Fit Fare

A few months ago, I was reunited with an old fruit friend: bananas. I had given them up after eating one last summer and wanting to pass out afterwards. Although I knew they were full of good energy, they made me want to take a nap. So I decided that bananas weren’t for me, and I skipped them in favor of peaches, plums and then apples.

Fast forward to the chilly winter months and suddenly I’m craving bananas. I gave the yellow fruit another shot and felt amazing afterwards. There was no urge to sleep, no grogginess, nothing but light and clean energy. Bananas and I are back!

Have you noticed a similar experience with certain foods and the season in which you eat them? Some foods serve us in the long, warm days of summer, and other foods give us the kick start we need in the short, freezing days of winter.

And today I received an email forward talking about the wonders of bananas. The little fruit is good for everything from cardiovascular health to stronger bones to kidney health. Best of all, according to the email and confirmed on http://www.enzymestuff.com/serotonin.htm, bananas contain tryptophan, a protein that converts to the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is believed to affect mood.

No wonder I’m craving bananas! With the shorter days, I’m outside less and getting less exposure to daylight. This can contribute to seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD or not, I’m definitely feeling more blah than woo-hoo at this time of the year. My body is searching for an quick pick-me-up, and I’m happy to have found one in the easily accessible and portable banana. The fact that it’s high in fiber – and we all know you can’t be happy if you aren’t “moving” - is an added bonus.

I’m not sure if I’ll be eating bananas in the spring, but I know that right now, they’re the perfect snack for me.

Photo courtesy of Morguefile.com