Going bananas over a banana!

What’s the deal with Banana and Sportsmen!? Every sportsperson or athlete often goes bananas, over banana!

100 gms of banana has nearly 25 gms of carbs and 1-2 gm of protein, totaling 110 calories roughly.

Banana has become a favorite for sportsmen as they are an instant source of energy from carbs and a good amount of electrolytes in the form of potassium. (Read about electrolytes here http://nuvovivo.com/blog/electrolytes-sports/  )

It also a healthy source of fiber, potassium, Vit B6, Vit C, antioxidants and phytonutrients. An unripe banana is primarily starch (resistant starch) and fiber. As it ripens, the starch is converted into simple carbs & sugar. Hence, the Glycemic index (GI) of banana depends on its ripeness (Higher glycemic index, as it ripens, indicating a faster release of glucose to the blood). Because of the high fiber content and unresistant starch, the GI of banana is comparatively lower than many fruits.

Since banana is a good source of carb, it helps fuel the muscles during a sports activity or workout. Banana is also an excellent source of potassium, which is critical for normal muscle, nerve, and brain function. Potassium which is important to control the blood pressure is depleted through an athlete’s muscles and sweat during the sports activity and strenuous exercise.

Apart from this, banana is cheap, convenient to carry and is one of the most widely available fruit. This is why sports athletes are often fond of banana as they replenish the lost electrolyte such as potassium apart from giving energy during a high-intensity sport!