Bananas and sporting performance

Bananas are the perfect fuel for improving sporting performance and have long been a staple in top athletes’ diets all over the world. Not only do they provide the carbohydrates required for your muscles, but their powerful mix of vitamins and antioxidants help to ensure your body is running as effectively as it possibly can. Due to their portability bananas are also the perfect healthy, take-along food for cyclists, runners and hikers.

Despite containing only 110 calories each, eating two bananas will give you enough power for a strenuous 90 minute workout. Their natural sugars include fructose and glucose, which provide an instant and sustained energy boost without any of the negative side-effects of sports drinks. Eating a banana post-sport will also help replenish your levels of potassium and electrolytes lost through sweat.

Why not try making your own natural banana sports drink? Quick, tasty and satisfying - it’s perfect before, during or after any prolonged physical activity.

Banana sports drink recipe

1 large banana
A glass of milk, coconut water or green tea
A handful of blueberries
A few spoonful’s of Greek yoghurt (optional, but good for a calcium boost)
A pinch of salt (sodium helps the body to recover from physical exertion)

Method:
1. Peel the banana, remove and discard the skin and cut into chunks.
2. Blend the banana together with all the other ingredients in a blender or juicer.

Experiment by adding different fruits or vegetables, particularly ones high in vitamin C.

Drink before or during sports for a natural and sustained energy boost or after to replace electrolytes and potassium and avoid muscle cramps.

Try adding a few drop of your favourite A.Vogel tincture, such as Echinaforce for a super-healthy tonic!