Don't put these in your smoothie!! | Dr. Rhonda Patrick
Dr. Rhonda Patrick explains that bananas contain the enzyme polyphenol oxidase (PPO) which degrades polyphenols from blueberries, reducing their cognitive benefits. She advises against adding bananas to smoothies containing blueberries, though bananas are nutritious foods on their own.
Summary
In this transcript, Dr. Rhonda Patrick discusses enzyme interactions in smoothies. She explains that while bananas are not inherently unhealthy, they contain an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase (PPO) that breaks down polyphenols—the beneficial compounds found in blueberries that provide cognitive health benefits. Patrick notes her frustration that most commercial smoothies contain bananas despite this interference. She identifies bananas and beets, along with other foods in that family, as the primary sources of polyphenol oxidase in common smoothie ingredients. The key recommendation is that while these foods are nutritious and should be consumed, they should not be combined with blueberries in smoothies specifically because of the enzymatic degradation of the polyphenols.
About this episode
Bananas contain an enzyme that blocks nutrients from other foods. Combined with blueberries, for example, bananas can block the cognitive benefits you want. Full conversation with Dr. Rhonda Patrick linked above. *Shane Parrish* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farnamstreet/ X: https://x.com/ShaneParrish LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-parrish-050a2183/ Books: https://fs.blog/books/ Website: https://fs.blog/ Newsletter: http://fs.blog/newsletter *The Knowledge Project* is a show featuring in-depth conversations with the top CEOs, investors, and business leaders to uncover the timeless principles that drive success. Learn more at https://fs.blog/podcast
Key Insights
- Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme present in bananas breaks down polyphenols, which are the beneficial compounds in blueberries that provide cognitive benefits
- Bananas, beets, and foods in their family are among the few common smoothie ingredients that contain high levels of polyphenol oxidase
- Most commercial smoothies available for purchase contain bananas, creating a widespread issue where consumers cannot easily find smoothies optimized for polyphenol retention
Topics
Transcript
[0:00] I used to add bananas to my smoothie years and years ago. It's not that bananas are bad for you, but they have this enzyme in them called polyphenol oxidase, PPO. Well, as the name implies, it breaks down polyphenols, which is what you want from the blueberries to get the benefits in the brain. I'll tell you what's enraging about it. Is anywhere you go, you like if you want to buy a smoothie when you're out and about, everything has a has a banana in it. So, there's really not a lot of foods that can go [0:30] into a smoothie that would degrade the polyphenols cuz they're high in that enzyme polyphenol oxidase, but the ones…
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