Don’t get us wrong, we love energy bars and gels as much as the next person, but truth-be-told, after the fourth or fifth on any given day, they uh…start to loose their charm…at least for us. But what’s the option? With so many studies supporting their benefits, it’s easy to forget that Mother Nature has a few offerings of her own – like say the Banana. In a recent Bicycling article, Joe Lindsey, breaks the Banana down, examining much of the natural goodness it can offer. For example Bananas contain Potassium which Lindsey says regulates blood chemistry, controls carbohydrate metabolism, and can affect the way blood glucose is transported through the cell wall. Further, the yellow fruit contains vitamin B6 which Lindsey points out assists in red blood cell production, as well as the metabolism of more than 60 proteins. He says that bananas can provide up to 17% of ones daily vitamin C requirements, and offers up magnesium which plays a roll in energy transport. His final point – our favorite – is that unlike its processed step-step-step brethren, a banana’s packaging is biodegradable.

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