a1t3r3g0

All I can say is wow!

I was adding up all the protein, calories, fat, and carbs I've eaten today*. I almost didn't add the banana because I figured they're basically good for ya. I thought, what the heck, why not look it up online. From what I've found, the average banana has over 100 calories and 30g of carbs! I guess I was ignorant to the fact that bananas have so much sugar in them.

*It's quite interesting to do this.. I've never done it before. All in all I came up with:
121g protein
944 calories
22g fat
106g carbs

Most of the carbs and calories came from the bun I ate my bocaburger on and the stupid banana.

dannoxxxx

that reall isnt a lot of calories. And as long as it is good fat i would recomment eating more fat per day as well.

You need fat to make you feel full and it is a good source of energy as well.

Things like nuts, certain oils(olive oil), are good for you and can help you stick to a better diet by making you feel fuller. These types of fats arent stored as readily into the body as fat, either.

Having an equal intake of carbs and Protein is a good thing though. Or having a bit more protein then carbs is even better....and i can see that you have that!

BubblegumTeflon

Bananas are goodgoodgood! Good calories. There isn't much wrong with them, they have potassium which gives you energy too. But there is always the chance of too much of a good thing, unless you are a monkey.

yournamehere

I was shocked to discover the same thing when I decided to cut my carb intake drastically.

Remember, though - nobody ever got obese from eating bananas,

However, if you're trying to get your body to burn fat instead of carbs, you've got to give them up for awhile.

Otherwise - enjoy them in moderation.

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a1t3r3g0

Yeah, I'm not about to give up bananas, but I was mostly amazed at how much sugar is in them - but I guess that's why they taste so good They're great to eat if you wake up a little too late and don't have time before you have to get to class! I'm just going to try not to eat more than one a day from now on..

Plan9Senior

Bananas are one of the worst fruits for you. Totally loaded with cals and carbs. I could think of a lot worse things to be eating, and they arent bad for you I just avoid most all fruits because I am aiming towards single digit BF %.

koli70

I love bananas

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Mael

uh, two things. first, as far as being suger goes, banana's are probably simple sugers, which are better than complex sugers (easier, faster usage of simple ones), so they aren't bad for you in that manner. second, check the stats for banana's again. the average one can't have have 30g carbs and be 100 calories. 1 carb = 4 calories. do the math, it doesn't add up. if your seriously counting stuff, try to find exact info like "5 oz. of banana = ***".

a1t3r3g0

Well, I found the info right from the USDA's website, so I don't think they'd make it up... http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/cgi-bin/nut_search.pl I just took a rough estimate to get the average among the different sizes, no real calculations were done on my part there.

It lists:
1 large (8" to 8-7/8" long)
------- weighing 136 g
Has 121 calories and 31g carbs

1 medium (7" to 7-7/8" long)
------- weighing 118 g
Has 105 calories and 27g carbs

As far as them being simple sugars, yes, I agree, but I still didn't realize how much was in them, I really had no idea before I looked.

cliv

A nutrtitionist told me that it's good to eat a banana because it has lots of healthy things in it (potassium, fiber, etc). However, he said to only eat it one half at a time (one half now, wait a couple of hours for the other half) because of the sugar content. All the sugar in a whole banana will spike blood sugar levels and insulin levels fairly high, whereas half a banana is easier on the body.

seizei

I hate that people think that sugar is bad all of a sudden. Damn protein diet fads.

Put out more energy than you take in and you're fine.. you can burn off those banana calories in 10 minutes.

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a1t3r3g0

Geez you don't have to get all upset about it. The whole point I was trying to make is that I previously thought that bananas had no fat, calories, carbs or protein, but I was wrong.

Plan9Senior

Lighten up Some people have an all or nothing attitude (like myself) and seek out useful information to get the most efficient diet for their health goals. You don't have to be on a protein diet fad to realize that excess sugars turn into fat and store around your belly . Limiting them just ensures that when you are working out you are burning your stored fat as opposed to the fat that you have accumulated during your daily intake of unneeded high carbs.

Sleepyjack

i eat 2 to 3 bananas a day, they're my favourite fruit. They do have lots of sugar, but as Mael poitned out its all just fruitose (i think?) which is good for a quick energy fix, like before playing basketball or whilst working out. They also do have a shitload of other good stuff for you and are easily digested which helps in a cleansing and detoxing diet. Also bananas grow naturally so we're meant to consume them :P
they're much better than any other processed food.

dr_clocker

Well either the 100 calories or the 30g of carbs might be incorrect. here is a good scale to follow.

1g of fats = 9 calories
1g of protein = 4 calories
1g of sugar/carbs = 4 calories


so 30g * 4 = 120 calories, plus there is a small amount of fat, and decent amount of protein in bananas.

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Plan9Senior

Eh? There isn't even a measurable amount of protein in a banana .

a1t3r3g0

I'm not saying that every banana has exactly 100 cals, and exactly 30g carbs, but just that on average, that's approximately what they have.

rosie21

..

Nimbletoe

Damnit, Bananas are good too. Oh well, a lot of fruits have carbs like that.

a1t3r3g0

Well it's not like they're bad for you, but just don't go around eating like 5 a day thinking that they are ultra healthy.

Plan9Senior

I cannot believe the banana thread is getting this much attention

FastShark85

I'm on the Atkins diet and I've lost 26 pounds in less than 6 weeks. Call it a fad or whatever you want. It's working very well for me, and I've gotten the health-issue approval from my M.D. brother.

Plan9Senior

For the love of god, please let the banana thread die in peace

a1t3r3g0

I'd delete it (I think I still can this late...) but I just don't want to

Plan9Senior

In a morbid way, i want to never see it leave the first page

seizei

The thing that I see in people around me is that idea exactly.. that calories, sugars, and fats can be inherently bad.

People forget that the purpose of fruit is to be a big ball of energy for the seeds inside to grow with.

I get kind of aggressive sometimes when the issue of diets/calorie counting comes up ... just because I see so many people relying on that solely, without following the basic equation of putting out more energy (through exercise) than you take in (through food), while still eating good, energy filled food.

You wouldn't buy gas that advertised that it provides 50% less energy to your car would you?

maybe a bad analogy - just seems weird that people seek out empty food with as little calories as possible.

/rant off

let's keep this thread going forever!!

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Plan9Senior

Actually, fruits are pretty empty foods Sezei. How often have you eaten fruit and thought, "oh man I am stuffed"? They are basically just water and sugar. A lot of people use them as a snack substitute which is a hell of a lot better then eating junk. However, for those who have even more willpower, sacrificing the fruit alltogether and eating vegetables instead will not only save you in calories but will also have a hell of a lot less carbs.

Bottom line. Are bananas bad? Course not. Are there better foods to eat instead bananas if you are trying to shed off bodyfat? Yes. Obviously if you are not trying to lose bodyfat and your goal is just to eat healthy, then eat those bananas without any shame

seizei

beautifully said and a fitting end to the thread I think!

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"If you're not weird, you're not interesting".
I'm very interesting ...

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Plan9Senior

Don't count on it

yetanothermoose

FastShark85,
I'm on the "quit smoking, eat better, and work your ass off" program, and I've dropped just over 20 pounds in 3.5 weeks. In theory, that's an unhealthy amount of weight to lose in such a short period of time, but I've reduced my calories from, oh, something in the range of 4000/day to somewhere between 1000 and 2000, depending on the day, and I've gone from sedentary to active (45-90 minutes of weightlifting 3-5 times/week, 25-180 mins of cardio 4-6 days/week) overnight, splitting my cardio time between running, walking, and cycling. That crap works!

Plan9Senior

VIVA LA BANANA THREAD!

a1t3r3g0

lmao

JohnnyRock

Save your banana for a post-workout snack. Along with some protein you'll be feeding your muscles a healthy, building meal.

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axolotls

I am with Johnny. Simple carbs, high glycemic is a Banana. perfect for after workout to restore your glycogen levels.

I suppose if you are on Atkins or want to lose weight then skip the Banana.

Beltruckus

so people actually read the thread before responding.... My guess would be no. Now people see the carbs and are like OMG CARBS, but potassium (as been mentioned before) is really good for you. Eat a banana for christ sake. I read somewhere that in like 20 years there will be no more banana's. something is killing the banana trees. could be wrong though.

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G5_Todd

question for you guys

why do bannanas give me heart burn

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axolotls

ask a GI specialist. also.. don't eat bananas if it gives you heartburn.. i surely wouldn't (unless you take any of that anti-heartburn-acid reflux medication or tums).

Jadey

So the banana trees may die before this thread does then.

*just doing my part to keep it alive!*

saltfish

Check to see if the sugar in a banana is glycemic. On a reduced carb diet, it is better to intake non-galycemic sugars. (berries and such)

-SF

tobasco

go banana! /ralph wiggum