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Lee Penman
07-06-2009, 12:18 AM
Okay, when it comes to bananas what are your thoughts? Some say bananas are bad since they are high on the glycemic index. Others say green bananas (why would anyone WANT to eat a green banana...lol!!) actually assist you in losing weight....Input needed on the great banana debate!

tammyp
07-06-2009, 06:10 AM
i dont ever do them. they stay with me for hours..the gift that keeps on givin!

figurebre
07-06-2009, 11:32 AM
I read this on the Jillian Micheals interview...I have no clue. Interested to hear also.

stephaniewicked
07-06-2009, 11:38 AM
I love bananas and have 2-3 per week (usually pre-workout). I used to consume them daily or several times a day, but I cut back because of the carbs... I enjoy eating them, but I try to moderate my consumption more nowadays. I'd like to hear more about this, as well!

Mouse
07-06-2009, 12:34 PM
I know this is the women's forum but I saw the thread title of one of my favorite foods and couldn't resist. I love them and eat at least one every day. Given that I always eat them with a meal (i.e. a protein & fat), the GI index of them gets a bit skewed. Even when dieting I'll eat them post workout but at some point if I'm trying to get into single digits then they unfortunately have to go. I've found that during times I don't eat them, I tend to get more painful calves and hamstring cramps but I'm sure a good multi with potassium would fix that.

BTW, the best way to eat them is when the little spots first appear. Green bananas are wretched things.

sassy69
07-06-2009, 02:33 PM
Off-season I like them for recovery. On season I stick w/ more low GI carbs like yams, oats, etc. Also my stomach gets touchy so I try to stick w/ the same boring stuff that is also proven to be wonderfully neutral on my digestive system.

Northman
07-06-2009, 02:47 PM
Banana's and Isolate protein, chocolate chip cookie dough are my off season post recovery drinks.

Gymrat65
07-07-2009, 12:58 PM
Green Banana's sugar level is lower than yellow due to the fermenting process as they ripen.

capone1153
07-08-2009, 10:12 AM
i use 8 oz of bananas blended in my PWO shake during the off season and love ittt :)

fitmomma3
07-08-2009, 03:21 PM
Although I do throw in bananas once in a while mostly post workout and ONLY in the off season I tend to stay away from them... For fruit I stick with the most bang (vitamins/fiber/antioxidants) for the least amount of waste (cal/sugar)... I favor strawberries, oranges, and apples.

capone1153
07-08-2009, 10:15 PM
I read somewhere that bananas are a good choice PWO because they are simplier carbs but not as simple as other fruit which is only sugar.. has anyone heard anything like this?

SadFatty
07-09-2009, 09:48 AM
My coach just put me on one banana a day 5 days a week. I'mmaking great progress but i"m not going to attribute it just to the banana. They are yummy though.

Lee Penman
07-09-2009, 10:05 AM
Green bananas seem to contain a type of indigestible starch that seems to speed up metabolism. I did a small piece on it in the July Species Nutrition newsletter (subscribe to this newsletter by going to www.speciesnutrition.com (http://www.speciesnutrition.com))
That was the theory about the 'banana diet' that send Japan into a national banana shortage. The banana also had to be cold when consumed (?!)

MikeS
07-09-2009, 11:24 AM
Bananas also contain vitamins/minerals/fiber/water so theyre good. Just dont go overboard.

fitmomma3
07-09-2009, 09:45 PM
Green bananas seem to contain a type of indigestible starch that seems to speed up metabolism. I did a small piece on it in the July Species Nutrition newsletter (subscribe to this newsletter by going to www.speciesnutrition.com (http://www.speciesnutrition.com))
That was the theory about the 'banana diet' that send Japan into a national banana shortage. The banana also had to be cold when consumed (?!)i've seen green bananas in some of the cleanse/detox diets too.

figurebre
07-10-2009, 12:46 AM
what is a green banana?

fitmomma3
07-10-2009, 06:40 AM
what is a green banana?they're also known as plantains: They tend to be firmer and lower in sugar content than dessert bananas. Bananas are most often eaten raw, while plantains usually require cooking or other processing, and are used either when green or under-ripe (and therefore starchy) or overripe (and therefore sweet). Plantains are a staple food in the tropical regions of the world, treated in much the same way as potatoes and with a similar neutral flavour and texture when the unripe fruit is cooked by steaming, boiling or frying.

http://www.jamaicatravelandculture.com/food_and_drink/green_banana.htm

Lee Penman
07-10-2009, 11:57 AM
they're also known as plantains: They tend to be firmer and lower in sugar content than dessert bananas. Bananas are most often eaten raw, while plantains usually require cooking or other processing, and are used either when green or under-ripe (and therefore starchy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starch)) or overripe (and therefore sweet). Plantains are a staple food (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staple_food) in the tropical (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical) regions of the world, treated in much the same way as potatoes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato) and with a similar neutral flavour and texture when the unripe fruit is cooked by steaming, boiling or frying.

http://www.jamaicatravelandculture.com/food_and_drink/green_banana.htm
Whilst the whole 'plantain story' is true...the green banana used in the so called 'banana diet' is simply a slightly under ripe bananna. In other words, no black spots and more green than yellow in color.

fitmomma3
07-10-2009, 05:56 PM
Whilst the whole 'plantain story' is true...the green banana used in the so called 'banana diet' is simply a slightly under ripe bananna. In other words, no black spots and more green than yellow in color.oh I didn't realize that... plaintains are more like potatoes I guess from what I heard I have a Jamaican friend that used to eat them all the time. I didn't realize when you said green you meant regular bananas just unripe... I wonder how or if that changes the make up as far as calorie/sugar content because the longer they sit the more sugar taste they get to them...

Lee Penman
07-11-2009, 12:22 AM
Who'd have thought a thread on 'bananas' would have attracted so much attention...lol!
The ripeness of a banana significantly affects the sugar content. I had this conversation with Jillian Michaels and she convinced me to let go of my blackened banana fixaton and turn to less ripe ones. The thing I found is that you are less likely to overeat Green bananas...so I guess that means the sugar 'fix' is less present and, strangely enough, they do seem to affect overall metabolic rate in a different fashion!

figurebre
07-11-2009, 12:34 AM
ohhh... i know what a plantain is. :) i thought maybe thats what it was

capone1153
07-14-2009, 10:12 AM
Who'd have thought a thread on 'bananas' would have attracted so much attention...lol!




hahhhahaa... and they say people on this site dont like carbs...

MrDiamondCalves
07-20-2009, 07:06 AM
I think there great pre workout...

Ripped Italian
07-29-2009, 07:41 PM
Banana's are a staple during my off season along with the usual yams, oats, rice & beans, & Ezekiel.
Usually 2 per day...

Frosty
08-01-2009, 10:41 AM
My opinion....


Pro's:
-Bananas are probably the lowest fructose content fruit and that's a very good thing.
-It's a low fructose carb without gluten or gliadin
-Very easy to digest (assuming no sensitivities or allergies)
-Very cheap
-Very convenient and requires zero prep and is portable and comes in its own container :)

Cons:
-Higher on the GI scale so not for every type of metabolism for regular meals.
-One of the lower anti-oxidant content fruits due to its thick skin
-Obviously for keto it just has no place in the diet


Seems like an excellent easy carb source in the post-workout window.

FoodFreak
09-12-2009, 06:49 PM
My opinion....


Pro's:

-Bananas are probably the lowest fructose content fruit and that's a very good thing.
-It's a low fructose carb without gluten or gliadin
-Very easy to digest (assuming no sensitivities or allergies)
-Very cheap
-Very convenient and requires zero prep and is portable and comes in its own container :)

Cons:
-Higher on the GI scale so not for every type of metabolism for regular meals.
-One of the lower anti-oxidant content fruits due to its thick skin
-Obviously for keto it just has no place in the diet


Seems like an excellent easy carb source in the post-workout window.


I agree with alot of what you say in the "pro's" department but wish to contribute more the to the "con's"

-sugar content fluctuates with ripeness- inconsistency and inefficiency

-not so easy to measure (sizes differ)

-although they contain lower fructose than most fruits and tend to be more of a "complex" carb, there are still plenty of easier, more efficient carb sources to fill glycogen stores in skeletel muscle vs being stored as liver glycogen.

however from a holistic standpoint- if one were to limit their carb sources to only natural, unprocessed ones- it probably ranks pretty high in its potential for use Pre/Post workout for energy and glycogen replenishment.

Outcast
09-15-2009, 11:59 PM
I usually have one with my post workout protein drink. I figured its a quick and easy way to get some simple carbs in post work out.

Trulyhuge
09-30-2009, 10:13 PM
I love my bananas moreso offseason. That's one fruit that can fill me up.

Gerb
10-05-2009, 01:05 PM
Okay, when it comes to bananas what are your thoughts? Some say bananas are bad since they are high on the glycemic index. Others say green bananas (why would anyone WANT to eat a green banana...lol!!) actually assist you in losing weight....Input needed on the great banana debate!

everything I have found offline/online says banana's are low to medium on a Glycemic Index scale. under 55 being low, under 69 being medium.

Sources:

Dave Palumbo's S.M.A.R.T Manual
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1846/2
http://www.carbs-information.com/glycemic-index-fruit/banana-gi-value.htm
http://www.southbeach-diet-plan.com/glycemicfoodchart.htm