According to the website of Spain's "Pioneer" newspaper on August 24, bananas are the favorite fruit of athletes, and it has many benefits for improving athletic performance. It's so famous in the sports world that it's not surprising to see those most famous athletes holding it in their hands during training and breaks. But is everything about bananas true? Is there really no other better fruit?
"Bananas, like any other fruit, are good for physical activity." Antonio Gomez, a sports nutrition expert working at a nutrition research institute, points out. But the expert stressed that this food with a good reputation is perfect for eating during exercise because it contains carbohydrates that can be quickly absorbed.
Honey, sucrose, milk and refined flour also contain this type of carbohydrate. This carbohydrate can quickly raise blood sugar levels and provide us with energy, but its intake is not always more and better.
"If we're going to do 30 minutes or 1 hour of high-intensity exercise, the body doesn't have time to absorb these carbohydrates. Conversely, if you're doing other longer-lasting exercises, this intake makes sense because it helps us maintain energy levels. Gomez said.
In addition to eating bananas before and during training, nutritionist Natalia Moraggers stresses that eating some bananas is also very beneficial when we finish exercise. "The body's reserves of glycogen are consumed in large quantities during exercise, and it's important to replenish them." Moraggers also stressed that it is also important to replenish water in time.
A study conducted by the Human Athletic Performance Laboratory at the University of Appalachia state in the United States compared the efficacy of carbohydrates contained in bananas with a regular sports drink in high-intensity cycling. The researchers found that the efficacy of the two was the same, but bananas provided antioxidants that sports drinks did not have.
This brings us to another famous benefit of bananas: potassium. "Bananas can provide about 20 percent of the body's daily need for this mineral." Morags said. Among other benefits, potassium helps improve nerve function and muscle contraction, as well as keeping the heart rate stable. But does it really help prevent cramps?
Gomez said: "Potassium levels are too low and can cause us to have cramps during prolonged physical activity. Bananas can help us ensure adequate potassium intake to avoid the appearance of these discomforts. ”
The higher magnesium content of bananas is also beneficial in this regard. Together, Magnesium and potassium, Moraggers says, can help us "fight physical fatigue." Bananas also contain tryptophan, an important amino acid that is actively involved in the functioning of multiple organs.
Source: Reference News Network
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