Should you add bananas to smoothies?
When making smoothies, many people like to add bananas because bananas make the drink smoother and more delicious. However, a new study recently published in the journal Food & Function shows that if you mix bananas with berries such as blueberries, raspberries or strawberries, rich in flavanol (an antioxidant that is good for the heart and brain), the body can absorb flavanol much less.
According to scientists, bananas contain an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase (PPO), which is the substance that causes bananas or apples to turn dark brown when left in the air. PPO can cause flavanols in berries to break down, causing the body to absorb them less.
In this study, scientists tested 8 healthy people and found that adding bananas to berry smoothies can reduce the amount of flavanols absorbed by the body by up to 84%.
Should you stop adding bananas to smoothies?
There is no need to worry too much, says Caroline West Passerrello, a nutritionist at the University of Pittsburgh. Flavanol is already difficult to absorb, only about 2% - 20%. If you like bananas, keep using them. But if you want to increase flavanol absorption, you can eat berries alone, not mixed with bananas".
She also said that this is just a small study, the results can vary depending on the person, because each person digests and absorbs nutrients in different ways.
If you want to increase flavanol in smoothies, try eating fruits with less PPO such as: Pineapple, orange, mango, yogurt
Berries such as blueberries and raspberries are still very good foods, rich in fiber, vitamins and antioxidants, so you should still eat them regularly.
