Why are bananas good for running?

🍌Bananas 🍌 

Bananas are a great source of carbohydrates the glucose molecules your body needs during physical activity.  Carbs can improve performance by delaying fatigue. So foods that are rich in carbohydrates like bananas can boost endurance.

Bananas Give Potassium

One of the main reasons sports people eat bananas is Potassium.  This electrolyte permits the movement of fluids and nutrients across our cells’ membranes. We need to keep this in balance to prevent muscle cramps, stomach cramps or side stitches.  Eating bananas is a great way to get Potassium. Other sources includeoranges, potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, and avocado.

Bananas Provide Vitamin B6

Bananas are rich in Vitamin B6 which helps convert carbohydrate into usable energy. This is helps to maintain energy levels during training.

Bananas Provide Magnesium

Magnesium is an important mineral in the human body playing a role in over 300 biochemical reactions. It is crucial for energy production, muscle function, protein synthesis and insulin metabolism.  Magnesium is vital for the conversion of glycogen to glucose – the body’s main fuel during exercise. Without enough Magnesium you get a build up of lactic acid decreasing muscle efficiency and causing a burning sensation.  Magnesium is more important to bone health than calcium. So it is essential for runners who are pounding the road day after day.

When Should You Eat Bananas?

A little trial and error is needed to understand what works best for you.  General advice is to eat a banana roughly 30 minutes before you run or carry out any physical activity. This gives your body the chance to start to digest the food and enough fuel to get you started.

Don’t Forget A Post Exercise Banana

Bananas are great pre-run snacks, but there are also benefits to eating a banana after exercise.  A banana can quickly replenish the Carbohydrates, Potassium and Magnesium that you have used up during your activity.  This is why so many running events give out bananas at the end of a race or event.  As well as benefitting performance, bananas have plenty of other benefits for runners:

Make you happier - Bananas contain a high level of tryptophan which the body converts into serotonin which helps to regulate anxiety, happiness, and mood.

Aid weight loss - High levels of vitamin B-6 quickened metabolism it also helps suppress cravings for unhealthy carbs that may get in the way of your weight loss.

Keep you healthy - Bananas are high in antioxidants, providing protection from free radicals and chronic disease.

Prevent heart disease - Bananas are officially recognised as being able to lower blood pressure and protect against heart attack and stroke.

For all of these reasons bananas are a runners favorite fruit. Are you a runner who loves bananas? Do you feel that eating bananas help you to produce a better performance?