Does milk and banana make you fat?You've probably heard people say, oh if you have banana and milk together, it will make you gain weight! The first time I heard it, I fell off my chair! I couldn't believe that someone actually thought that- only to realize that so many people in India believe that. When asked why it would make them fat, there was no answer! Lets analyze this a little. For a basic milkshake, you need one banana and one glass of low fat milk. A banana by itself has negligible fat. Milk is a dairy product, and a recent study linked dairy consumption with reduced storage of belly fat . So, we know its not the fat that is the problem. Both banana and milk have a relatively low Glycemic Index, so its not the carbohydrate content that makes you fat. The total calories from this concoction are lower than a bag of chips. Besides, it provides you with protein, fiber, calcium, vitamins, and a bunch of other minerals, which if anything, don't make you fat What the culprit probably is all the additives to make it taste better- sugar, ice cream, syrup (basically, sugar and water), and all the extra flavouring. These additives are loaded with calories. Tips from a reader: Next time you have a banana shake, add a pinch of cinnamon to it, or try some elaichi (green cardamom)- makes it delicious, and even more healthy! |