Bananas. Get you some.
Bananas. Get you some.
If Elvis Presley liked them, you should too.
Yeah, that's right. I said it…! Elvis Presley liked Bananas. How do I know this…? Well back in the day I can remember watching some sort of documentary piece on the music icon. And in an offhand way, they mentioned he really was fond of Peanut Butter and Banana sandwiches. A quick search on the internet will inform you that this also included bacon. I cannot confirm or deny the claim of bacon as part of the recipe. All I know is that, for me, Elvis is the man for both his musical talent, and sandwich of choice.
Why am I mentioning Bananas on this post…? Well, for starters they belong to the fruit family. And in my estimation, the standard American diet does not include nearly enough fruits.
Both of my parents are from Greece but settled down in America. The diet from this region of the globe consists of lots of fruits and vegetables with modest amounts of meats. I can still remember my mom cutting up some apples, oranges, or offering some grapes for a sort of dessert after lunch or dinner. Meanwhile, when I would have dinner at my friends homes, dessert would be something different.
(Fact: Many Greek pastries contain syrups which are fruit and honey based. A killer combination for a nutritious punch. See link below for an example.)
When I was a kid, one close friend of mines mother would make something she called Sticky Buns. It was a buttery, flaky pastry (raw dough was from a can I believe) drenched in syrup made from caramelized sugar. In fact, the one time I can remember them preparing fruits was as a preserve (which were laden with sugar) or raw strawberries, covered in sugar.
They were not obese people by any stretch of the imagination. But as we got older this friend of mines major food group was junk food. Perhaps one example that proves behaviors start in the home.
Whenever I would have a Sticky Bun sort of dessert at a friends house… Whether it was pie, cake, or ice cream, I always felt weighed down and lethargic afterwards. So for sure my body was trying to tell me something. And I don't think it was trying to tell me to get used to these delicacies.
On the topic of practices one has grown up with. As the years went by, I found myself as an adult eating fruits on a regular basis. Bananas being one go to.
So why are Bananas so good for you…? For me, it is all about the potassium levels. One standard sized, ripe Banana contains over 400mg of potassium. What potassium is really good at doing is ridding your body of any excess water it may be holding on to. Water retention is a common occurrence in those that ingest a lot of sodium (and sugar) in their diets. Some water sources even (see softened water) can have high levels of sodium, which will be absorbed to some extent while bathing, let alone drinking it.
Personally, I watch my sodium intake. However, my water source does contain a lot of sodium, so I do bath in it. Whenever I simply eat one banana, I notice that my body does in fact appear more svelte in the mirror. And I do tend to expel a lot more fluid during comfort breaks (ie using the restroom).
This serves as a reminder of power of the potassium. It regulates the human bodies' hydration levels. With the correct amount of potassium in your system, you will feel properly hydrated while not retaining too much water. This is great news for those whom suffer from high blood pressure.
(Note: Whenever I have good potassium levels, I need to drink LESS water while exercising.)
As an aside, Bananas are fairly low on the glycemic index considering it is a great source of carbohydrates as well. And, Bananas are a great source of fiber which is huge for your digestive health.
(For a quick rundown on the glycemic index follow the link below. I have explained it in more detail there.)
So how often should you eat Bananas…?
Well allow me to say that you should be eating fruit with every meal you eat. Eating fruits does mean consuming sugars. But, they are not the refined sugars that are sans any sort of micronutrients, fiber, and antioxidants. Fruits contain all these and the ability to tickle your sweet tooth. And by the way, for proper health, your body needs micronutrients, fiber, and antioxidants.
So to gain all the benefits of Bananas, eat one a day for a while. Pay attention to how it makes you feel and what it does to your mind and body. I think you will be surprised…!
Looks like Elvis was onto something with those Banana sandwiches.
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