I came across a super interesting article today about the best time to eat a banana in its ripening process.
I was kind of bummed to learn that the riper they are, the better they are for you and the easier they are to digest. If I am eating a banana straight up or sliced on toast/in a sandwich, I prefer them at a ripeness level of 4 or 5. Once bananas get brown spots it’s game over for me. They literally turn my stomach and make me want to gag. At that point, I either freeze them for smoothies or use them in oatmeal.
According to this article, I should love to learn the riper ones.
- First, as bananas ripen their starches convert to simple sugars that are easier to digest. Bananas with any hint of green still remaining at the stem can be hard for some people to digest and cause gas.
- Second, as they ripen they produce antioxidant and anticancer properties and the darker the brown patches, the higher these properties will be.
- Finally, bananas with dark spots are eight times more effective in boosting the immune system.
I did some further reading about the best way to store bananas and according to Chiquita, if your bananas are too green you can store them in a brown paper bag with an apple overnight to accelerate the ripening process. If you want to slow it down, bananas can be stored in the fridge. It’s likely the skin will darken but they’ll still taste good.
Now you know! 🙂
What’s your ideal banana ripeness? How do you store your bananas?
And now…for this week’s workouts. Two complete rest days, a few runs, two strength/cardio days and two yoga practices. Nothing too crazy or challenging for me this week but it got the job done.
If you’re short on time and looking for a great workout that combines cardio and strength, try Tuesday’s workout. Just 15 minute total and a full body burn that kept my heart rate through the roof. You do not have to work out for hours on end to get a good workout!
Monday
REST
Tuesday
Circuit Training
5 mins:
10 jump squats
10 push ups
10 kettlebell swings (35#)
*6 rounds done
5 mins:
10 deadlifts (85# barbell)
10 bent over rows (17.5# dumbbells)
10 wall balls (14#)
*4 rounds done
5 mins:
10 box jumps (20 inches)
10 thrusters (35# barbell)
10 burpees
*3 rounds done
Wednesday
Hot yoga + 3 mile run
Thursday
10 minute treadmill run with increasing pace to 7:15 to warm up
For time:
20 pull ups (kipping)
30 front squats (85# barbell)
40 calorie row
50 overhead plate walking lunges (35# plate)
*This took me 10:45
10 minute treadmill run at 7:20 to finish
Friday
REST
Saturday
3.5 mile run at 8:20 pace
Sunday
5 mile run at 8:15 pace + 2 mile walk with Zoey + hot yoga
The run was amazing! 5 miles with the company of a friend in shorts and tank tops on a beautiful day.
I like my bananas when they first start to get speckled. I can eat them riper but once they get too ripe I throw them in the freezer or in some sort of batter for muffins or bread…You were running in shorts and a tank and I am busy layering my clothes to be warm enough!
sending you lots of love and warmth! xo
I never knew that about bananas. I like to eat them when they are around #6, and freeze them at #7. They are so sweet at that point and make smoothies taste so good!
ditto! i do like them in smoothies that ripe!
Interesting article…I never knew that about bananas! I am with you on the ripeness factor… I prefer my bananas a bit more on the green/unripe side rather than too ripe…they get too soft! Great week of workouts!
thanks leanne!
The weather was beautiful here this weekend too…So refreshing to see the sun again! I’m going to use that workout for my boot camp tomorrow. Thanks for sharing it! 🙂
the sun…it soothes my soul. i can’t even believe how much it impacts my mood. hope the workout works well for your bootcampers! xo
I’m in the 5 or 6 zone for bananas
That’s so interesting about bananas! I love mine at a 5 or 6, preferably 5. I’m with you on the brown spots; it grosses me out too!
samesies! I’m a 4-5 girl.. What a bummer. Haha!
Last year I found out about the banana ripening process and was disappointed because I definitely prefer it them at stage 4-5. I can’t deal with the mushiness and brown spots!
i know! it’s sad for us! 🙁 i guess we get the same benefits if we use the brown ones in smoothies or oatmeal? or banana bread? ha, one can wish! 🙂
When I eat bananas by themselves, I like a ripeness of 5 or 6, but for almost everything else (oatmeal, smoothies, any recipe that involves bananas), I like them at a 7+. They’re just sweeter and easier to mash for recipes!
Great week of workouts! Tuesday’s workout looks fun!
Great article will be reposting to our followers!
thanks so much!
That is interesting to learn about bananas. The riper the better for me so I am happy to learn that ripe bananas have a lot of nutritional and immune fighting benefits.
yes, you are in luck! 🙂
I’m the same way! I can eat them the first few days and then that’s it, no chance 🙁
when i’m making banana bread, i always try to use banana’s that are super ripe – it seems to make the bread sweeter!
ditto! only way to go with banana bread!
I’ll pretty much eat bananas at any stage but my favorite is when they are a little green on the top!! :/
I love the banana info! I’m with you on the ripeness level…6 I can barely stomach and 7 is beyond gross.
yes!!!!
All my life I was a 4 or 5 banana eater until a few years ago I sort of trained myself to eat them when they’re riper than that. I was just wasting too many bananas, and my freezer was full of 7s I’d frozen “for later” that I just couldn’t keep up with. Now I’ll happily eat a 6, but 7s are still a no go. BLEH.
i can confidently say that i will never get to level 7! 🙂
very cool stuff and good to know. I love me some bananas.
i hate super ripe bananas. interesting to know though. i use the overly ripe ones to bake banana-oat dog treats so that i don’t have to suffer through them myself!!