Bananas are not just for Monkeys any more

March 13, 2007

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.

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 way 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 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 chips. 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%!

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 carbohydrates, 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!"

Keep your thoughts positive, because your thoughts become your words.Keep your words positive, because your words become your behavior.Keep your behavior positive, because your behavior becomes your habits.Keep your habits positive, because your habits become your values.Keep your values positive, because your values become your destiny.

- Mahatma Gandhi

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