Why Sports Science Still Hasn’t Replaced the Banana
Sports drinks, gels and chews transformed athlete fueling. Yet more than a century later, athletes are still reaching for bananas.
Athletes World
• Bananas have fueled athletes for more than a century, providing a simple source of carbohydrates that has survived generations of sports-nutrition innovation.
In 1913, Tour de France stage winner Henri Vanlerberghe described eating six bananas during a 379-kilometre stage. His menu also included bread and jam, chops and an enormous amount of chocolate.
More than a century later, most of that sounds nothing like modern sports nutrition. The bananas do.
A large banana contains roughly 30 grams of carbohydrate, giving athletes a simple source of fuel with no mixing, measuring or packet to tear open. (Australian Institute of Sport)
More than a century later, most of that sounds nothing like modern sports nutrition. The bananas do.
A large banana contains roughly 30 grams of carbohydrate, giving athletes a simple source of fuel with no mixing, measuring or packet to tear open. (Australian Institute of Sport)
