Consumer Critique: Banana Wave

Many people think that the best way to recover after a workout is by drinking a sports drink - but for most athletes, that's really just a lot of sugar (plus color) without a lot of benefit. There's a way to replace the lost nutrients that's even healthier - a banana.

A team of clinical researchers at Appalachian State University found that bananas were as effective as the leading sports drink in providing nutritional support to endurance cyclists during intensive and prolonged exercise says, Steven Gelerman, CEO of Banana Wave. Their study¹ showed that bananas also provided the cyclists with antioxidants not found in sports drinks as well as a greater nutritional boost which included fiber, potassium and Vitamin B6. In addition, bananas provided a healthier blend of sugars than sports drinks.

According to the USDA National Nutrient Database², a seven-inch medium-size banana provides dietary fiber, carbohydrates, sugar, protein, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, manganese, and Vitamin C.

 

"I learn something new about bananas virtually every day," Gelerman says. Bananas that are slightly underripe can be an appetite suppressant, and they contain pectin, which can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Other nutrients help fight cramping and promote nerve and muscle functions.

I had a chance to try a drink made from bananas. It's more convenient than bringing a banana in a gym bag that can get squashed. It provides hydration and many of the nutritional benefits of bananas. Plus, it tastes good. 

I was really eager to try it out because I used to drink Bananensaft in Germany. It's not like it was a favorite food, but it was something different that we don't really have here (except in things like strawberry-banana yogurt blends or other blended drinks). This has a strong banana taste and is very similar. It has other flavor options too - mixed with chocolate or mixed with strawberry. It's smooth and refreshing - and definitely a drink I'll look for! They don't have a store locator on their website, but you can check your local grocery stores in the shelf-stable beverage aisle.

For more information about banana nutrition and Banana Wave non-dairy Banana Milk please visit www.bananawave.love.

ABOUT STEVE GELERMAN

A veteran of the natural foods industry for more than 20 years, Steve Gelerman (AKA Mr. Banana) is the founder of Ians Natural Foods, makers of a wide variety of allergy-friendly meal solutions for kids.  He is also the CEO of Banana Wave, makers of the first non-dairy milk made from whole bananas.

References:

[1] David C. Nieman, et al, Bananas as an Energy Source during Exercise: A Metabolomics Approach. PLoS ONE, 2012; 7 (5): https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0037479

[2]https  ://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/09040