bananas????

stepha2707
stepha2707 Posts: 9
edited September 20 in Food and Nutrition
Should you eat fruit that have a higher calorie count like bananas when you are trying to watch your figure? I know that the calories in them are from the sugar in the fruit so it really shouldn't be "bad" calories right???

Replies

  • miqisha
    miqisha Posts: 1,534 Member
    I eat one banana every morning....I dont think anything is wrong with eating a high calorie fruit, as long as throughout the whole day you eat properly

    Bananas have alot of benefit to eating them,....
  • AndreeT
    AndreeT Posts: 191
    I agree. I love bananas. I normaly have 1/2 a banana with my breakfast or in my morning smoothie. Banana's are healthy. The main goal is to stay within your daily calories.
  • lvfunandfit
    lvfunandfit Posts: 654 Member
    Every time one of my kids has a banana I eat half. Or I'll eat one with a serving of raw almonds or cottage cheese so I am getting some protein too.
  • kkvz79
    kkvz79 Posts: 11 Member
    All fruits are good as they all contain a variety of necessary nutrients. Though, with fruit you are right - they are higher in calories due to the natural sugars. Bananas are good for potatssium and vitamins A, B & C. You might try cutting the sugar/carb count with a protein would be better than eating the banana alone. This helps slow the digestion of the sugars with less of a blood sugar spike. I prefer to eat my bananas with a light string cheese or even a small amount of peanut butter. (I do this with apples, too) Consider a variety of fruits.. Apples have the skin which is the fiber you need to keep you satisfied longer. I think I have also read somewhere that pears are actually one of the better fruits to eat. I am no nutrtionist so don't hold me accountable - I just know what has worked for me. Good luck!
  • As odd as this is going to sound...if you are craving a banana or want that banana taste I have found something that is pretty low cal. and you still get some fruit. It's from Gerber Graduates for Toddlers Mini Fruits. It's bite-sized banana strawberry pieces that are freeze-dried. A 1/4 cup is only 25 cal., 0g fat, 0g cholesterol, 0g sodium, 90 mg potassium, 6g carbs, 1g dietary fiber, 5g sugar and 8% Vit C. They are actually REALLY good! I eat them by themselves, on cereal, or HungryGirl suggests eating them as a topping on ice cream/frozen yogurt (which I have yet to try).
  • jerren
    jerren Posts: 196
    I love love love my banannas. They are my number one snack on my mfp list.
  • healthbug
    healthbug Posts: 21
    I'm bananas for bananas! Sadly I have yet to find a way to stay within my daily sugar when eating a whole banana every morning. Split a banana with a friend?
  • LittleSpy
    LittleSpy Posts: 6,754 Member
    The goal is to be healthy, right? Bananas are a healthy food. So are other higher calorie things like nuts & nut butters, and dairy. Just be very conscious of how much you're eating. I :heart: bananas. I love adding them to yogurt or peanut butter toast. And I love adding bananas to smoothies when the weather is warm, they are almost essential to a good smoothie! :wink:

    Not everything high calorie is unhealthy & not everything low calorie is healthy. Generally speaking, most very low calorie foods are pretty nutritionless. And your body doesn't just need calories, it needs nutrients, too! :smile:
  • fitinyoga14
    fitinyoga14 Posts: 448 Member
    If you are truely looking to change your lifestyle into eating healthier and keeping weight off, its not necessarily about eating all low-calorie foods. it is more important to eat foods with high nutitional value that will keep you satisfied and stay within your calorie allowance for the day. there are plenty of foods that are very beneficial yet high in calories. some of these include nuts, bananas, avacado, and potatoes. these aren't foods to cut out of your diet, just limit your portion and balance your meal with other components that are lower in calories.
  • DrBorkBork
    DrBorkBork Posts: 4,099 Member
    I am bananas for bananas! I figure if it came out of the ground somehow (ie: veggies, fruit of a tree, etc) it has to be good for you!
  • HealthyChanges2010
    HealthyChanges2010 Posts: 5,831 Member
    Health Benefits of Bananas
    http://bananasweb.com/bananas/Health+Benefits+of+Bananas

    Good News on Bananas:wink::heart:

    Bananas consist mainly of sugars (glucose, fructose and sucrose) and fiber, which makes them ideal for an immediate and slightly prolonged source of energy

    Reducing Depression
    Bananas contain tryptophan, an aminoacid that can be converted to serotonin, leading to improved mood

    Anemia
    Bananas are relatively high in iron, which helps the body's hemoglobin function

    Constipation and Diarrhea
    Due to their content in fiber, they help restore a normal bowel function. In addition, diarrhea usually depletes your body of important electrolytes (of which the most important is potassium, contained in high amounts in bananas). They also contain pectin, a soluble fiber (hydrocolloid) that can help normalize movement through the digestive tract.

    Eyesight Protection
    Research published in the Archives of Ophthalmology has proven that adults consuming at least 3 servings of fruit per day have a reduced risk (by 36%) of developing age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in older adults, compared to persons who consume less than 1.5 servings of fruit daily.

    Healthy Bones
    Bananas are an exceptionally rich source of fructooligosaccharide, a compound that nourishes probiotic (friendly) bacteria in the colon. These beneficial bacteria produce enzymes that increase our digestive ability and protect us from unhealthy bacteria infections. Thanks to fructooligosaccharides, probiotic bacteria can increase both in number and functionality, increasing our body's ability to absorb calcium.
    In addition, green bananas contain indigestible short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that are very nutrient to the cells that make up the mucosa of the stomach. These cells, when healthy, absorb calcium much more efficiently

    Healthy Kidney
    About 190,000 cases of kidney cancer are diagnosed each year.
    Research published in the International Journal of Cancer has shown that daily consumption of whole fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, is highly protective to kidney health. The results show that, over a long timeframe (13.4 years), women eating more than 2.5 servings of fruits and vegetable per day cut their risk of kidney cancer by 40%. Among the fruits, bananas were especially protective. Women eating bananas four to six times a week halved their risk of developing the disease compared to those who did not eat this fruit. The conclusion of the study is that frequent consumption of fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, cabbage and root vegetables, may reduce risk of kidney cancer. This is because bananas and many root vegetables contain especially high amounts of antioxidant phenolic compounds, while cabbage is rich in sulfur, necessary for effective detoxification of potential carcinogens.

    Blood Pressure
    Bananas are extremely high in potassium (about 4673mg), yet very low in sodium (1mg), thus having a perfect ratio for preventing high 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.

    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.

    Smoking
    Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. They contain vitamins B6 and B12 they contain, as well as potassium and magnesium: these substances help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

    Ulcers
    This is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicle cases. It also helps reduce acidity and reduces irritation. Bananas stimulate the cells on the internal stomach lining to produce a thicker mucus (which protects against acid). Additionally, bananas contain protease inhibitors that help eliminate bacteria in the stomach that have been pinpointed as a primary cause of ulcers.

    Nerves
    Bananas are high in B vitamins that have been shows to improve nerve function

    Mosquito Bites
    Many people report that rubbing the inside of a banana peel on a mosquito bite is very effective in reducing itching and swelling

    Stress Relief
    Bananas are high in potassium, which helps normalize the hearthbeat and regulate the body's water balance. During periods of high stress, our body's potassium levels tend to be rapidly depleted: eating bananas is a healthy way to rebalance them without using drugs

    Stroke Risk
    According to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can reduce the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%
  • kdiamond
    kdiamond Posts: 3,329 Member
    Did you know they also help a hangover? It's true! Make a banana milkshake with a little bit of honey and it helps replenish the body. :))
  • Health Benefits of Bananas
    http://bananasweb.com/bananas/Health+Benefits+of+Bananas

    Good News on Bananas:wink::heart:

    Bananas consist mainly of sugars (glucose, fructose and sucrose) and fiber, which makes them ideal for an immediate and slightly prolonged source of energy

    Reducing Depression
    Bananas contain tryptophan, an aminoacid that can be converted to serotonin, leading to improved mood

    Anemia
    Bananas are relatively high in iron, which helps the body's hemoglobin function

    Constipation and Diarrhea
    Due to their content in fiber, they help restore a normal bowel function. In addition, diarrhea usually depletes your body of important electrolytes (of which the most important is potassium, contained in high amounts in bananas). They also contain pectin, a soluble fiber (hydrocolloid) that can help normalize movement through the digestive tract.

    Eyesight Protection
    Research published in the Archives of Ophthalmology has proven that adults consuming at least 3 servings of fruit per day have a reduced risk (by 36%) of developing age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in older adults, compared to persons who consume less than 1.5 servings of fruit daily.

    Healthy Bones
    Bananas are an exceptionally rich source of fructooligosaccharide, a compound that nourishes probiotic (friendly) bacteria in the colon. These beneficial bacteria produce enzymes that increase our digestive ability and protect us from unhealthy bacteria infections. Thanks to fructooligosaccharides, probiotic bacteria can increase both in number and functionality, increasing our body's ability to absorb calcium.
    In addition, green bananas contain indigestible short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that are very nutrient to the cells that make up the mucosa of the stomach. These cells, when healthy, absorb calcium much more efficiently

    Healthy Kidney
    About 190,000 cases of kidney cancer are diagnosed each year.
    Research published in the International Journal of Cancer has shown that daily consumption of whole fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, is highly protective to kidney health. The results show that, over a long timeframe (13.4 years), women eating more than 2.5 servings of fruits and vegetable per day cut their risk of kidney cancer by 40%. Among the fruits, bananas were especially protective. Women eating bananas four to six times a week halved their risk of developing the disease compared to those who did not eat this fruit. The conclusion of the study is that frequent consumption of fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, cabbage and root vegetables, may reduce risk of kidney cancer. This is because bananas and many root vegetables contain especially high amounts of antioxidant phenolic compounds, while cabbage is rich in sulfur, necessary for effective detoxification of potential carcinogens.

    Blood Pressure
    Bananas are extremely high in potassium (about 4673mg), yet very low in sodium (1mg), thus having a perfect ratio for preventing high 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.

    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.

    Smoking
    Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. They contain vitamins B6 and B12 they contain, as well as potassium and magnesium: these substances help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

    Ulcers
    This is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicle cases. It also helps reduce acidity and reduces irritation. Bananas stimulate the cells on the internal stomach lining to produce a thicker mucus (which protects against acid). Additionally, bananas contain protease inhibitors that help eliminate bacteria in the stomach that have been pinpointed as a primary cause of ulcers.

    Nerves
    Bananas are high in B vitamins that have been shows to improve nerve function

    Mosquito Bites
    Many people report that rubbing the inside of a banana peel on a mosquito bite is very effective in reducing itching and swelling

    Stress Relief
    Bananas are high in potassium, which helps normalize the hearthbeat and regulate the body's water balance. During periods of high stress, our body's potassium levels tend to be rapidly depleted: eating bananas is a healthy way to rebalance them without using drugs

    Stroke Risk
    According to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can reduce the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%

    great info! Thanks for posting!
  • jerren
    jerren Posts: 196
    They are only 100 calories, I don't see the big deal? Thats high compared to what? An orange? Go walk around the block a few times and enjoy your bananna!
  • mrsyatesy
    mrsyatesy Posts: 173
    They are only 100 calories, I don't see the big deal? Thats high compared to what? An orange? Go walk around the block a few times and enjoy your bananna!

    I'm with Jerren!
This discussion has been closed.