Bananas are the shit. They are a magical fruit that improves just about everything. They can even help you maintain that #1 spot on Mario Kart.
Looking for more than an N64 classic to convince you?
Not only did this study show that bananas are superior to sports drinks in just about every category for recovery from exercise, but they also help to reduce inflammation:
"A novel finding from the current study was that COX-2 mRNA expression in THP-1 monocytes was lower when cultured in plasma samples collected 21-h post-exercise from both banana trials compared to the water-only or the sugar beverage trials. These data suggest that banana flesh metabolites that increase in human circulation following ingestion may confer anti-inflammatory effects within monocyte cells as evidenced by reduced COX-2 mRNA expression the morning following heavy exertion.
Taken together, these data support the combined intake of sugars and phytochemicals from banana fruit by athletes during heavy exertion as an efficient strategy to improve metabolic recovery and diminish post-exercise inflammation at the cell level."
Renowned physical therapist, Dr. Adriaan Louw, once said he keeps a prescription pad in his clinic. One of the things he often writes on it, "eat more bananas".
So instead of reaching for a sports drink or the advil, try a banana instead.
