Interesting Tidbits about Bananas

[Guest guest]

I received this from another group and thought I would pass it along. there was

no documentation of where it came from... Sorry... Elchanan, Please let us know

if you agree with all this...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

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

bodyconverts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your ood 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 m

ch 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 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%!

 

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! "

 

You might want to pass this tidbit to your friends!!!!