Thailand: Golfers eating bananas may finish up being well under par

Golfers should stop and think before eating lots of bananas to build up their energy levels during their rounds as an excess intake of such a high potassium source over a period of time could lead to kidney diseases and heart failure, a nutritionist has warned.

Sanga Damapong, a nutritionist with the Department of Health, said it is not true that eating bananas or potassium supplements helps golfers and other sportsmen suddenly regain their strength and energy. In fact, the body's system cannot absorb the mineral for immediate use, he said.

People consuming large quantities of dietary potassium may suffer adverse health effects and kidney disease, he added.

Those who suffer from kidney disease can also have heart failure if they take potassium supplements, because the kidneys cannot control potassium excretion, resulting in elevated levels of potassium in the blood and triggering malaise and even heart attacks, he said.

The department's guidelines specify a dietary intake of 4,000mg of potassium per day.

The department recommends that sportsmen and women eat bananas at least half an hour before their games start to avoid adverse health effects.

Potassium is an essential mineral and important for the brain and nerve functions. Diets high in potassium can reduce the risk of hypertension.

A shortage of potassium in body fluids may cause a potentially fatal condition known as hypokalemia.

Mr Sanga, however, said potassium deficiency is rare in healthy individuals eating a balanced diet. An adequate intake can generally be guaranteed by eating a variety of foods containing high potassium _ for example, bananas, soybeans, potatoes, tomatoes and oranges, he added.


Source: bangkokpost.com

Publication date: 2/4/2008

Assumptions:
one medium sized Cavendish Banana, 7" to 7-7/8" o\long, about 115 grams contains 422 mg of potassium.

If the limit is only 4,000 mg/day then the maximum amount you should eat is only 9 and 1/2 banana fruits.

Now about citruses:
Valencia orange, 2-5/8" diam, 121 grams, contains 217 grams of potassium, 18 1/2 fruits to exceed the daily limit.

Navel Orange, 2-7/8" dia, 140 grams, contains 232 mg K, that would be 17 and a quarter fruits to reach daily limit.

Joe, your post reminds me of when I first tried to enlist in the U.S. Navy at age 17, I was turned down because I was under weight. Therefore, I purchased 7 pound of bananas and drank almost a gallon of water, before my next weigh in, which was a week later. I passed the weight requirement, but because I consumed such a large amount in a very short period of time, my blood pressure was to high. The recruiter had me lay down on a cot for a half hour, than took my blood pressure, and I was accepted into the navy. - Millet

Wow, never knew you were in the Navy!

Yes, I was stationed on board the air craft carrier USS BonHomme Richard, where I worked in the catapult room, and later at the Navel Air Base, Naha Okinawa. However, as with so many young sailors, my liver would have never survived a 20 year retirement enlistment. (LOL) - Millet

Millet:
I joined the Navy when I was 17 too but I stayed in the Navy for 20 years instead (lol). I was also if I remember right less than 110 lbs but I passed the physical and I did not have to eat bananas like you did.
But the Navy was good to me. They sent me to many electrical schools and sent me to college of my choice for 2 years just like civilians do with full pay and allowances. All that was required of us was to wear our uniform once a week.
We must be your guard during the Market Time Operation during the Vietnam war. We were assigned to stay ahead or sides of you together with other destroyers and cruisers to protect you the old bonny Dick. So even we did not meet, we were there together.
O r maybe we met at some point in time and fight each other for the girls during our R&R (lol). But usually it was the marines we fought.

Bennie, I never fought with another sailor, but did have an occasion or two with a marine. I well remember the various escorts that came along with the Bonnie. - Millet