The saying goes that "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." But are there any other fruits that benefit our health beyond an old wives' tale? I'm here to tell you, courtesy of my voice teacher, that eating two bananas is a natural anxiety reducer, especially before a performance. Here's how.
What's So Great about Bananas Anyway?
Well, according to Health Extremist, bananas reduce your anxiety because they're natural beta-blockers. This means that when you eat a banana, they prevent adrenaline from binding to beta receptors. Your pulse rate and blood pressure both decrease, so you won't worry as much about that upcoming audition after eating two nutritious bananas.
They're Potassium-Packed, Too, Which is Super Important For Calming Your Stress Levels.
Potassium is a vital mineral for you, helping to normalize your heart beat, send oxygen to your brain, and regulate your body's water balance. But when you're stressed before a big performance, your potassium levels drop as your metabolic rate rises. So to lower your blood pressure and calm your anxiety down, high-potassium bananas are the perfect boost!
And They're Chock-Full of Proteins, Minerals, and Vitamins, Oh My!
They're packed with both the protein tryptophan and mineral magnesium to help increase your serotonin and relax your stress levels and mood. And they have a healthy dose of Vitamin B thrown in there to help calm the nervous system, so when you are performing, you can focus on your song instead of how anxious you might be.
So Basically: The More Bananas, the Better.
When my voice teacher first advised me to eat two bananas to reduce my stage fright and anxiety before my upcoming audition, I thought: "Seriously? And why two?" But I listened and ate my two bananas with a large dollop of peanut butter on the side. And when I showed up for my musical theater class audition later that day, I wasn't scared, well maybe a little, but I was more so excited and ready to go. And as luck would have it, I got accepted into the class!
So next time you've got a performance or are about to take an exam, make sure you're eating TWO bananas about 30 minutes beforehand. Trust me, you won't be disappointed and your anxiety levels will thank you.