Aren't Bananas loaded with too much sugar?

[kjbill]

Hello Folks,

Aren't Bananas loaded with too much sugar?

How does this affect you as a vegan or vegetarian?

Cheers!

[ken nubo]

Banana has the good type of sugar. Eat lots of 'em, it's good for ya.

[Joeschmoe]

Not only does it have good sugars, it has them with fiber and lots of water. Eat them when they are ripe (plenty of brown spots) to avoid digestive issues.

[Neutral]

I believe bananas have about 12g sugar or fructose, as it's called in fruits.

By the RDA standard someone my size should be getting 72g sugar per day (I'm 6' 4" 211lbs). I don't know their formula but that's six bananas!

Steve's Raw Diet trial ignores the recommendations and he's eating hundred of grams of sugar/fructose a day. to test the difference.

[Vantage72]

Originally Posted by kjbill

Aren't Bananas loaded with too much sugar?

They have quite a lot of sugar for a fruit.

If you are sensitive to glucose or insuline in your blood, it may be better to avoid them or eat them in moderation.

[Joeschmoe]

Yeah he is ignoring a lot of Dietary recommendations. Funny that his blood sugar hasn't spiked at all with all that sugar.

[Vantage72]

Originally Posted by Joeschmoe

Yeah he is ignoring a lot of Dietary recommendations. Funny that his blood sugar hasn't spiked at all with all that sugar.

True, but that does not say anything about his insuline levels.

[Joeschmoe]

No it doesn't but he doesn't show any symptoms of hyperinsulinemia. Neither do other long term fruit eaters. He is losing weight and his blood pressure is actually going down. I've seen other blood work from people on the same diet and they don't have elevated cholesterol. These are the only listed symptoms of elevated insulin levels and they seem like a strike out.

Also most references to this condition are on Low-carb and paleo-diet websites so I would imagine they are more of a propaganda tool than an actual illness.

[Vantage72]

Diets with a high glycaemic load have been associated with an increased risk of diabetes, obesity and heart disease.
Glycaemic Index and Insulin Index

PS. Steve may have had symptoms of high insuline levels: his moodswings. Also keep in mind that Steve's exercises a lot, which justifies a higher GL intake.

[Joeschmoe]

What are we actually talking about here?
Who have you ever met that got diabetes or obese by eating too many bananas?

[Vantage72]

We are talking about the sugar contents of banana's and if they could cause potential problems.

Each opinion is valid to me. Your opinion is ok and mine too.

And to answer your question: I don't know anyone with diabetis. Well.. there was this guy at school when i was 10, but I don't know how many banana's he ate

[kjbill]

Now, I am really confused

Are there any good studies that we can read on this?
If you know of any, please post them. I am very curious.

Cheers!

[Vantage72]

I don't know if there are any studies out there that reply to your question.

But what about testing it for yourself?
How do you feel right after eating, let's say, 4 banana's.
How do you feel 1 hour later.
How do you feel two to four hours later.

That might be more interesting than any scientific study.

[Joeschmoe]

Agreed. Try it for yourself. I feel great after eating a bunch of fruit (unless there is something keeping it from passing though my stomach)

Studies are good for very specific information, but they can't (and shouldn't) account for all variables. So the effects of eating lots of bananas might be different depending on how much fat you eat/exercise you get/ or your own individual sensitivities. Under some conditions eating simple sugars might cause bad health effects and under others they might not.

I have a family history of type 2 diabetes, and all the have developed it have had large amounts of high fat sweets. So I think it would be advised from my experience to limit high fat foods and those with processed sugars (high fructose corn syrup, etc.). But none of them ever ate excess fruits so those aren't really suspect to me. In fact the members of my family that eat the most fruit are by far the healthiest.

[gettingskinny]

Using common sense...the are good for you. Do you really rely on studies that much? You can find studies that support both sides of any argument depending on who did the study and who it was financially backed up by! Do what feels right to you!

[Fullcrum]

His energy is evidently steady. Therefore there cannot be too great a change in blood sugar levels. Insulin spikes would cause peaks and valleys in energy level - Steve experiences none of them.

Bananas are fine - I've read stories on raw food bodybuilder testimonial sites (not the ones selling you stuff) that on an average day the person will eat at least 20 bananas in various shakes and throughout the day.

I don't know how eating so much fruit would affect a diabetic. I wonder if any tests have been conducted.

[Joeschmoe]

I don't think anything more than case studies have been done, but I've heard a lot of positive stories about going off insulin on a diet like Steve's. I also think Pritkin also had some success with his 10% fat complex carb diet and diabetes.

[Barcs]

My non professional opinion would be to eat them in moderation, but don't overdue it.

[The David]

Originally Posted by kjbill

Are there any good studies that we can read on this?
If you know of any, please post them. I am very curious.

When dealing with natural substances (i.e the banana), the burden of proof should be on the person claiming it is unhealthy.

But a comment to JoeSchmoe: How many people do you know who eat as many bananas as Steve Pavlina?

[Steve Pavlina]

Try eating 15+ bananas a day for a week and see what happens. If you start feeling terrible, quit. If you feel OK, keep going.

Then you'll know.

The answers to many dietary questions are best found through direct experience. You're already serving as a guinea pig for your current diet. No harm in trying others unless you're convinced you've already found nirvana.

[Neutral]

People test diets on their own because the medical establishment is slow...it takes a long time to come to a consensus.

When new evidence contradicts the current line, people are slow to change. Habits of the mind are the said to be the slowest.

[Trezker]

I don't think it's right to call bananas fruit... WikiAnswers - Are bananas a berry an herb or a fruit

I think it tastes much better when you think of it as a berry.

[Dan.Linehan]

Actually, you are all wrong. A banana is, in fact, a cat. Good day.

Hehehe.

[gettingskinny]

Originally Posted by Dan.Linehan

Actually, you are all wrong. A banana is, in fact, a cat. Good day.

Hehehe.

LOL Thanks for lightening up the convo!

[The David]

I say the banana is an object.

Discussion closed.

[bellemeadows]

Bananas and carrots -- both spike my blood sugar. I think when I eat them in combination with high fiber foods, not so much of an issue.

Everyone's body is different. I typically shy away from bananas and carrots because they seem to not work for my body.

Since you asked. . . . blessings from Belle,

[Amandaaa]

How does this affect you as a vegan or vegetarian?

I don't eat bananas very often, but when I do, they give me amazing energy. It's such a great food, because they're satisfying without being overly "filling."

Fresh smoothies with ripe bananas are the best!