A series of photos capturing the moment when footballer Nguyen Xuan Son bought fried banana cakes on the sidewalk and posted them on social media immediately caused a "storm". Many people wondered why this rustic snack was loved by the Brazilian footballer?
Footballer Nguyen Xuan Son and his wife wait to buy banana cake - Illustration photo
After impressive performances in recent matches of the Vietnamese team at the ASEAN Cup 2024, Nguyen Xuan Son emerged as an "internet phenomenon", attracting a lot of attention from the Vietnamese fan community.
In particular, a series of everyday photos capturing the simple moment Xuan Son rode a motorbike and waited to buy banana cake on the sidewalk of Nam Dinh city was posted on social media and immediately caused a "storm". Many people were excited because this is a familiar dish for many Vietnamese people, especially in winter.
It is known that the sidewalk fried banana cake shop that Xuan Son visited is owned by owner Pham Thi Thu Ha (33 years old), opened for nearly 3 years, located at the intersection of Nguyen Du Street, opposite Nguyen Khuyen High School, Nam Dinh City.
The shop owner confirmed that Xuan Son and his family often come here to buy fried banana cakes. "A few months ago, Xuan Son's sister ordered banana cakes and asked me to deliver them to her house. Since then, the player and his wife have often come here to buy fried banana cakes.
When he doesn't have a competition schedule, Xuan Son comes to buy banana cakes almost every afternoon. If he's busy, his wife comes to buy them. Each time they buy about 10, sometimes more," said Ms. Ha.
Goong bananas are used by the shop owner to make banana cakes - Illustration photo
The shop's banana cake is made according to a Malaysian recipe. The banana used to make the cake is a dwarf banana, with a characteristic sweet and aromatic flavor. The fried flour used is Malaysian flour, which helps the banana cake have a crispy crust but is still soft and easy to eat.
Goong banana is the most delicious banana variety among more than 30 banana varieties in Vietnam. They are called goong bananas because in the past they were served as dessert after the king's meal.
The banana tree looks like the banana tree, but the trunk is smaller and more slender. The fruit is 10-12.5cm long, as big as the tip of a thumb, light yellow, each bunch of bananas has 12-20 fruits and each bunch has 10-14 bunches, the banana peel is thin, smooth, the inside is yellow, very sweet and fragrant.
Banana cake is a popular rustic dish - Illustration photo
Health benefits of bananas
Talking to reporters about the benefits of the banana cake that player Xuan Son used, Dr. Quach Tuan Vinh (Vietnam Oriental Medicine Association) said that goong bananas and other types of ripe bananas are popular and easy-to-buy fruits, loved for their high nutritional content and comprehensive effects on health.
With its quick energy providing properties, ripe bananas have become an ideal food for athletes, especially football players and those who are physically active.
Doctor Vinh analyzed that ripe bananas contain many important nutrients: Carbohydrates, 22.8g/100g of bananas, natural sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose), help provide energy quickly;
Fiber helps improve digestion and stabilize blood sugar; high water content, about 75%, helps maintain moisture and replenish water lost during high-level physical activity.
In addition, ripe bananas contain many vitamins such as vitamin C, B6 and A, B6 supports protein metabolism and hemoglobin production; vitamin C strengthens the immune system and reduces oxidative stress; vitamin A supports vision.
The trace minerals found in bananas are also quite important for health, for example potassium helps balance electrolytes, reduce the risk of cramps and stabilize blood pressure.
Potassium is considered the ginseng of the heart, helping to increase the contractility of the heart to meet the requirements of physical activity. Magnesium has the effect of reducing muscle fatigue and enhancing nerve function. Manganese has the effect of supporting energy metabolism.
In particular, ripe bananas are rich in antioxidants such as catechins and dopamine, which help reduce inflammation and protect cells.
Bananas also help increase athletic performance, providing quick and sustainable energy, suitable for athletes. That's why tennis players often eat bananas after a match.
Why do football players and athletes often eat bananas?
Doctor Vinh said many scientific studies have proven the effects of bananas:
Exercise performance: Research from the Journal of Proteome Research (2012) showed that eating bananas before and during exercise increased energy and reduced muscle tension.
Improve heart health: Research published in The New England Journal of Medicine shows that potassium in bananas helps reduce the risk of stroke and high blood pressure.
Improves digestion : Bananas contain inulin, a form of fiber that supports the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut.
Stabilize blood sugar: The glycemic index of bananas is low on average, suitable for people who need to control blood sugar.
Ripe bananas are considered a quick source of energy because they are digested quickly, providing glucose to maintain energy levels during competition, making them an ideal choice before, during and after training or competition.
Eating bananas can help prevent muscle cramps, a common occurrence during competition, due to their high potassium content which helps maintain electrolyte balance, and magnesium and vitamin B6 which support muscle function.
Recovery after training and competition due to carbohydrate content to help replenish glycogen, vitamin C and antioxidants to help reduce muscle inflammation.
Boosting endurance for athletes has been shown in several studies to be as effective as sports drinks during prolonged exercise.
"Ripe bananas are a natural and healthy food, bringing many health benefits, especially for people with high physical activity. This effect has been confirmed through scientific research, however, it should be used properly to maximize benefits and avoid unwanted side effects" - Dr. Vinh emphasized.
Ways to use ripe bananas to supplement the nutritional intake of players and athletes are listed as follows:
Banana cake: In addition to the main ingredient of ripe bananas, there is also a quantity of flour, cooking oil containing a lot of energy, fiber, and fat, suitable as a snack for players or athletes...
Banana jam: Provides instant energy, suitable as a snack when needing to increase endurance.
Banana smoothie with milk or oats: Hydrates, energizes, and provides protein to aid muscle recovery.
Dried banana: Light, easy to carry, quick energy supplement during competition or training.
Notes when using bananas
Don't eat too much: Eating too many bananas can cause excess potassium, affecting kidney function.
People with allergies or digestive disorders: Some people may experience bloating or indigestion if they eat bananas on an empty stomach.
Players should choose the right time to eat: Eat bananas 30 minutes before or immediately after the match to maximize effectiveness.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/mon-banh-chuoi-ma-xuan-son-yeu-thich-mang-lai-loi-ich-gi-cho-suc-khoe-va-the-thao-20250101201646257.htm
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