True or False? The riper the banana, the more sugar it contains.
False. As bananas ripen the form of carbohydrate it provides changes. The starch in a green banana breaks down into a more readily available source of sugar, causing it to taste sweeter. When you eat a green banana your body breaks down the starch at a slower rate making your blood sugar rise more slowly than if the banana was ripe. If you are a diabetic it is better to eat a green banana to avoid a spike in blood sugar. Also, because starch takes longer to digest, eating a green banana will keep you fuller longer. Regardless, both ripe and green bananas contain the same nutrients and have many health benefits.
Here are a few key benefits of bananas:
Bananas Provide Energy
They are extremely rich in vitamins and minerals, providing a natural source of energy. The best time to eat them is when you feel that 2:00 PM midday day crash or before a work out.
Fact: Eating two bananas will give you enough energy to exercise or workout for an hour and a half.
Bananas contain a boat load of Potassium
Potassium enhances the body’s circulatory system deliver oxygen to the brain. It also helps maintain a regular heartbeat, balance water in the body, reduces stoke and regulates blood pressure.
Bananas Promote Bowel Health
Bananas are a natural source of fiber that helps to maintain regular bowel movement and prevent constipation.
Bananas Can Help You Relax
Bananas contain a chemical called tryptophan (same chemical that makes you sleepy after thanksgiving turkey). It regulates your mood with a specific level of protein that relaxes the mind, making you feel more content!
Natural Hang Over Cure
The plentiful amounts of vitamins and minerals in bananas are a natural cure for the morning after a big night out partying.
Bananas are Rich in Iron
Bananas provide you with iron which can help promote hemoglobin production. This can help heal infections or cuts faster.
For those of you who do not like bananas or other fruits, find a way to work them into your daily diet. Having a piece of fruit a day not only keeps the doctor away, but it will improve your physical health, mental health and overall well-being. Here is a great pancake recipe to try to incorporate a banana into your diet, because who doesn’t love pancakes???
Ingredients (1 serving):
1 medium banana
1 cup egg beaters
2 tbsp. coconut flour
1 tbsp. dark chocolate chips
Preparation
- Cut up the banana into little pieces and put it into a bowl.
- Add 1 cup egg beaters and 2 tbsp. coconut flour to the bowl.
- Mash the banana and mix so that it becomes a batter-like consistency.
- Add a tbsp. dark chocolate chips and mix (optional)
- Pour the batter onto a non-stick frying pan and cook on one side until it starts to bubble.
- Flip the pancake and cook the other side.
- Add a little organic maple syrup to taste (1 tbsp. of maple syrup contains only 50 calories!)
Nutrition Breakdown:
Calories: 280
Protein: 27.3 grams
Carbohydrates: 38 grams
Fat: 2.4 grams
Taking your power back 