One cup of a mashed banana has approximately thirty-three percent of vitamin c and a whopping eight- hundred miligrams of potassium. Rated the seventh most abundant element on earth (believe it or not it makes up one point five percent of the earth's crust), potassium is an important component of brain, nerve and muscle function. In addition to bananas, potassium can be found in garlic, potatoes, orange juice, soybeans, avocados and apricots to name a few.
The morning is the best time to ingest potassium, and a morning shake can combine many potassium rich foods, however, when it comes to bananas and banana nutrition: how healthy is your smoothie?
The Best Banana
Bananas work great in a smoothie. They keep it thick and sweet. If you skin a banana, wrap it in plastic wrap and put it in the freezer overnight you'll have a nice cold smoothie without any need for ice in the morning. To spy the ripest in the bunch, make sure they are mostly yellow and firm, but with just a small amount of give and still attached to the others. The best bananas are organic. They're about ten cents more per banana than non-organic but you get your money's worth in a much sweeter fruit that hasn't been gassed to 'hyper-ripen' it.
The Problem with Smoothies
The problem arises when too much sugar is added to your smoothie. Fructose is a potent form of sugar and when a smoothie combines not only bananas but other fruit, the calorie content can skyrocket (bananas alone are about two hundred calories per cup). Throw in a few scoops of yogurt or a couple of tablespoons of honey, and your smoothie turns into a hypoglycemic nightmare. Initially this will give you a quick charge, but the crash afterwards will be exhausting.
Stay Simple
There is no need to dose your morning smoothie with anything you can grab. Get yourself a high protein powder, throw in one or two bananas and that should be enough. Many people 'overstuff' their smoothie with melons and berries and apples, creating improper combining, causing bloating and gas.
Potassium literally fires up the muscle cells by regulating optimal output when it comes to contraction. In addition, enhancing your smoothie with supplements is another nice way to get some additional benefits without the extra sugar intake. This is easiest done using capsules or tinctures instead of solid pills that are hard to grind. Open a capsule or fill a dropper full of vitamin c or any other choice that works for you, including herbs such as ginseng or evening primrose oil, and pour it into your blender. There is often little or no change in taste and the absorption rate can sometimes be faster and more efficient than breaking down a coated supplement in your stomach.
