Why I love bananas so much...

I love fruit.  I believe fruit to be the only thing on earth specifically designed for us to eat. The ripening process encourages us (and all animals) to eat fruit - it becomes more aromatic, softer and easier to chew, and the color becomes more vivid to catch our eyes.  I could talk about fruit for a long time. But today, I want to talk about BANANAS!

Let's talk about why I think bananas are so amazing. 

1.  The average banana contains three grams of fiber which will help you feel full and keep cravings at bay.  Chicago’s Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation found you don’t even need to eat one to get the effect. Just smell a banana when you’re hungry and you can fool your brain into thinking you’ve already eaten one.

2. Bananas release energy slowly, so they help the brain stay alert for longer. The high potassium levels also energize the brain, which makes us more alert and receptive to learning, while the magnesium improves focus. I find that if I'm starting to wilt halfway throughout my day, if I eat a banana (or drink a green smoothie), my energy increases and my focus strengthens. 

3. Jamaican Olympic sprinter Yohan Blake reportedly eats 16 bananas a day. Many professional athletes have been witnessed eating bananas shortly after their events. So why do so many athletes reach for this fruit?  It seems they know bananas give you energy, just the right way. Every banana contains three different kinds of sugar. Glucose and fructose are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, so they’ll give you an energy boost fast. Sucrose acts more slowly, so it keeps your blood sugar level stable and ensures you don’t suffer the crash that comes with other sweet treats. Studies back up the science too. The Appalachian State University Human Performance Lab recently found that eating half a banana every 15 minutes during a cycling time trial test aided performance just as much as drinking a sports energy drink at the same intervals.

4. Almost 40 percent of Americans struggle with the symptoms of heartburn at least once a month. Instead of reaching for an antacid, a banana is a chemical-free solution to this common complaint.  The extra mucus that prevents and heals peptic ulcers will also protect your stomach from too much acid. The high potassium level in a ripe banana will also reduce the stomach’s natural acidity. Its fiber then speeds up digestion, which reduces the amount of acid the stomach needs to produce.

5.  If your blood pressure’s on the high side, make sure bananas are in your shopping cart. A local study found that eating five bananas daily was half as effective as taking prescription medication for hypertension.  This research was supported by an Indian study which found eating just two bananas a day reduces blood pressure by 10 percent in as little as a week. Bananas are low in sodium and high in potassium, so they’re perfect for 67 million Americans suffering the condition.

6.  Bananas contain tryptophan, a substance which the body converts into the feel-good hormone serotonin. You recognize this substance because of the sleepy feeling you get from turkey on Thanksgiving.  The National Association of Mental Health discovered people with depression felt better after eating a banana. With chemical antidepressants taking six to eight weeks to kick in, perhaps sufferers would be better off reaching for a quick banana now and then.

Have you had a banana today?  Go buy some! Enjoy a green smoothie with bananas in them! :)

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