminate toxins from the body. Green or sprouted potatoes contain toxic compounds that may cause nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Severely damaged or overly sprouted potatoes are harmful: they contain two types of toxins that can be very dangerous to human health. Yellow bananas are great for energy and promote the growth of healthy gut bacteria. Ripe bananas with black spots are rich in antioxidants and may help protect against certain cancers. Very ripe bananas are an excellent energy source for athletes and help strengthen the immune system.