Popular smoothie ingredient may reduce one key health benefit, study suggests
Bananas are a smoothie staple, but a viral social media video has raised questions about whether they could reduce the nutritional benefits of other ingredients, such as blueberries.In a July appearance on the "Mel Robbins Podcast," Dr. Rhonda Patrick, a biomedical scientist and founder of FoundMyFitness, demonstrated how she likes to make her smoothies, which do not include banana.Bananas contain polyphenol oxidase (PPO), an enzyme that can break down polyphenols, which are beneficial for gut, heart and brain health, according to Patrick, who is based in San Diego.
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Bananas are a smoothie staple, but a viral social media video has raised questions about whether they could reduce the nutritional benefits of other ingredients, such as blueberries.In a July appearance on the "Mel Robbins Podcast," Dr. Rhonda Patrick, a biomedical scientist and founder of FoundMyFitness, demonstrated how she likes to make her smoothies, which do not include banana.Bananas contain polyphenol oxidase (PPO), an enzyme that can break down polyphenols, which are beneficial for gut, heart and brain health, according to Patrick, who is based in San Diego. PPO is also responsible for turning cut fruit brown.DOCTORS SAY 8 FORGOTTEN HABITS COULD HELP FIGHT STRESS, OBESITY AND CHRONIC DISEASERecent studies suggest that when a banana is added to a blueberry smoothie, fewer beneficial polyphenols are absorbed from the berries.Instead, Patrick uses avocado to give the smoothie the same creamy texture with 95% less sugar, she said. Avocado also adds more vitamins and monounsaturated fat, which can increase absorption of carotenoids, like lutein and zeaxanthin, from kale in the smoothie.This opinion sparked debate in the online nutrition community, with some dietitians and nutritionists arguing that bananas should not be villainized based on a small body of research.STUDY FINDS SPECIAL TOMATO DRINK MAY REDUCE INFLAMMATION IN ADULTS WITH OBESITYThe study Patrick referenced, which was published in the journal Food & Function in 2023, analyzed food absorption in eight healthy men.On separate days, participants drank either a banana smoothie (high in an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase), drank a mixed berry smoothie (low in the enzyme) or took flavan-3-ol capsules (dietary supplements that contain concentrated plant compounds) with milk.Blood tests showed that people absorbed about 84% fewer beneficial plant compounds after drinking the banana smoothie than after taking the flavan-3-ol capsules.While researchers didn't test a banana-blueberry smoothie, the results suggest that bananas could reduce the benefits of foods high in flavan-3-ols.LIVING LONGER COULD HINGE ON SURPRISING DIETARY CHANCE, STUDY REVIEW SUGGESTSLos Angeles-based registered dietitian nutritionist Ilana Muhlstein, author of the upcoming book "Beyond the Shot," said the findings are "interesting," but don't tell the whole story."It doesn't mean the smoothie loses all of its health benefits," she said.
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- Bananas are a smoothie staple, but a viral social media video has raised questions about whether they could reduce the nutritional benefits of other ingredients, such as blueberries.In a July appearance on the "Mel Robbins Podcast," Dr. Rhonda Patrick, a biomedical scientist and founder of FoundMyFitness, demonstrated how she likes to make her smoothies, which do not include banana.Bananas contain polyphenol oxidase (PPO), an enzyme that can break down polyphenols, which are beneficial for gut, heart and brain health, according to Patrick, who is based in San Diego.
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Popular smoothie ingredient may reduce one key health benefit, study suggests
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