Benefits Of Eating A Banana After A Workout

Many people take pain pills and drink Gatorade after they complete a workout. However, a banana can be just as beneficial if you are trying to recover from a workout. There was a study done that involved 20 cyclists. Half of the subjects had banana and water after a workout. The rest of the subjects had a sports drink.

The results of the study showed that bananas were just as effective for preventing inflammation and replacing nutrients as sports drinks. The study does have limitations. It was funded by the Dole Nutrition Institute. It was also a small scale study. However, there was another study done to show that bananas can be beneficial.

David Nieman is the director of the Appalachian State University’s Human Performance Lab. In 2012, David’s research team did a study that showed the sugars in bananas could improve performance just as much as a sports drink. They also found that bananas have 18 metabolites that can be found inside of the blood of athletes.

David believes that the metabolites can reduce inflammation. They can also break down the COX gene, which is the same gene that triggers inflammation. Ibuprofen also works by deactivating this gene.

Many athletes take ibuprofen and other pain medications after they work out. However, they should not be used in large amounts because they can cause cell damage. Bananas can also be used to prevent soreness. They can also help athletes bounce back after a workout.

If you want to get the most out of eating a banana, then you can eat half of one right before you work out. You can also eat one midway through your workout. You can eat the rest of the banana after you have finished working out.

Blueberries are another food that you can eat in order to reduce inflammation. David stated that more research needs to be done on blueberries.