Eat your bananas and stop being scared of em!

I have heard from many people; friends, clients and family, that i need to be careful of how many bananas I eat...Ever since I was a kid (and used to pretend to eat bananas like a gorilla) I have loved this tropical and most yummy fruit. I dont get into fruit that takes alot of work to eat, cut, dice, core, grate, seed, or scrub.

   

    I have heard a ton of conflicting things about bananas and plantains and get a raised eyebrow every time I eat one at work. I decided to research this for myself and one way or another put an end to the fear of bananas!

   I want to try and always back up my posts with fact, and the two websites I trust the most are www.mayoclinic.com and www.nejm.org . I get most of the information I use to dispute rumors or give info about food from one or both of these sites.

   Bananas are dangerous! True, they can be very dangerous, If they are infested with spiders, and this happens in South America quite often, but the ones sold in the US are grown and inspected and should never have this problem, but give the banana your about to eat a good check over just to be safe. There are a few other risk to bananas for certain people, if you are in one of these groups talk to you doctor about bananas, IF YOU ARE ACTIVELY FIGHTING INFECTION TOO MUCH POTASSIUM CAN SLOW RED BLOOD CELL PRODUCTION!

   People suffering from type one diabetes should avoid eating bananas because they have been known to cause unsafe blood sugar spike (type 1 only).

   People suffering from Alcoholism should avoid more than the recommended daily allowance of bananas because, well to put it nicely, your liver and kidneys are mush anyway, and bananas are high in potassium and could cause you more problems.

   People with severe injuries such as burns and /or current broken bones should avoid bananas because potassium could affect the number of red blood cells that you need to aid in your recovery. PEOPLE WITH ACTIVE IMMUNO-DEFICIENCY should avoid bananas ONLY WHEN FIGHTING INFECTION.    

    Most other adults can eat (as both websites suggest) your recommended daily allowance of at least three servings of 4oz of fruit, ANY fruit including bananas. Studies show that a healthy middle aged man with no kidney or liver damage could eat up to eight servings of fruit per day including five servings of banana or plantain, seven times per week, without significantly altering his potassium levels.

   Bananas are also a wonderful source of folic acid and fiber. Bananas do not cause necrotizing vasculitis and they help stop stomach flu. Bananas help maximize the benefits of workouts by naturally extending the effects of adrenaline and they help to release endorphins.

Bananas are also one of the top 5 foods that help reduce cholesterol.

Now go eat some bananas and have an awesome day!!!

Please visit mayoclinic.com and NEJM.org....they are great sites!