Described as the ‘food of champions’, it is a product that can be used alone, in snack format, or as a complement to other healthy recipes at any time of the day. Not in vain, In Spain it is the second most consumed fruitbehind the orange
Yes, you guessed it, we are talking about the banana, a fruit which can delay the absorption of sugars into the bloodstream, as well as provide us with the muscle strength necessary to recover after training. But its benefits go much further. An expert explains to us how far they go.
Why is banana called the ‘food of champions’?
There are countless reasons why we should add the banana to our diet, and one of them has a lot to do with the name given by experts that it is ‘the food of champions’.
To know the reason that places it on the podium of the food that helps with muscle strength and recovery, the nutrition expert Jaume Giménezfrom Nutritional Coaching and Dia’s advisor, provides us with the keys to understand it.
First of all, “the banana is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and fiber. It contains above all vitamin C (acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect cells against damage caused by free radicals), and vitamin B6 (which helps our nervous system function properly).
But in addition, the banana “is rich in potassium (which helps us with muscle contraction), magnesium (necessary for muscle, nerve and bone function) and phosphorus (which plays a crucial role in bone health, kidney function and energy metabolism). It is also rich in carbohydrates and gives us quick energy for extra consumption during exercise.”
Banana benefits in addition to muscle strengthening
But in addition to being the ‘food of champions’ due to what was previously described, the banana has a lot of responsibility in good humor: “contains tryptophan, an amino acid that the body uses to produce melatonin and serotonin, so consuming bananas can help us sleep and improve our mood.
The banana can also (although many believe it is indigestible) “help make the easier digestionsince it is easily digested without irritating the digestive tract. That is why it is usually recommended in the case of suffering gastritis or to take after diarrhea to restore lost minerals.
Curiosities about bananas that you may not have known
This tropical fruit has its origin in Southeast Asia, although it has often been mistakenly attributed to Central America. Believe it or not, the banana is the most consumed fruit in the world: It is grown in more than 150 countries and among the main exporters are Ecuador, Costa Rica and the Philippines.
Although banana and plantain They are used as synonyms, there are some differences depending on the expert consulted. “The banana is larger, its shape is straighter and the color is different (the pulp of the Canarian product is a light yellow-cream color with its characteristic brown specks, compared to the greenish tone of the banana). On a nutritional level, The Canary Islands banana is sweeter because it is consumed a little riper and therefore it will have less starch and more sugar than banana.
How to preserve bananas
If the bananas are green and you want them mature fasteryou can put them in a paper bag along with an apple or a pear. These fruits release ethylene that accelerates the ripening process.
On the contrary, if you want to prevent them from ripening quickly, you can wrap the tip of the bunch with plastic wrap, where the bananas are attached to each other. And if you have a lot of bananas, remember that you can freeze themyou just have to peel them, chop them and put them in an airtight freezer bag.