Bananas!
This
is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.
Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber,
a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven
that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder
the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But
energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or
maybe prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to
our daily diet.
Depression : According to a recent survey undertaken by M.I.N.D. amongst people
suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because
bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known
to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS : Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood
glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the
blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure : This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low
in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug
Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the
fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke
Brain Power : 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped
through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to
boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist
learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation : High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal
bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers : One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana
milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the
honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your
system.
Heartburn : Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer
from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness : Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar
levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites : Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the
affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful
at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves : Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight
and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work
leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital
patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs
The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our
blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels
steady
Ulcers : The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders
because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten
without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces
irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature
control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower
both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for
example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) : Bananas can help SAD sufferers because
they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, & B12
they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover
from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress : Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends
oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our
metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be balanced with
the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes : According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine,
"eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as
much as 40%!
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a
wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out.
Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it
has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times
the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in
potassium and is one of the best value foods around.
So
maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say,
"A
banana a day keeps the doctor away!"