BANANA
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way
again. I thought I knew a lot about bananas, but this turned out to be
pretty interesting. 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 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.
* 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 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
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
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!"
PASS IT ON TO
YOUR FRIENDS
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I
will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the
INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish
with dry cloth. Amazing fruit!