Lemonade is a beverage consisting of lemon juice, water and sugar as its key ingredients. Bananas are a tropical fruit that offer many nutrients such as B vitamins, vitamin C, fiber and potassium. Lemonade and bananas can be included in your diet when balanced with other essential food groups. Include more fruits, vegetables, meat, beans, dairy, nuts and seeds to ensure you are getting all the minerals and vitamins in your diet.
Benefits of Limonoids
Lemons are a key ingredient in lemonade and are excellent sources of vitamin C, folate, calcium and potassium. Lemons contain powerful compounds called limonoids. In "101 Foods That Could Save Your Life," author David Grotto suggests limonoids fight cancers in the mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon. Limonoids stay in the bloodstream for an extended period of time, which gives them the ability to suppress cancer cell growth.
Significance of Acidic Foods
Lemons in the beverage lemonade have a high acidic content. In "The Complete Master Cleanse," author Tom Woloshyn says the acids in the lemon fruit help to break down calcified substances such as kidney stones and gallstones. The acids act as a natural cleansing agent for your body by breaking down and loosening mucus to be eliminated. This makes lemons a common remedy for treating colds and flu-like symptoms.
Considerations for Lemonade
Lemonade is often made with sugar or some other type of sweetener. White sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, agave syrup, honey, corn syrup and artificial sweeteners are often used. These simple carbohydrates are quickly metabolized into glucose and released into your bloodstream. The quick release spikes your blood sugar levels, causing you to feel hungry soon after. Diabetics and those who struggle with high blood sugar should drink lemonade in moderation.
Significance of Water
Lemonade and bananas both have high water content. According to the American Dietetic Association, your body consists of about 70 percent of water, which is needed for good health. You need to replenish your body with water frequently, because you lose fluids through urination, perspiration and other bodily functions. A primary function of water is to cleanse your body by breaking up and dissolving wastes and toxins in the body. Your body uses water to transport accumulated wastes through your organs to be eliminated.
Function of Potassium
Bananas are a good source of vitamin C, B6 and fiber. The American Dietetic Association recommends eating bananas because they are rich in potassium and low in sodium. This combination may help reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. A medium-sized banana supplies up to 400 mg of potassium. Potassium functions by helping regulate body fluids, blood pressure, nerve cells and muscles.
References
- "101 Foods That Could Save Your Life"; David Grotto, RD, LDN; 2007
- "The Complete Master Cleanse"; Tom Woloshyn; 2007
- "The American Dietetic Assocation's Complete Food and Nutrition Guide"; The American Dietetic Association; 1996
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