Bananas... This is very interesting.
After Reading THIS, you'll NEVER look at a banana in the same way
again -
Bananas. Containing 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 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 MIND 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. SPAN>
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 haemoglobin
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 aTwickenham (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 rebalanced 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!"
