Bananas and Burning Fat

[krayziefresh]

I usually put a Banana in my protein shakes. I remember something someone told me that they spike your insulin and decreases fat burning. Whats the Deal with that? Also, is a banana in a protein shake sufficient for simple post-workout carbs?

 

[CrazyC]

I do the same thing and i add that strawberry syrup to it.......

 

[Babyfaced Assassin]

Bananas are good post workout cos of the carbs and potassium and stuff. If you're cutting or trying to lose weight, just make sure you're in a calorie defecit, a calorie defecit is what is the most important thing really.

 

[CrazyC]

i've read on www.bodybuilding.com that 30minutes post-workout is the most anti-catablolic time and that's when you wanna get most of your carbs in.

 

[Senior Woonaki]

I would only go with fruit in your shake post workout... Complex carbs should be your carb of choice at all other times. Fruit is a simple carb and will spike your insulin (which is a very good thing post workout)

 

[ZKaudio]

fruit will not spike your insulin. Fructose is a very low gi sugar. It is still a simple sugar by definition, just wont elicit a strong insulin spike like dextrose / glucose would.

 

[HANSEL]

Bananas are made up of mostly Glucose and spike insulin levels well.

 

[Senior Woonaki]

a bananna is has a gi of 62 wich is higher than the GI of honey(58)..

http://www.diabetesnet.com/diabetes_food_diet/glycemic_index.php


what is gi level at which food is considered to be an insulin spiker?

 

[SteelWeaver]

It's not only the GI. There's also the II, or insulin index, which I'm sorry, I don't know much about, and then you have to take into account the NUMBER of carb grams taken in, AND what they're taken in with.

It's unlikely that ONE banana will cause much of an insulin spike at all, and while they do have glucose in them, they also have fructose, which, as we all know, is a Very Bad Thing even at the best of times (which, heh heh, is probably post w/o, actually), thanks to its preferential desire to go to LIVER not MUSCLE cells.

You'd be better off having a cup of oats in your shake, or 60 - 100g dextrose or something like that if you're not too worried about subsequent blood sugar drops and carb cravings.

 

[Senior Woonaki]

OATMEAL IN THE PROTEIN SHAKES ROCK!!!! that is usually my first meal of the day....
2 or 3 scoops of casein protein and 1/2 cup of oatmeal!!!

 

[AlbinoAssassin]

One banana will not elicit a very strong insulin response, it's only about 25-40 g's of carbs. Bananas do have a fairly high GI in terms of fruit. I think you should add more carbs to a post workout shake than just a banana, even if you are cutting. Even when I am cutting I still get ATLEAST 50g's of carbs and 40 g's of protein post workout. If you are trying to gain mass you should atleast double the carbs IMHO.

 

[ArtsyChic]

For what it's worth...I eat bananas every day of my life and do not experience insulin spikes. Slather some natural pb on them and you have a fucking killer snack. I still manage to lose fat every week doing this.

Alicia

 

[anthrax]

the riper the banana the sweeter it will taste and the higher the GI

 

[Nonerz]

give up bananas? okay...but more people have to agree on it first! seems like a lot of different views/opinions...so does it spike your insulin and decrease fat burning or not?

 

[Ceebs]

Any macronutrient will produce an insulin response - and in the presence of insulin, fat oxidation is slowed or halted - the degree of the insulin response just depends on the GI of what you eat. It's shades of gray. Eat the banana if you want to eat the banana.

 

[Nonerz]

Yaaay! I love bananas...maybe it's the way they come so nicely packaged and feel really good in your hands! Yum, yum!

 

[AlbinoAssassin]

I agree with Ceebs, if you want the banana eat it! It will have minimal impact on the overall success of the diet. It's only about 80 calories (depending on the size of the banana), it won't make much difference.