Bananas may be sabotaging your smoothie's superpowers, scientists warn

Adding a banana to your berry smoothie might sound healthy, but new research suggests the popular combo could cancel out some of the fruit's benefits.

Scientists at the University of California, Davis, found that adding a banana to your smoothie could significantly reduce the absorption of the berries' heart- and brain-boosting compounds by as much as 84%.

The study, published this month in the journal Food & Function, points to an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase (PPO), which is abundant in bananas, as the reason for the drop. 

EATING BLUEBERRIES EARLIER IN LIFE COULD EASE ALLERGIES, STRENGTHEN IMMUNITY, NEW STUDY FINDS

PPO reacts with beneficial plant compounds known as flavanols — found in foods like berries, grapes, apples and cocoa — which are linked to a boost in heart and brain health.

"We sought to understand, on a very practical level, how a clinical study, volunteers drank two smoothies — one made with banana and another with mixed berries, which are low in PPO. Blood and urine samples showed that the banana smoothie had reduced flavanol absorption, compared to the berry version or a flavanol capsule.

COCOA EXTRACT COULD SLOW AGING PROCESS IN OLDER ADULTS, 'PROMISING' NEW STUDY FINDS

"While we anticipated that PPO might influence the flavanol content and absorption from smoothies, we were surprised by how quickly and significantly the addition of just one banana reduced flavanol content in the smoothie and, consequently, the levels of flavanols in the body," Ottaviani said.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"It was also surprising to find that even if bananas are consumed at the same time as flavanols, but not in the same smoothie, the PPO still reduced the