Bananas are bad for breakfast!?

FS717

Hope everyone is doing fine!

I'm currently on my 3rd week of dieting and I'm trying my best to get used to the new lifestyle. I'm not following a strict diet. I'm just trying to form a habit of watching what I eat and try my best to control and choose healthy choices.

For the past 2 weeks, I've been having a banana for breakfast on my way to work. Minutes ago, as I was reading about bananas, I found many articles saying that since they contain 25% sugar and moderately acidic, it is unhealthy to start the morning having them. Some even say that they lower testosterone.

Would appreciate everyone's opinion on this & whether or not you know something different.

It would also be great to leave a recommendation on what type of fruit would be best for a quick breakfast.

By the way, this is my first time posting something here on MFP

earthnut

BS. Bananas are totally healthy. The only reason i don't eat more of them is because they're calorie dense compared to other fruit, so I'm not as satiated.

There is no science behind balancing the "acidity" of food.

Strawblackcat

They're fine to eat for breakfast, provided that they fit your macros and you like them. I just don't usually eat them often because they don't keep me full as long as apples or oranges do.

ashesnposies333

Actually the science of balancing acidity is chemistry. Acidic foods you intake effect your natural ph levels, and too much acid can cause heart burn as well as the obvious acid reflux. Alkaline foods will balance that. The natural ph of your skin and hair is 4.5-5.5, acid.
It is an actual science so it gets pretty complicated, but you can google alkaline foods to help balance out the banana, or just have it with a glass of water. Water is neutral on the ph scale with a rating of 7.

ashesnposies333

I like to eat a banana as an after workout snack.

earthnut

ashesnposies333 wrote: »

Actually the science of balancing acidity is chemistry. Acidic foods you intake effect your natural ph levels, and too much acid can cause heart burn as well as the obvious acid reflux. Alkaline foods will balance that. The natural ph of your skin and hair is 4.5-5.5, acid.
It is an actual science so it gets pretty complicated, but you can google alkaline foods to help balance out the banana, or just have it with a glass of water. Water is neutral on the ph scale with a rating of 7.

You haven't read the internet BS about the "acidity" of foods. Like how vinegar is alkaline inside the body. Sure everything has a pH, but you don't need to eat or avoid special foods or combinations of foods to be healthy, like the internet diets claim.

nutmegoreo

ashesnposies333 wrote: »

Actually the science of balancing acidity is chemistry. Acidic foods you intake effect your natural ph levels, and too much acid can cause heart burn as well as the obvious acid reflux. Alkaline foods will balance that. The natural ph of your skin and hair is 4.5-5.5, acid.
It is an actual science so it gets pretty complicated, but you can google alkaline foods to help balance out the banana, or just have it with a glass of water. Water is neutral on the ph scale with a rating of 7.

Your body works very hard to keep itself within a very small window pH for optimal functioning. The further away from that you move, the more poorly your body functions, all the way to death. Intentionally altering your pH is a bad idea. Can you explain some of this complicated science? I'm not sure I see what you are trying to say, and I think I might be bright enough to keep up. Although, I know there are people here who could run science circles around me.

OP, if you like bananas for breakfast, have a banana for breakfast. The important thing to consider is what works for you and what can you stick with. I love a banana with some peanut butter for breakfast on days when I just don't have time, or have plans with require a reduced calorie/volume breakfast (such as a lunch out, or vigorous activity such as intense cardio).

lilmiss_sunshine29

Love bananas however they're high in carbs and sugar but the way I see it, it's gotta be better than some high sugar cereal or even chocolate biscuits.

I'd suggest having no more than 1 a day however if it fits in with your calorie allowance and macros then why not?

In summer I love smoothies (which can include bananas, kiwi fruit and cucumber as examples of other foods that will fill you up whilst loaded with goodness) for breakfast as they're easy to have on the go. You do need to watch what you're putting in your smoothies.

FS717

Thank you everyone for such valuable information.
I can now have bananas in peace

I'll also try to switch to different fruits every now & then for a change.
Any recommendations?

SLLeask

Bananas grow in our garden so for the past 5 years, on and off when it's the season, I eat them for breakfast, lunch, after dinner and snacks, haha. I'm in the middle of eating two for breakfast right now...! They are great for a quick, on the go brekkie or snack. Don't know about the lowering of testosterone thingy, never heard of it, but if it helps, I live on an Island where just about everyone eats bananas since they are plentiful and mostly free and there are MORE than enough children here...

ShaleSelkies

fs717 wrote: »

Thank you everyone for such valuable information.
I can now have bananas in peace

I'll also try to switch to different fruits every now & then for a change.
Any recommendations?

I find cold things are nice in the morning personally, how about snacking on some frozen berries or other kinds of frozen fruit on your way to work? A canned peach half and something like yoghurt or granola in a small container could also be nice!

GottaBurnEmAll

When I eat at maintenance, a banana and latte is my favorite post-run breakfast.

3rdof7sisters

Eat them. They are good for you. Runners often eat them after a run. Fruit is good for you so eat whatever you enjoy. Fit it into your daily calorie budget.

amusedmonkey

Since you are eating on the go and looking for a fruit breakfast, an orange may be a bit too messy. Try apples or pears. Have you tried things other than fruits? You could prepare a breakfast wrap the night before and just grap it and go. It will have more calories than a banana, but it could me more filling and macro friendly.

If you find yourself doing okay on a tiny fruit breakfast saving your calories for other meals I wouldn't change a thing. Continue with bananas or grab another random piece of fruit whenever you feel like it. There are no rules for how you wish to split your calories and nutrients. Don't worry about sugar, either. It won't affect your weight loss. What you need to focus on for now is finding a way of eating that you find comfortable and foods that you find delicious and satisfying within your calories. Everything else will take care of itself or you may decide to tackle later.

crzycatlady1

Nothing wrong with bananas as long as you're fitting them into your calorie targets

evileen99

ashesnposies333 wrote: »

Actually the science of balancing acidity is chemistry. Acidic foods you intake effect your natural ph levels, and too much acid can cause heart burn as well as the obvious acid reflux. Alkaline foods will balance that. The natural ph of your skin and hair is 4.5-5.5, acid.
It is an actual science so it gets pretty complicated, but you can google alkaline foods to help balance out the banana, or just have it with a glass of water. Water is neutral on the ph scale with a rating of 7.

You can't change your body's pH. Your body maintains pH in the 4.35-4.45 range and it usually doesn't vary outside of 7.38-7.42. As soon as your pH changes, your brain causes you to immediately breathe more to lower pH or less to raise pH to get it right back where it's supposed to be.

If your pH is routinely out side of the normal limits, you're quite ill and most likely in the hospital.

And your stomach acid has a pH of less than 1.5, so your banana isn't going to make a bit of difference to that.

SLLRunner

I can't tell you how many years I have been eating a banana with my breakfast. My weight loss has not been hindered, and I'm not dead yet.

SLLRunner

ashesnposies333 wrote: »

Actually the science of balancing acidity is chemistry. Acidic foods you intake effect your natural ph levels, and too much acid can cause heart burn as well as the obvious acid reflux. Alkaline foods will balance that. The natural ph of your skin and hair is 4.5-5.5, acid.
It is an actual science so it gets pretty complicated, but you can google alkaline foods to help balance out the banana, or just have it with a glass of water. Water is neutral on the ph scale with a rating of 7.

Really? Can you please share some of your research?

Elise4270

ashesnposies333 wrote: »

Actually the science of balancing acidity is chemistry. Acidic foods you intake effect your natural ph levels, and too much acid can cause heart burn as well as the obvious acid reflux. Alkaline foods will balance that. The natural ph of your skin and hair is 4.5-5.5, acid.
It is an actual science so it gets pretty complicated, but you can google alkaline foods to help balance out the banana, or just have it with a glass of water. Water is neutral on the ph scale with a rating of 7.

Actually water is slightly acidic, 6.6-6.8.

OP, I don't buy the acidic foods/alkaline food issue. If you have an issue from eating certain things, just don't eat them. A banana in the morning is perfect. 100 calories, prepackaged and tasty. Eat all the 'naners you want.

markrgeary1

I've eaten banana almost every day for over 550 days. Lost and maintaining a 55 pound loss.

What was the question?

Sweets1954

Bananas are great for breakfast, it's my favorite way to eat cereal the few times I have cereal. They are high in potassium which is something that can be lacking on a reduced calorie diet.