Mixed fruit smoothies are a choice that is in equal parts nutritious and delicious. However, one Los Angeles man has made a discovery about bananas that might change everything.
Bananas are a pretty versatile fruit. As well as being good to eat post-exercise, they can also double as an art piece (with a little bit of duct-tape, that is). However, if you were going to add a banana to your mixed berry smoothie, you might want to think twice.
Sitting in his car, TikToker James (@caucasianjames) broke the news to 12.9 million views.
“Just found out you can’t put bananas in your smoothie,” he said. “Because apparently there’s an enzyme in the banana that breaks down all the nutritional value of the berries. So, it’s as if you’re not even having the berries, you’re getting none if it if there’s a banana in there.”
He then raised his voice slightly and grumbled through gritted teeth: “What are we talking about?”
“Why?” he continued. “Why is that a thing? I can’t have bananas in my berries. Oh… [exhales]… I’m done.”
BroBible reached out to James via email.
What Did Commenters Say?
Mostly, commenters were equally enraged. “Is this a effing joke???” one asked. “Someone tell me this is a joke.”
“I’m going back to cigarettes and Diet Coke then,” a second said.
While a third added, “That makes no sense????? Bananas ARE berries?????”
And a fourth despaired, “This planet is a f—— prison.”
Brands even got involved. The official Uncrustables account asked, “Did an apple tell u this?” while the official Chiquita Banana account added that “bananas are great on their own too.”
Do Bananas Really Cancel Out Berries?
There is actual science backing up what James is saying—at least, to an extent. A 2023 study was conducted by the University of Reading and the University of California, Davis. In this study, scientists wanted to test how the enzyme polyphenol oxidase affects how the body absorbs flavanols. Polyphenol oxidase, in turn, is found in high levels in bananas.
Flavanols are bioactive compounds that are meant to be good for both our cognitive and heart health. They can be found in apples, pears, blueberries, blackberries, grapes, and cocoa. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, we should consume between 400 and 600mg of flavanols daily.
@caucasianjames 2 years of smoothies down the drain
However, blending all these fruits and bananas in a smoothie isn’t necessarily the best way to get these nutrients. In this study, participants were given a banana and berries smoothie, a smoothie with only mixed berries, or a flavanol capsule. Through blood and urine tests, scientists then tested the amount of flavanols that actually reached participants’ bodies. They found that flavanol levels in both the smoothies and the bodies were reduced when bananas were introduced into the mix.