Is it good to add banana to smoothie?

Adding bananas to smoothies can destroy important compounds that are good for heart health.

According to researchers at the University of California, Davis, USA, the reason is that the enzyme polyphenol oxidase (PPO) found in bananas reduces the absorption of flavanols - natural compounds linked to heart and brain health. Tests also showed that smoothies with added bananas reduced the absorption of flavanols by up to 84%, according to Sciencedaily .

It is known that flavanols are present in cocoa, apples, grapes, berries... In addition to being good for the heart and brain, flavanols also help improve blood circulation, support memory, and are anti-inflammatory, if consumed regularly.

Adding bananas to smoothies can destroy important compounds that are good for heart health.

Photo: AI

To investigate how the PPO enzyme affects the body's absorption of flavanols after drinking a banana smoothie, a popular beverage, the researchers tested volunteers by giving them two different smoothies: one made with bananas, which has high PPO activity, and another made with berries, which has low PPO levels. They then measured the flavanol levels in their blood and urine.

As a result, adding just one banana was enough to rapidly reduce the flavanol levels in the smoothie and the flavanol levels absorbed by the body. This suggests that the way foods are prepared and combined can affect the absorption of nutrients from foods.

According to the 2022 recommendations of the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, consuming 400 to 600 mg of flavanols per day is good for cardiovascular health. By combining fruits high in flavanols, such as berries, with foods low in PPO, such as pineapple, oranges, mangoes, or yogurt.

If you can't skip the banana smoothie, it's best to avoid combining bananas with berries, grapes, or cocoa, as they're high in flavanols.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/them-chuoi-vao-sinh-to-co-tot-185251104161941989.htm