Benefits of taking bananas and milk together
Bananas mixed into milk make a delicious smoothie that people of all ages enjoy as breakfast. Bananas combined with milk provide lots of nutrition, speedy post-workout recovery, and weight loss.
Bananas mixed into milk make a delicious smoothie that people of all ages enjoy as breakfast. The drink is a great way to cool down in summer. Both bananas and milk are rich in nutrients and minerals, so they’re generally considered a healthy option.
Fitness enthusiasts love banana-milk smoothies as they help post-workout recovery. This combination also may help people lose weight and build muscles, though some experts suggest otherwise.
Many nutritionists and experts claim that bananas and milk can contribute to weight gain, digestive problems, and congestion issues. The blend is also unsuitable for pregnant and menstruating women to consume bananas and milk together.
So is a banana-milk combination good for your health or bad? See what several research studies say.
Banana and milk both have multiple benefits for your body separately. So combining both ingredients can offer some health advantages:
A high dose of nutrition
The banana-milk combination is packed with a range of nutrients. Milk contains potassium, phosphorus, protein, vitamin B, and calcium. These components help strengthen bone health and manage nerve function, muscle contractions, and other key functions.
Bananas are rich in manganese, fiber, vitamin B6, potassium, and vitamin C. While minerals make bananas a great snack, vitamin C gives them exceptional antioxidant properties that protect you from cell damage.
Combining these beneficial ingredients provides a high dose of nutrients in your diet and boosts your vitamin intake.
Speedy post-workout recovery
Eating the right food after a workout is essential to maintain muscle gain and strength. Food items that enhance muscle growth help you recover faster after an extensive workout.
A study found that consuming protein after exercise can promote tissue repair and muscle synthesis. Similarly, carbs can contribute to your post-workout recovery. These nutrients rebuild glycogen content in your muscles, which breaks down during a workout.
Milk is loaded with proteins such as casein and whey, making it one of the best post-workout snacks. Bananas contain carbohydrates that replace your muscles’ glycogen stores. Both of these ingredients make a healthy post-workout snack.
Try making a nutritious smoothie with milk and bananas to blend in the right amount of carbs and proteins into your diet for speedy post-workout recovery.
A fulfilling start to the day
If you usually skip breakfasts, a banana-milk smoothie can be the best alternative to get a nutritious start to the day. These ingredients make a fulfilling yet healthy drink for people who perform physically-demanding activities.
A well-known nutritionist, Priyanka Agarwal, says that bananas and milk are
great for athletes, bodybuilders, and gym enthusiasts. She further states that bananas in milk make an excellent breakfast option for those who don’t want to prepare breakfast every morning.
So, if you’re always on the go, blend some bananas and milk and stay full and energetic the entire day.
Weight loss
Bananas in milk may even help you lose weight. In 1934, George A. Harrop, a student at Johns Hopkins University, conducted a study on the effects of a banana and skimmed milk diet on obese patients.
The diet included six bananas combined with four glasses of skimmed milk consecutively for ten days. The study participants were asked to take three or more meals daily.
This banana and milk diet combination was intended to help the patients lose four to nine pounds by the end. After ten days, Harrop asked the subjects to include fish, eggs, and lean meat in their diet.
Most patients lost weight, but the diet wasn’t tried on a large scale to confirm its efficacy. As a result, it was termed a “fad diet” in America in 1934 because the effects of this diet may only be short-term.
If you’re trying to lose weight long-term, you can try this diet. Otherwise, it’s better to use full-fat milk than low-fat milk for better results. Researchers found that full-fat milk promotes weight loss more effectively than low-fat milk.
You can consume a banana before or after drinking milk or make a milkshake.
Remember that you might feel a little weak in the initial days of this diet as your calorie intake reduces. You can easily manage this lethargy or laziness, but it may become challenging for some. In this case, you can consume one full meal every day.
To lose weight more effectively, you can take additional protein and fiber-rich items with banana and milk. These nutrients can help you lose weight quickly without making you feel hungry.
Potential downsides of consuming bananas in milk
The milk and bananas combination may also pose some potential downsides. Here are a few:
Lack of vital minerals and vitamins
Women need a unique assortment of minerals and vitamins, including iron, copper, and zinc, during menstruation and pregnancy. Unfortunately, the banana-milk diet lacks these vital minerals. It might not be a good idea to rely on this diet for your nutrient fulfillment when you’re expecting or menstruating.
You can add vitamin and mineral supplements to your diet along with bananas in milk. This will complete your daily nutrient intake and help you feel full and healthy.
Weight gain
If you want to lose weight with a banana-milk diet, remember it can also result in weight gain. That’s because both bananas and milk provide a moderate amount of calories in every serving.
One medium-sized banana offers 105 calories, and 1 cup of whole milk offers about 150 calories. These calories are suitable for everyday intake, but taking multiple servings of bananas with milk daily can significantly contribute to calorie intake. This can ultimately result in more weight gain.
This downside can benefit you if you want to gain weight. Bananas and milk are rich in protein, carbs, calcium, and phosphorus needed to gain weight. These minerals strengthen your muscle growth and build stronger bones.
Thus, if you want to gain weight, add two full glasses of banana milkshakes to your daily intake. But if you don’t want that, keep a check on your daily calories and adjust your banana-milk serving accordingly.
Metabolism issues
Ayurvedic food principles hold that bananas in milk can cause what appear to be contrasting health issues in humans.
Ayurveda is a traditional medical system that focuses on creating a balance between different types of energy within your body for your overall well-being. According to this concept, combining bananas and milk can reduce “Agni,” or fire, considered essential for proper digestion and food metabolism.
Ayurvedic principles also suggest that a banana-milk combination can lead to sinus congestion and enhance toxin production in your body.
However, no scientific studies confirm these potential downsides of a banana and milk diet.
People with allergies
A banana-milk diet can worsen the condition of people with allergies or breathing disorders, like asthma.
An expert nutritionist and health coach, Shilpa Arora, says that bananas and milk are an excellent alternative for people seeking to gain weight and energy after an extensive workout routine. But this combination is not recommended for people with allergies as it may create mucus that causes breathing issues.
Again, no scientific studies or evidence confirms that bananas in milk can promote mucus production.
Tips to consume a banana and milk diet properly
Despite the lack of evidence, some nutritionists still recommend people take bananas and milk separately to avoid any potential side effects. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take both of these ingredients together.
These tips will help you avoid any potential downsides of a banana-milk diet:
- If you want to go on a banana and milk diet to lose weight, you must include some less demanding exercises in your routine, such as meditation, stretching, or yoga. Watch your caloric intake.
- If you want to gain weight with a banana and milk diet, you need to add protein-rich items to your smoothie. These include ground flax seeds, nuts, protein powders, and chia seeds. You can also add cocoa powder or chocolate syrup.
- Don’t stress out if you can’t see your desired results immediately. Instead, stay patient and keep following the diet.
- The banana-milk diet lacks essential nutrients required for your body. So, you can take a break of one week before starting another diet.
- If you feel weak to the extent that you can’t perform your daily life activities, stop this diet instantly and consult your doctor.
Bananas and milk are high in nutrition, but it’s better to take both ingredients separately. You can consume bananas and milk at different intervals to enhance your metabolism, strengthen muscles, and improve overall health. Make sure to keep your daily nutrition intake balanced to avoid any possible side effects of taking bananas in milk.
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Medically Reviewed on 8/8/2022
References
SOURCES:
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FoodData Central: "Bananas, raw," "Milk whole, 3.25% milkfat, with added vitamin D."
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: "Full-fat dairy may reduce obesity risk."
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Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition: "International society of sports nutrition position stand: nutrient timing."
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NDTV Food: "Have You Been Eating Bananas With Milk? You Must Read This."
Nutrients: "Calcium Intake and Health," "Milk: An Effective Recovery Drink for Female Athletes," "Restoration of Muscle Glycogen and Functional Capacity: Role of Post-Exercise Carbohydrate and Protein Co-Ingestion."
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