Bananas

Taneil27

I love bananas, and like to eat one daily. But, I hear they are terrible for weight loss. I know they have carbs and sugar.. but can they really be as bad as they say?

sandram82

If it fits into your daily cals, sugar, carbs.. than go for it!

DisneyAddictRW

I use to eat 2 a day. Now I eat 1 but cut it in half. I eat the first half with my protein drink after I go to the gym and I have the other half as an afternoon snack. (Sometimes I put a tablespoon of PB on it in the afternoon)

brancakes

I've been wanting to know this too! I've heard bad things but my trainer eats one everyday and he says it's fine..

TiniTurtle

the potassium is good for you & they're filling, so if you like them (i do too!) enjoy )

Pandorian

if you're picking a banana over the chocolate bars or strip of cookies or something then it certainly fits. They've got fiber and other goodies. I have one on a regular basis, just haven't lately as they're not in the house unless I wish to make banana bread or muffins.

drog2323

IMO - it's fruit - not a choc bar or bag of chips. i think if you had 10 a day, then it might be an issue.

they are higher in sugar than other fruits - but a few of them a week shouldn't turn your goals upside down.

♥_Ellybean_♥

I've been doing WW and MFP for 2 weeks now, I have been eating 2 banana's a day and lost 4.4lbs in my first week with WW... highely doubt they are bad for you... Also they have a glycemic load of I believe 4... and have a glycemic value of 48-55ish which is medium, so they aren't terrible for you.. I would not recommened 5 a day ..

AggieCass09

eat the nanas, they are good for you!

sullyboo

I have a banana most mornings as a mid morning snack at work ... Good for an energy boost and much better than biscuits or cake !! Like someone else already said they have lots of potassium to which is good for you.

needamulligan

Me too! I saw a headline somewhere that said that bananas keep you from feeling hungry - but I can't find the article! Bottom line, I think it's like eggs. The answer depends on who you ask!

leavinglasvegas

I eat one every morning and I don't see any reason to stop. Bananas are awesome!

If it fits in your diary, eat two. Its a whole food. Its chock full of nutrition just as nature intended for your body.

catesalim

I have half of one before my morning run, becuase they're easy on the stomach and they give me a sugar boost. Post run, I have the other half with my cereal (high protein). There will be always diets out there that will tell you one thing or another is "bad". Moderation is key.

rherrin5

Bananas are my best friend. I eat at least one a day and sometimes 2. Very filling and loaded with potassium which if you are a runner or jogger you will want them because they help prevent calf cramps in your legs. I never worry about sugar if its from fruit. I get close to 100 a day and still lose weight. Carbs from the bananas are good healthy carbs and again I never worry about it. Some days I have 300 carbs and still lose weight. Works for me and I love them! Good luck!

misterpiano

I've had approx 2 a day for the last 3 months...as my snacks. They are filling, good for vitamins...and they aren't candy, cookies, or other of my old snacks!

If I want to mix it up I have one banana and one apple....

For me no problems yet except I have been swinging on tree vines lately......

sylvia1970

i used to love bananas growing up. I only ever lived on chicken, bananas and cheese. God i'm soooo yellow.

Anyway as the years have gone by I've noticed that when I consume banana's in my diet I get the shakes as they are high in sugars. They are best when they are on the raw side but they have no taste, which defeats the bloody object of eating them in the first place.

I'm no diabetic either but I do suffer with low blood pressure at times which makes me more vunerable to sugar levels.

I personally think banana's should be eaten wisely

any fruit that gets really sweet as it ages is bad

JennLifts

I ate one with breakfast everyday when I lost my weight So I'd say you're safe.

Taneil27

Awesome, thanks for the input you guys!

I really didn't want to have to give them up!

I might actually try the half in the morning, and the other half in a protein shake or something later in the day idea one person had.

girlruns

i used to love bananas growing up. I only ever lived on chicken, bananas and cheese. God i'm soooo yellow.

Anyway as the years have gone by I've noticed that when I consume banana's in my diet I get the shakes as they are high in sugars. They are best when they are on the raw side but they have no taste, which defeats the bloody object of eating them in the first place.

I'm no diabetic either but I do suffer with low blood pressure at times which makes me more vunerable to sugar levels.

I personally think banana's should be eaten wisely

any fruit that gets really sweet as it ages is bad

I think you made some very valid statements based on your experience, but ALL fruit gets really sweet when it ages--bananas are just one of the few that taste "better" as that happens.

sylvia1970

i used to love bananas growing up. I only ever lived on chicken, bananas and cheese. God i'm soooo yellow.

Anyway as the years have gone by I've noticed that when I consume banana's in my diet I get the shakes as they are high in sugars. They are best when they are on the raw side but they have no taste, which defeats the bloody object of eating them in the first place.

I'm no diabetic either but I do suffer with low blood pressure at times which makes me more vunerable to sugar levels.

I personally think banana's should be eaten wisely

any fruit that gets really sweet as it ages is bad

I think you made some very valid statements based on your experience, but ALL fruit gets really sweet when it ages--bananas are just one of the few that taste "better" as that happens.

most fruit become sour as they age not sweeter

tamiller93

A friend sent this to me via email the other day, and I thought it was pretty interesting:



A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression 'going bananas is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:

After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power:200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One f the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey.. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases.. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking & Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe it’s time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'