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MyFitnessPal Community

Bananas? Good ? Bad?

amyhamilton15

Not to sound dumb.. I feel like the whole banana thing is confusing. I heard eating them while trying to lose weight is both good and bad. I'm not a large fan of the fruit but I am curious. I do like them in my oatmeal occasionally. I don't find them very filling. In fact I feel hungrier after I eat them. If anyone has a clue if I should add them to my diet daily or weekly please share. Thanks!

Replies

gothchiq

Bananas are good. They have potassium. If you are diabetic or prediabetic, only eat a half a banana at a time, and eat some protein with it.

tomatoey

she did, she did

RodaRose

jigsaw00 wrote: »

Please forgive me for stepping in here, but the banana topic caught my attention and I have a question or three... First let me start off by saying I'm new to MFP... In the past I've used the WW program and there bananas were a "great" option as they cost 0 points on the WW scale. Eat 5000 a day if you like and you would be ok based on their point system. so I used to eat a bunch of them even though inside I knew that maybe they weren't the great option I thought...

Now with MFP we are tracking more than arbitrary points and are looking more at nutrition, calories, vitamins, protein, sugars, fats, carbs..... (Lets not just loose weight but be healthy at the same time) On some days it seems like a banana is not the way to go as it may push me over the edge with calories or sugar or carbs... Today for instance, take away the exercise and those two bananas between plane flights would have screwed everything up. So I get it, there is a time and place for everything...

However, that being said I'm watching the amount of potassium that I'm taking in daily and I'm falling below, way way below what MFP has set as a goal. A banana or four seems to be a good option here, but does the boost in potassium offset the increased carb / sugar balloon burster? If not, where does one go to get increased potassium that doesn't come out of a pill? (event the best supplement I've found would require a handful of pills each and every day to meet the suggested potassium allotment...)

So what does one do? Add an extra half hour cardio to off set a bunch of bananas and have a happy # at the end of the day potassium wise?

Look only at your macros in this order:
First: protein
Second: fat
Third: carbs

Make sure that most days you get enough protein and fats. Those other things you are tracking are not important although some people track fiber.
Here are five foods with more potassium than bananas:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/518085-5-foods-that-have-more-potassium-than-banana/

Keep in mind that the FDA does not require that potassium be labeled on food packaging. Therefore, the database entries for potassium are often incomplete or blank.
Most people in the US are getting enough potassium. Let it go --- especially since you cannot count it anyway.

I did weight watchers for years so I know what you are talking about.
Look at the banana as costing you calories. Is the cost worth it?
Once banana = 121 calories
One and a half cups of blue berries = 124 calories
One and a half tablespoons of peanut butter =143 calories
Once piece of toast with one teaspoon of butter = 112 calories
Two apples = 135 calories
Three pieces of bacon = 135 calories

These are the two rules for MFP:
1 Reach total protein and fat goals for the day -- hit that mark and fill the rest with carbs if you want.
2 Stay under the reasonable calorie goal that you have set for yourself.

tomatoey

potassium is worth paying attention to if you've got muscle pains or cramps, though, or if it takes you forever to recover from a moderate workout. (but yes for sure, other things can get you the potassium you need.)

berlynnwall

I feel like we are missing each other's points.

You guys are saying a calorie is a calorie - which is absolutely true for weight loss.

I was more talking about ingredients wise. The ingredients in a banana are:banana. The ingredients in chips are: tons of delicious chemicals most of which do not occur in nature. That is the only way in which a fruit or veg would be a "better" food.

Again, you're talking to someone who did two separate workouts today because I realized that the first one would not fully cover my chemical laden tater tot casserole. Not judging snack food eaters!

RodaRose

No one has advocated eating a 2000 calorie day of potato chips or popcorn although I see nothing wrong with that.

Some people are aware that this is a calorie counting web site -- la raison d'être.

segacs

RodaRose wrote: »

No one has advocated eating a 2000 calorie day of potato chips or popcorn although I see nothing wrong with that.

Potatoes have more potassium than bananas anyway. ;p

wizzybeth

segacs wrote: »

jigsaw00 wrote: »

However, that being said I'm watching the amount of potassium that I'm taking in daily and I'm falling below, way way below what MFP has set as a goal.

Don't worry about it unless you have had a blood test showing a potassium deficiency. Potassium isn't a required nutritional item on most food labels, so it's missing from most of the entries in the MFP database. Therefore, you could be seeing low potassium numbers on your reports on MFP but really be eating plenty.

Not to mention, tomatoes, potatoes (sweet and white) , yogurt, and coffee are all excellent sources of potassium. Potatoes are quite high, as are tomatoes.

unknown

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poohpoohpeapod

I eat dianas bananas frozen bananas covered in dark chocolate 130 calories of yumminess. They are nutritous, have probiotics and potassium. I love them, especially frozen.

poohpoohpeapod

yellow/green bananas have rsistant starches which are good for you. Brown spotted more flavorful and good for digestion. That is why they are the first food of th e BRAT diet for stomach issues. Bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.

poohpoohpeapod

*resistant

libbydoodle11

Ninkyou wrote: »

There's nothing bad about a banana unless it's turned all mushy/brown/black.

If it turns mushy and black then it is time to make banana bread. Mmmmmmm, yum...

Cortelli

arditarose wrote: »

I feel like I have to get this off my chest...I'm anti-banana.

Things are getting really steamy early on in this here thread.

jalarson23

Bananas are funny. I usually don't eat them alone unless I need something to hold me over. Any other time, I love to have them mixed in with other things. PB and banana, yes. Ice cream and banana, yes. Banana smoothie, yes. I love bananas with other foods, but not so much on their own. Yes, there are a lot of books about bananas and one of them I had to read through. The second one mentioned by another poster:

DeWoSa wrote: »

...

Oddly enough, there are more than one books about bananas:

...is all about the wars on bananas...yes, you read right, they even had wars over bananas. They referred to these wars as the banana wars. So why all the hype? At one point in time, the government went bananas...for bananas. Bananas were advertised as the "super food" of that time for it's nutrition content and easy storage.

What is so great about the nutrition of a banana? You have probably heard about how they are a good source of potassium, and although it does have a good amount, it's not as if one banana is going to get you all that close to your daily recommended intake for potassium alone. Bananas are actually more beneficial in other ways. It has a low to mid level glycemic index, which doesn't spike your blood sugar levels, but instead supplies you stable energy. This is why you will see people recommend it as a snack before a workout or as a snack to hold you over between meals. They also say that bananas help with your mood, digestion, and a few other things. At least that is what they are saying now, but maybe it is all hype. You decide.

The way I look at it, there is more to consider than calories alone. You could eat fast food every day and still have a calorie deficit, but how do you think you would feel if you did that on a regular basis? I'm not saying don't occasionally indulge (in fact, I encourage it), but don't rule out bananas so quickly. Even if you don't like bananas, there are other options out there that can supply you with something more substantial.

PearlAng

berlynnwall wrote: »

I feel like we are missing each other's points.

You guys are saying a calorie is a calorie - which is absolutely true for weight loss.

I was more talking about ingredients wise. The ingredients in a banana are:banana. The ingredients in chips are: tons of delicious chemicals most of which do not occur in nature. That is the only way in which a fruit or veg would be a "better" food.

Again, you're talking to someone who did two separate workouts today because I realized that the first one would not fully cover my chemical laden tater tot casserole. Not judging snack food eaters!

I understand what you are saying, but both chips and bananas have different things to offer. I'm not arguing the idea that the banana is the more natural of the two, and bananas definitely have less ingredients, but a banana can't help you reach your fat goal, for example. In the grand scheme of things, you're right, a calorie is a calorie.

yesimpson

Bananas are amazing.

They have given us so much. Banana split, banoffee pie, bananas fosters... Chocolate covered banana, banana chips, banana smoothies/milkshakes, frozen bananas, dried banana coins, banana bread.

Plus you can make people really uncomfortable if you make eye contact with them whilst eating one.

Best. Fruit. Ever.

ETA to add - Banana and peanut butter on toast. How could I forget?!

4leighbee

Bananas = potassium = reduction of muscle cramps/spasms - this is old wisdom. We eat bananas frequently and *love* them. If you love them, eat them.

misheri90

I eat a banana nearly everyday, dip them in Bulgarian yoghurt while I eat them, so good! I find if I eat 2 on a day I know I'll have a late lunch they'll keep me full but if they don't work for you then find something that does and appeals to you more

lthames0810

yesimpson wrote: »

Bananas are amazing.

They have given us so much. Banana split, banoffee pie, bananas fosters... Chocolate covered banana, banana chips, banana smoothies/milkshakes, frozen bananas, dried banana coins, banana bread.

Plus you can make people really uncomfortable if you make eye contact with them whilst eating one.

Best. Fruit. Ever.

ETA to add - Banana and peanut butter on toast. How could I forget?!

And banana dogs!

Hot dog bun, slather inside with peanut butter, lay the banana in there like a hot dog, drizzle with honey.

Holla4mom

So, I've eaten 50 bananas in the last 60 days and lost 18 pounds. They fit my calories and macros and most importantly make my breakfast of kale/spinach/greek yogurt/ almond milk smoothie yummy, as I dash out the door with four kids in tow.

OH, and I made Banana Nut Granola brownies and warm one up and eat before bed (okay in bed) at night! Yummy!

So, two myths down- bananas aren't bad for losing weight, and neither is eating right before bed;)

richln

This is Jamaican sprinter, Yohan Blake. He has beaten Usain Bolt in the 100m and 200m before. Yohan Blake eats 16 bananas a day. Therefore, if you eat 17 bananas a day, you should be able to become the best sprinter in the world.

ndj1979

richln wrote: »

This is Jamaican sprinter, Yohan Blake. He has beaten Usain Bolt in the 100m and 200m before. Yohan Blake eats 16 bananas a day. Therefore, if you eat 17 bananas a day, you should be able to become the best sprinter in the world.

LOL, so if I eat 16 bananas a day I can be an Olympic sprinter?

if I get some Jordan Nike sneakers can I dunk like Jordan too? Even though I am a 35 year old white guy???

Serah87

I make protein pancakes, with peanut butter, bananas and syrup!!

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unknown

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Tikibar72

I just ate a banana and it was fabulous.

davis978

Life is too short (and calorie limits are too low) to eat foods you don't like. If you don't like bananas, don't eat bananas.

I don't eat many of them because I think they aren't a good calorie "value" - i.e. too many calories for what you get. But, if I also don't love them. If I loved them, I probably would think they were a good value and would eat more of them.

TL:DR - eat food you like and make it fit into your goals.

DeWoSa

richln wrote: »

This is Jamaican sprinter, Yohan Blake. He has beaten Usain Bolt in the 100m and 200m before. Yohan Blake eats 16 bananas a day. Therefore, if you eat 17 bananas a day, you should be able to become the best sprinter in the world.

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Hee hee -- I'm doing it TODAY! See you all from the podium, suckers!

J72FIT

amyhamilton15 wrote: »

should add them to my diet daily or weekly

Add them if you like them... Bananas are a great food.

J72FIT

johnnylakis wrote: »

Never eat a yellow banana, its pure starch. Always eat it when it has brown spots, then its pure carb!

This makes no sense...
Eat a banana the way you like them.