Why You Shouldn’t Ditch Bananas

A new Appalachian State University study, which compared bananas to a sports drink during intense cycling, found that naners offered several advantages. In addition to providing antioxidants not found in sports drinks, they pack more nutrients and a healthier blend of natural sugars. In the study, trained cyclists gulped either a cup of a carb-rich drink or downed half a banana every 15 minutes during a two and a half to three hour road race. Blood samples taken before and after revealed that the cyclists experienced similar performance effects, and a greater shift in dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in movement and mood after eating the bananas. Some research also indicates that inadequate dopamine may be tied to obesity. Read more