Bananas which contain three natural sugars (sucrose, fructose and glucose)
and fiber give 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.
Reducing 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.
[IMAGE]Brain Power:Two-hundred students at a Twickenham (Middlesex, UK)
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 Instituteof Psychologyin Austriafound
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 2 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 Cessation:Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking.
The B6 and B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found
in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress Relief: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. They can be re-balanced with the help of a
high-potassium banana snack.
Stroke Risk: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%!
Wart Removal: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!
Splinter Removal:For those hard-to-remove wood splinters, rather than
poking and prodding with tweezer and needle, take a small piece of banana
skin, large enough to cover the splinter wholly, yellow side out, and
carefully tape it over the splinter with a band-aid or tape. Overnight the
banana and its enzymes will work the splinter out, dissolving it and
sealing the wound. So in the morning, when you remove the band-aid, the pad
will be yucky brown mush and no more splinter!
CONCLUSION: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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