It's been engraved into our minds that bananas are one of the most important fruits we can eat. It has countless nutritional benefits and it's a great addition to any smoothy because of the thick consistency it provides - probably one of the most used smoothy making ingredients. But very often we don't remember exactly why they are so beneficial. Below is a quick reminder to let you know the importance of this delicious fruit, in no particular order.

1. Energy Boost

On average, 2 bananas can give you an energy boost that can last up to an hour and a half. In fact, it's probably one of the best sources of energy because it gives you the boost without any backlash of an energy crash that coffee or high sugar foods would provide.

2. High In Potassium

Because of it's high potassium count, bananas help with the flow of oxygen to the brain as well as maintain a regulatory heartbeat. This helps reduce the chances of stroke and high blood pressure. In addition, and more so applicable for athletes, potassium helps decrease the chances of getting muscle cramps during exercises. 

3. Proper Bowel Function

Bananas help restore proper bowel function and fight constipation. This is a great natural alternative to any chemically loaded pharmaceuticals that people like to usually use.

4. Iron Rich

Bananas are loaded with iron which helps with the healing of cuts and bruises. We get tons of them in jiu-jitsu and the faster they heal the quicker we can be on the mats to continue to train and also avoid infection. 

5. Manganese Rich

Manganese is very important for bone health and our metabolism. Jiu-jitsu is a full contact sport and we do get our fair share of body hits and accidents. We need to make sure that our bones are healthy and strong to avoid further injury.

Bananas have many other great health benefits, like being low in calories, high in fibre and more, however the 5 benefits listed above are most pertinent to the lifestyle of a jiu-jitsu athlete. For more details on the other benefits of bananas, you can watch the video below.