Nobody has ever questioned how important it is to eat breakfast. Experts have different ideas about when you should eat your first meal, but they all agree that it should be healthy. Unfortunately, there is concern that consuming certain healthy foods on an empty stomach could actually do more harm than good.

Bananas are often perceived as a nutritious way to kick off your day, whether you’re quickly consuming it on a busy workday morning as you rush out the door or simply grabbing the fruit for a breakfast on-the-go.

The yellow fruit, which is rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, has some very appealing health advantages.

However, it might cause more issues by upsetting your body’s acid-base balance if consumed on an empty stomach.

According to JustCBD’s RD and fitness expert Nataly Komova, bananas are a significant “source of potassium and magnesium.”

Although these minerals offer a wide range of health advantages, consuming them first thing in the morning on an empty stomach might be harmful to your health, according to the expert.

Consuming potassium and magnesium on an empty stomach after prolonged periods of fasting,” accordingt to the fitness expert, can likely lead to an imbalance in the acid-base balance of your blood.

According to nutritionist and Brew That Coffee’s founder April Jamison, the well-known fruit may cause a short rise in blood alkalinity, which can lead to “a compensatory response in the body, resulting in the release of acid-buffering compounds, such as bicarbonate, to restore the blood’s acid-base balance.”

However, if this compensating reaction fails, the imbalance in your acid-base balance may lead to acidosis and alkalosis, which are both harmful conditions.

“Acidosis,” according to Komova, “is caused by too much acid in the blood, which makes the blood pH levels drop below 7.35.”

“Alkalosis occurs when there is an excessive build-up of bases in the body, making the blood pH levels rise above 7.45.”

While alkalosis may bring on symptoms like nausea, vertigo, and muscle twitching, acidosis can bring on symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and confusion.

If you suffer any of the symptoms mentioned above, Jamison said, it may be advisable to see a doctor for a blood test to evaluate the acid-base balance in your blood.

“The most important step is to take action to restore your blood’s acid-base balance.

“This can be achieved through dietary modifications, such as reducing your intake of acidic foods and increasing your intake of alkaline foods.”

Sugar, certain types of dairy, processed meals, and lemons are examples of high-acid foods, whereas vegetables, nuts, and legumes are examples of alkaline foods.

Komova warned that having bananas with breakfast might increase your risk of alkalosis and acidosis.

But if you really like the fruit and want to eat it in the morning, you should eat it with something else.

There are a number of ways to improve the nutritional content of this meal, according to Jamison.

For instance, “combining bananas with a protein source, like almond butter or Greek yogurt,” can assist in maintaining energy levels throughout the morning. 

Additionally, when combined with other high-fiber meals like oats or whole-grain bread, they may help control blood sugar and improve digestion.

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