Why banana is the ideal fruit for athletes

Few fruits are as complete and provide as many benefits as bananas. And athletes know it.

The banana is a fruit directly associated with athletes. They take it before and after training , and during games it is common to get hold of this fruit to recover and stay tuned. But why is this relationship between banana and sportsmen?

The right diet for an athlete is associated with many foods, including fruits. And among all of them, the banana occupies a prominent place. It is a very nutritious fruit, which provides energy, vitamins and minerals. It stands out for its content in carbohydrates , potassium, magnesium, folic acid, vitamin B6 and fiber. Then, it offers a great energetic contribution and, something that makes it very special, it has miraculous effects in front of the cramps.

With a glycemic index higher than that of many fruits, the sugars it contains take about an hour to pass into the blood, so it gives us quick energy during all the time we are exercising, continuously and from the beginning.

A remedy for cramps

All that extra vitality provided by the banana is essential to avoid other evils such as, for example, the feared muscle cramps that are the result of excessive effort and maintained over time. To this, in addition, other reasons must be added such as inadequate nutrition, lack of vitamins and minerals , and poor hydration.

In this lack of water and excessive sweating, is the reason why cramps appear, which are uncomfortable and painful involuntary spasms that we can control with the help of bananas. Being rich in potassium, it participates in muscle contraction and relaxation, and helps maintain the balance of body water, both of which are very important functions for the muscle when exercising. And is that potassium is the gasoline that our muscles need to function properly.

In many occasions it is rejected for its high caloric content, but the truth is that the banana provides a very easy digestion, and its consumption at the time of exercising will prevent the appearance of annoying cramps. It is best to prevent them, but if they do appear, you will have to stop to stretch and massage the area. If you wait for the pain to pass, all you will do is keep it. Stretches and massages, on the other hand, will cause the muscle fibers to spread and to abandon the tension that has caused the cramp.

Other benefits of banana

Not only sports people can enjoy their properties. The banana is a fruit full of kindness for everyone:

• Improves mood: serotonin is a hormone related to mood. Its decrease causes anxiety, depression and anguish. The banana has good levels of tryptophan, essential for serotonin to maintain good levels in the nervous system.

• Protects the intestinal mucosa: helps prevent bad digestion, burning, ulcers and gastritis. It is also rich in fiber, so it helps with proper bowel movement.

• Helps fight anemia: for its high value in iron . In addition, being low in sodium and rich in potassium, it helps reduce blood pressure.