Eating banana before workout: 6 health benefits

Do you like to grab a fruit or a healthy snack bar before your workout routine every day? Consider having a banana before workout! These healthy fruits are a popular pre-workout snack for good reasons. Being portable, convenient, and delicious is a great start, but they also boost wellness factors that can enhance your fitness performance. Packed with natural energy sources and essential nutrients, bananas can help you perform better during your exercise routine. Their high carbohydrate content provides sustained energy, while its potassium content helps in muscle function. Also, their easy digestibility means they won’t weigh you down during your exercise regime! Read on to know more about the benefits of eating a banana before workout.

Is it good to eat a banana before a workout?

Here are some of the potential benefits of bananas which help to improve your workout performance:

1. Rich in carbohydrates

Bananas are a great source of carbohydrates, which your body breaks down into glucose for energy, as per a 2018 study published in the Food Quality and Safety journal. This sustained energy is essential for powering through your workout, especially endurance exercises.

2. High in potassium

Bananas are an excellent source of potassium, a mineral that plays a crucial role in muscle function and nerve impulses, according to a 2012 study published in the Advances in Nutrition journal. Replenishing potassium lost through sweat during exercise can help prevent muscle cramps and fatigue.

3. Easy to digest

Bananas digest more easily than other pre-workout snacks. “This means you won’t experience any stomach discomfort while exercising,” says nutritionist Susmita N.

4. Aids in muscle recovery

According to a 2018 study published in the Plos One journal, bananas may help with muscle recovery after exercise. This is likely due to their combination of carbohydrates and potassium. “It is also a good source of Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) which is essential for rebuilding lean muscles after workout,” says the expert.

5. Provides fiber and electrolytes

Bananas contain a good amount of fiber, which helps in slow and steady energy release throughout your workout. Additionally, bananas are packed with electrolytes, which are minerals that help regulate fluid balance in your body. Electrolytes are lost through sweat, and replenishing them can help prevent dehydration and improve performance.

6. Reduces inflammation

Are you looking for ways to reduce to reduce inflammation? Try adding bananas to your daily diet. Banana reduces muscle inflammation post the workout due to the presence of compounds like phenols, carotenoids, and phytosterols.

Bananas are high in carbohydrates, which are required for energy release during physical activity. Eating a banana before the workout helps in the slow and steady release of glucose from the liver to the muscles due to its fiber content. It reduces the exhaustion period by 10-15 percent. Bananas also contain potassium which is required to maintain good muscle health and muscle contractions. “Potassium is lost through sweat and low potassium levels can cause sudden muscle cramps, nausea, and abdominal discomfort. Eating a banana before a workout takes care of the potassium levels in the body,” says the expert.

What are the side effects of bananas?

Eating too much of anything may not be good for your health. The same holds true for bananas. Here are some of the likely side effects of having bananas:

• Overeating of bananas may include bloating, abdominal cramps, vertigo, nausea, and vomiting.
• Excessive eating of bananas may lead to weight gain.
• Eating unripe bananas can lead to constipation due to their large starch content.
• Banana is a good source of potassium, hence eating them will lead to hyperkalemia. People with heart issues, kidney failure muscle weakness need to be cautious.
• People with migraines may get triggered by overeating bananas as they contain tyramine.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Should you consume bananas before or after workout?

Consuming bananas before exercising helps in the steady release of energy needed for the workout. It also helps to keep an ideal potassium level to prevent muscle cramping. Post-workout banana consumption helps the muscle replenish their glycogen and help in faster recovery. Hence, bananas can be taken pre-workout, as well as post-workout, as it benefits both ways.

2. Can I drink water after eating a banana?

You should avoid drinking water just after eating a banana because it can cause severe indigestion. Drinking water makes bananas difficult to digest, so always wait around 30 minutes before drinking water.