Bananas!

I thought this message about bananas might be of interest to all
of
you.
They seem to be very good for people and help with all kinds of
things
that
can be wrong with us. I thought it was very interesting.
Little did you know...After Reading THIS, you'll NEVER look at
the
Banana
in the same way again!!

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 proved 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 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 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 re-balanced 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, you see, 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". |