Reposted from April 20, 2006
GOING 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.
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.
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 hone! y, 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.
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!"
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