Ok, let's talk bananas...
As a high carb, predominately raw, fruitarian I eat a sh!t load of bananas.
What people think ripe bananas look like:
WRONG! |
What RIPE bananas ACTUALLY look like:
If your bananas are green, then they aren't ripe, If your bananas aren't spotty, then they are not ripe. If your bananas don't effortlessly break from the bunch, then they are not ripe. Unripe bananas = constipation and indigestion. Unripe fruit is starchy and unpalatable, whereas ripe fruit is sweet and delicious- full of easily absorbable fructose that your cells just soak up!
There's a lot of fruit-shaming going on in our world today and often people blame the fruit they eat for sour stomaches and poor digestion when really the fruit was just an innocent accomplice to poor food choices, combinations, and lack of ripeness.
Why you should eat bananas: (Preach!)
- Bananas (other than being incredibly delicious) are actually great for soothing an upset stomach and aiding in the correction of poor digestion since they are high in fibre and actually function as a natural anti-acid. Have an ulcer? Really hope you don't, but if you do, bananas coat the lining of the stomach creating a barrier against corrosive acids.
- They contain a great deal of pectin which helps move degenerative toxins and heavy metals out of the body
- Full of tryptophan, which gets converted to serotonin, they help combat depression and elevate mood.
- High in potassium, they are a sure-fire solution for cramps
- Bananas also help increase calcium absorption
- They are also full of B-vitamins, manganese, and a host of disease-fighting antioxidants!
- Great source of ENERGY! Bananas are the original protein-brotein shake! Easily assimilated, digestible workout/post-workout fuel!
- Bananas are the ultimate weight loss fruit! They keep you satiated and carbed-up which will prevent you from reaching for unhealthy, oily, fatty, salty snacks throughout the day.
And it just wouldn't be right for me to leave you without a banana recipe so you can begin to include some 'nanners into your daily diet! This is a personal favorite of mine and I typically have it for breakfast and/or lunch when I am not digging into some super, sweet melon. It's a staple in my 'diet' because I can pack in a lot of carbs that won't leave me feeling weighed down. I tend to have this on days where I know I am going to be doing Bikram yoga AND running later in the afternoon.
Banilla Kreme Smoothie
optional, to add some variety to your budding banana relationship: include a handful of pitted dates, carob powder, cinnamon, or all of the above! |
15 Organic, ripe spotty bananas
3 drops Stevia Sweetleaf Vanilla Cream drops
2-3 cups of distilled water
(depending on desired consistency)
(depending on desired consistency)
Blend until creamy perfection is reached!
Spotty ripe banana chart and unripe banana picture from google images
Banana facts from food matters.tv