Bananas have until recently been a staple of mine - sadly I've discovered that they are actually a bunch of calorie and carb packed buggers.

As fruits go they don't seem to be that great for people trying to lose weight. What do other people think?

Hi Imran,

I eat two or free a day. Lost four stone last year so I think they just need to be a part of your overall diet. Think they're about 80/85 cals if memory serves??

I would say though that if you can go for apples - they got so many health benefits on the net somewhere I found the following that Apples do for you:-
Lower blood cholesterol levels
Treat constipation and diarrhea
Help control diabetes
Strengthen immune system
May lower risk of heart disease
May help prevent cancer

I know there's a couple of 'mays' in there but there's more in-depth stuff at this link

Hope that helps, I'm not for giving up on bananas on that same site (which i think is for folks of a senior age by the way!) it says "Bananas. Just one of these yellow fruits provides a whopping 467 milligrams of potassium, which is important for keeping your muscles strong and healthy (particularly the heart) and even helps reduce high blood pressure. Bananas are a good source of fiber, which can help prevent heart disease, and they have an antacid effect, so they're useful for treating heartburn. ".
From what I've read elsewhere a lot of golfers and tennis players eat them because they're a slow-release energy food.

Apples and bananas - eat plenty of both I say!

I sometimes have a banana 30 or 45 minutes before a workout just for an energy boost. If it is good enough for the top tennis players then it is good enough for me!

Hi,

Re: the slow-release energy food, it depends on how ripe the banana is - as they ripen the starch in them turns into sugars which can end up causing your blood sugar level to go up - so I would go for underripe ones or as Paul said go for more fibrous fruit like apples/pears.

A

Yeah that's exactly what I've done - gone onto apples. Cheers for the informative response Paul!

Bananas are an essential fuel for us cyclists. The steepness of hills is rated by the number of bananas-worth of energy it will take to fuel a climb. The sight of a whole load of banana skins on the roadside is a sure sign of a tough stretch of road ahead.

Incidentally, cyclists also go for ripe bananas on the basis that they are far easier to digest, though for anyone on a diet more difficult to digest is probably better (the body actually burn calories digesting your food).

I thought bananas were a sources of potassium to help prevent muscle cramp, or is that another urban myth?

well I've been feeling really hungry in the mornings as I have breakfast at about 8 and they try to have my lunch at one - now until recently I'd been delving into the biscuit box at work (it seems to always be full) and of course I've knocked that on the head. I've tried an apple and I've tried tangerines but the only thing that really helps to curb my hunger is the banana - so that's what I stick with and then I have my apples and tangerines or whatever in the afternoon if I feel peckish.

Works for me and so far so good! 6lbs down can't be wrong lol

I know that eating bananas are very good for you in moderation but because of the potassium that banans have it can be very bad if you over indulge as too much potassium in the body could cause trouble with the kidneys. I only learnt this recently when my partner went into hospital and his kidneys shut down the doctors said that having one every other day was good for the system but no more than that. So in the long run over-indulging in the foods that are healthy for you can actually turn out to be bad for you too. Me personally, I love bananas, they taste great.

I whole-heartedly agree with this post - it's all about balance - all things in moderation!! It's a shame they taste great - I still have two/three a day!!

I thought bananas were a great source of humour!

Having a banana is far better than a biscuit / chocolate or crisps.
I've read somewhere that over the years bananas that are now sold are bigger. So may have 1/2 a large one or a smaller one and I don't think 2 a day is too many.

I tend to have one like Sam at 11 o'clock. Other fruit mid afternoon. And if I'm training early evening then another one about 45 mins before my work out.

Me too I have one about 11 each day or an orange. Bananas are eaten as a from of energy by tennis players so must be good for getting you through the day. Also good for potassium....

Nuts (almonds & brazils) are an excellent form of snacks and being a protein are slow release energy so should in theory stop wanting to eat. Bananas are classed as a carbohydrate and give a quick sugar rush and then you are hungry again.

Unfortunately for me I have an allergy to a lot of fruit - those with stones, kiwis, strawberries, apples & pears.

Doesn't leave me with much choice for fruit, only bananas & oranges.

I found apples and oranges really difficult to digest so I gave them up about 15 years ago and it really made me feel better. I find that bananas are one of the few fruits that I can easily digest so I'm going to carry on eating them !

I am often not hungry before I go to the gym but feel I should eat something. So grabbing a banana on the way out or 30 minutes before is a sort of lazy way of eating something filling and healthy. An apple would take longer to eat and longer to digest. So for me it is more about the convenience factor.

I love bananas. I have one on my porridge every morning.
I measure out the oats into a bowl, top with sliced banana and water to cover and zap for 3 mins in the microwave, then........ smother with milk and eat. Yum.

One of our friends on Ab Fab U Less eats nothing but bananas and looks extremely healthy for it.

The only problem appears to be (hope you don't mind if I point out the obvious Rabid) that it does encourage excessive facial hair.

Nothing wrong with bananas!

And what do you mean "excessive facial hair"?

Maybe so, but what an adorable smile

... yes, who's your dentist Herbie?

Baked bananas are a great dessert.. they go all sticky and toffee like. Mmm.

so flattered!
(blushing)

(although you probably can't tell)

Hey - leave banana breath Rabid alone! *Rabid, see my thread on Ab Fab re diet breath!*

Anytime I have done a lengthy walk or race - they always give you a banana when you finish! They are good for energy and I believe that although it's kinda hard for your body to digest last thing at night - it has something in it that helps you sleep!

... yes but look what they've done to Imran. He used to be a good-looking bloke and now he's turned into a green blob!