My Doctor Asked Me to Eat Two Bananas Daily — This Is What Happened

For 60 days, I ate two bananas a day. The results were astounding.

I had a cervical scare a few months ago. A student's life is often sedentary, sitting with my nose in a book all day long caused me extreme back and neck pain.

So much so that one day I wasn't able to get up from the bed. When I woke up my upper back was in agony. I have to take a painful turn to twist my body to sit up.

I went to the doctor who told me something that I already suspected. Lack of stretching and bad posture led to swelling at the base of my neck.

The doctor recommended physiotherapy and multivitamins. He also advised me to eat two bananas daily for better bone and muscle health.

I was in unbearable pain so I took his advice to heart and ate two bananas daily. One in breakfast and one in the evening before the workout.

In the past, I have eaten one apple daily adhering to the age-old wisdom. I truly believed that an apple can keep me away from doctors until I read this

Bananas have 5 times as much Vitamin A and iron, and 3 times as much phosphorus as apples. Bananas are also rich in potassium, fiber and natural sugars.

This quote helped me stick to my resolution of eating 2 bananas daily. Here is how 2 bananas a day affected my health.

They Will Give You Stronger Bones For Better Muscle Support

Bananas are full of nutrients that can help you maintain high bone density. They are rich in magnesium, potassium, and Vitamin B & C. All these nutrients support good bone health.

Moreover, bananas are high in fructooligosaccharide (FOS), a prebiotic compound that helps in the production of digestive enzymes. These enzymes boost the body’s capacity to absorb Calcium.

And calcium is necessary for healthy bones.

They Will Make Your Morning Washroom Visit A Success

My mother suffers from chronic constipation, which can be heredity. So, I am always mindful of eliminating bodily waste first thing in the morning.

According to a study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, bananas are the natural laxatives as they accelerate the movement of food in the small intestine.

Eating two bananas daily meant increasing my daily fiber dose by 6.2 grams(which is 25% of your daily fiber recommendation). It helped me easily relieve myself in the morning daily.

Most days I woke up with an uncomfortable feeling in my abdomen that had me running to the washroom. Never in my life had defecating felt this easy.

They will Boost To Your Happiness

Bananas are rich in Vitamin B6 which helps in the production of serotonin, the happy hormone. Adding bananas to your diet will guarantee higher levels of serotonin production.

Bananas are also rich in tryptophan an amino acid that is proved to boost serotonin levels. It relaxes you by regulating your mood. Vitamin B foliate is also found to alleviate depression symptoms.

So, even though eating a banana may not make you happy right away, it contributes greatly to improved mental wellbeing.

Say Bye To Muscle Cramps

I have been working out consistently for more than 5 years now. The biggest challenge for me is the muscle cramps. Hip cramps are the bane of my existence.

Running, jumping rope, HIIT, and even yoga can lead to painful cramps. Sometimes I have to forgo a workout to rest and stretch.

My pre-workout snack was a banana and peanut butter for the past two months, I ate it 40 minutes before a workout and I experienced fewer cramps. The cramps were less painful as well.

There is no scientific study on bananas aiding muscle cramps, so what worked for me may not work for you. But there is no harm in trying it because banana is a great pre-workout snack.

Busting The Biggest Myth About Bananas

I ate two bananas daily for two months to improve my bone and muscle health.

During this experiment, I was warned several times that it might lead to weight gain. But I could afford to gain a few pounds so it didn’t discourage me at all.

When I started this challenge in December I weighed 44 kgs now after two months my weight is the same. I did not gain weight at any time during these two months. But if you are still concerned about weight gain let me change your mind.

Banana can actually help in weight loss. The high fiber content in bananas helps in slowing down digestion and keeps you full for longer.

According to the insider.com

Eat up to one banana a day as part of a healthy diet for weight loss.

The Best Time To Eat A Banana

Preworkout snack

Bananas are a great pre-workout snack, one banana with peanut butter will give you enough energy to crush any workout. No matter if you do cardio, HIIT, or weightlifting, one banana is enough for optimal energy.

Bananas are rich in potassium and carbs, both of which are necessary for muscle strength and better exercise performance. It helps you power through an intense workout session.

Pair it with a protein source for even better results.

A Morning Treat

There are some concerns about eating a banana on an empty stomach as they are acidic in nature, but you can easily eat them with your breakfast daily. They are rich in carbs, so you will have plenty of energy for the long day ahead.

You can pair them with any breakfast for better nutrition or you can eat them as a mini snack before lunch.

I loved pairing a banana with Greek yogurt and oatmeal for breakfast.

A Small Warning

Bananas are high in sugar content. 1 medium-sized banana has about 14 grams of sugar. So, if you are diabetic or pre-diabetic have a chat with your doctor before chomping down on bananas.

Natural sugars from fruits are not harmful. Moreover, the sugar in bananas gets released slowly into the blood because of its high fiber and pectin. So, there is no sugar spike after eating bananas.

To further reduce its pace you can pair it up with a protein source like peanut butter or yogurt. Try consuming it with healthy fats like nuts.

Conclusion

Eating two bananas daily had a significant effect on my health. I did get bored of eating them, but I continued this experiment nonetheless because I knew they were making me stronger and happier.

Following the doctor’s advice gave me the satisfaction of knowing that I was taking a step to improve my health.

In my humble opinion, banana is a superfood that you should eat daily.

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