Banana/Potassium overdose

[Sloet]

On Saturday I heard of a cyclist that had a heart attack because of a potassium overdose from eating too many bananas while cycling.

I always have a banana every hour on my rides. At the PPA One Tonner yesterday I had one after 1 hour, but not at the 2nd and 3rd hour. On 100km just before the climb I bonked and stopped at the water point and had a banana. Half way up the pass I was back to normal and had a good ride the last 50km

I can’t find guidelines of how many bananas is too much.

Can anybody maybe assist?

[Mojoman]

I can't see it being related to bananas, surely you would have to eat a ton of them for it to have an overload effect on the body?

[pastapouch]

No, think it may be too much of a certain supplement... some steak similar to those used by Alberto Contador might have too much!

[Spartan SL]

I once had a banana and climbed a big hill and nearly suffered the same fate. Since then i limit myself to no more than eight bananas per ride, avoid the big hills, and my heart feels great. I would think that anything over 20 bananas per ride would be considered excessive. However I've hear of people who have a much higher tolerance who can take two dozen on board with no side-effects. I think it all depends on your present level of fitness.

[Mojoman]

Ok, I did not realise we were talking about so many bananas, I thought around 5 or 6 would be enough on a ride, don't you get the trots eating so many?

[manbearpig]

Bananas sometimes make me fart. Maybe the guy gassed himself?

[Mojoman]

Or maybe the culprit was the guy in front?!

[Spartan SL]

It depends on the size and quality of the bananas too. Not all bananas are born equal.

[RodTi]

Too lazy to google this to confirm...regardles -

 

"And now for something completely different"

 

Remember reading about several deaths in England shortly after WWII, blamed on bananas...

With the War shortages, bananas weren't exactly a dime-a-dozen over in London.

With the War ending - they come flooding back into the market.

Many children had never eaten bananas before, and as a result, did what children would do when they were suddenly exposed to a 'healthy' fruit that tasted good and unlike anything tasted before...

Apparently, some were eating them peel and all - having never had them before, and not realising they should be peeled first.

Potassium overdose was blamed for the deaths - though as is clear, I reckon you'd have to eat plenty at once, and in this case, the bananas were probably being introduced into a body that had a shortage to begin with...

The possibility also exists that the peels might contain more potassium than the actual fruit(??), which might have compounded the issue...

 

Kind of a sad story, in a way?

Edited October 18, 2010 by RodTi

[Spartan SL]

What are the side-effects of using bananas and 32GI. Does this increase or decrease my overall risk of a cardiac event. Say on an average 2hr 30km ride I eat six bananas and have 1 or 2 750ml bottles of 32GI is there a chance I could be overdoing it?

[LeTurbo]

Fried bananas, banana boats, banana bread, banana fritters, banana milk, banana Pronutro ... here is my stock for the 4km morning ride to work.

[MtbO]

Lots of potassium and lactic acidosis combined is not a good thing to have. Your body retains potassium in order to get rid of the H+ ions. That could be the cause...

[Willehond]

What are the side-effects of using bananas and 32GI. Does this increase or decrease my overall risk of a cardiac event. Say on an average 2hr 30km ride I eat six bananas and have 1 or 2 750ml bottles of 32GI is there a chance I could be overdoing it?

 

Bananas MUST NOT be taken with 32GI. The electrolytic effect of Potassium binds the free radicals inhibitors in 32GI with your glycogen reserves and has a serious adverse effect on your performance. In stead of increase the 'slow burn' effect it causes you to have quite a sudden drop in your performance curve, or as refered to in the scientific community as 'banana droop'.

[EigerSA]

Kevorkian used concentrated potassium chloride on a massive scale to assist his patients to the hereafter, I think that ingesting about 450mg of potassium per banana over an extended period will do nothing more than upset your stomach, especially considering your body is fine with up to something like 2000mg per day. As far as I'm aware your body only really takes in potassium in the quantities you need and gets rid of the rest naturally.

['Dale]

I'm no dietician.

But a 'nana overdose' sounds weird.

 

['Dale]

Back to the question:

I have one banana pre-ride.

Then use a drink that is low in GI.

 

I guess one banana every two hrs is reasonable.

Edited October 18, 2010 by AirBender