Bananas-friend or foe

karenafrn
karenafrn Posts: 5 Member
edited November 25 in Food and Nutrition
Hi
New to the app. Trying to learn as much as possible. Can you all tell me your thoughts on bananas? I was told they are too high on the glycemic index and therefore should be avoided or at least be limited, but so many smoothie recipes call for them. Thoughts? Thanks in advance.
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Replies

  • DX2JX2
    DX2JX2 Posts: 1,921 Member
    Are you diabetic or otherwise concerned about your blood sugar? If not, there's nothing specifically wrong with bananas. Even if so, bananas are still OK, they just tend towards higher sugar levels relative to their calories. They're manageable if eaten in moderation.
  • laurenbastug
    laurenbastug Posts: 307 Member
    because I structure my carb intake later in the day, I have a smaller window to fit in my daily grams - bananas are a great carb source for that so for me, we're freinds :)
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    They're just a food. I don't eat them often because I don't really enjoy the taste, but lots of people eat them regularly and still meet their weight loss and/or fitness goals.
  • JaydedMiss
    JaydedMiss Posts: 4,286 Member
    yay but only for desserts like nice-cream. They are a higher calorie fruit when im cutting i just cant bring self to pick a sad little banana over a huge plate of some lower calorie fruits/veg often lol. Plus bananas are only yummy to me frozen xD its a texture thing
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    If they fit in your calories, they are friend. If not, you should probably avoid them. No one food has magical powers to cause you to gain weight or lose weight outside of the calories.

    Snacking on fruit by itself can be a problem for some people because it doesn't fill them up and they go right back to being hungry. But if fruit fills you up, or if you are eating it as a part of a meal or snack that has other components that fill you up, fruit is yummy and nutritious. I eat a banana pretty much every day - in my oatmeal, in a smoothie, or with lunch.
  • karenafrn
    karenafrn Posts: 5 Member
    DX2JX2 wrote: »
    Are you diabetic or otherwise concerned about your blood sugar? If not, there's nothing specifically wrong with bananas. Even if so, bananas are still OK, they just tend towards higher sugar levels relative to their calories. They're manageable if eaten in moderation.

    Not diabetic-I’ve been trying to do little to no sugar and little to no carbs. I’ve lost 60 lbs but have 20 more to go and just can’t maintain a no sugar no carb diet. One of my coworkers recommended this app. Thanks for all the feedback! Seems like a great group!!!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    karenafrn wrote: »
    DX2JX2 wrote: »
    Are you diabetic or otherwise concerned about your blood sugar? If not, there's nothing specifically wrong with bananas. Even if so, bananas are still OK, they just tend towards higher sugar levels relative to their calories. They're manageable if eaten in moderation.

    Not diabetic-I’ve been trying to do little to no sugar and little to no carbs. I’ve lost 60 lbs but have 20 more to go and just can’t maintain a no sugar no carb diet. One of my coworkers recommended this app. Thanks for all the feedback! Seems like a great group!!!

    If you're doing keto or something, the GI isn't particularly relevant. Most fruits are going to be high in sugar and carbohydrates. I would say that for a very low carb diet, most fruit would be off the table except berries.
  • ServusChristi
    ServusChristi Posts: 98 Member
    Great pre-workout, low(er) glycemic index/load snack, and a good source of potassium (although skim milk has more potassium/calorie). I eat a ton of em.
  • karenafrn
    karenafrn Posts: 5 Member
    I love them but thought they were high on glycemic index and therefore made a persons sugar spike. Thanks!
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    Neither. They're just food.
  • dsboohead
    dsboohead Posts: 1,899 Member
    I am a type 1 diabetic...bananas don't affect my blood sugar BUT not all bananas are created equal. I buy the smallest ones I can get my hands on.
  • rainbow198
    rainbow198 Posts: 2,245 Member
    We're definitely pals. I wouldn't eat one alone because it wouldn't fill me up, but they fit in nicely in a balanced meal.
  • karenafrn
    karenafrn Posts: 5 Member
    dsboohead wrote: »
    I am a type 1 diabetic...bananas don't affect my blood sugar BUT not all bananas are created equal. I buy the smallest ones I can get my hands on.
    dsboohead wrote: »
    I am a type 1 diabetic...bananas don't affect my blood sugar BUT not all bananas are created equal. I buy the smallest ones I can get my hands on.

  • karenafrn
    karenafrn Posts: 5 Member
    Very good point about size! Thanks
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,759 Member
    I eat a banana every night for the potassium, they're a pretty dense tasting food (meaning, you KNOW you've eaten something), and they're delicious so...friend.

    The peel would be a foe because of the slipping on them. :)
  • Gisel2015
    Gisel2015 Posts: 4,192 Member
    Bananas make me nauseated. I don't know why but they do. I like the taste but not the side effects, and in addition they don't satisfy me and are not worthy the calories or carbs.
    I used to share (maybe 1/4) or a banana with my husband (potassium) but he used to buy the bigger ones at Costco. Not more; we now drink a low sodium V8 daily to get potassium and bananas are out of our "diet."
    If you like them and they fit your calories and macros, go for it.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    glassyo wrote: »
    I eat a banana every night for the potassium, they're a pretty dense tasting food (meaning, you KNOW you've eaten something), and they're delicious so...friend.

    The peel would be a foe because of the slipping on them. :)

    Has anybody ever really slipped on a banana peel, or is that just Hollywood? Has Mythbusters done a banana peel episode?
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    quiksylver296 wrote: »
    glassyo wrote: »
    I eat a banana every night for the potassium, they're a pretty dense tasting food (meaning, you KNOW you've eaten something), and they're delicious so...friend.

    The peel would be a foe because of the slipping on them. :)

    Has anybody ever really slipped on a banana peel, or is that just Hollywood? Has Mythbusters done a banana peel episode?

    Of course they have :smiley:

    http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/mythbusters-database/slip-and-fall-on-banana-peel/
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    karenafrn wrote: »
    Hi
    New to the app. Trying to learn as much as possible. Can you all tell me your thoughts on bananas? I was told they are too high on the glycemic index and therefore should be avoided or at least be limited, but so many smoothie recipes call for them. Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

    I don't follow a special diet just watch calorie intake. I can eat a banana if I feel like it.
    I don't have smoothies because drinking my calories is not satisfying to me.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,097 Member
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    karenafrn wrote: »
    I love them but thought they were high on glycemic index and therefore made a persons sugar spike. Thanks!

    Firstly, the glycemic index of a food isn't relevant unless you have a medical issue with blood sugar regulation.

    Secondly, the glycemic index of a food is only relevant if you are eating that one particular food in isolation from any/all other foods, while in a fasted state. If you consume any other food with it, or still have those foods being digested in your stomach, they alter the GI of whatever food you're eating.

    I like it when someone saves me the trouble of typing.
  • Cbean08
    Cbean08 Posts: 1,092 Member
    I will occasionally have one. Something about the texture makes a banana a pretty filling option. If I need to eat something quick, I'll grab one because they take way less time to eat than an apple or chicken or hardboiled eggs.
  • J_Fairfax
    J_Fairfax Posts: 57 Member
    I chop them up and put one in my oatmeal for breakfast ftw!
  • lightenup2016
    lightenup2016 Posts: 1,055 Member
    They're a friend to me--I eat them for the potassium and because they're filling to me in combination with other foods. Or, I'll eat a banana if it's too early for lunch, and it holds me a while longer.

    I love them when they're just past the green stage. Brown spots anywhere, and it's no bueno--too sweet.

    I do NOT like them in a smoothie. I use mango and/or avocado instead.
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