Information about Bananas
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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, imp rove
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 hemoglobi in
the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in
potassiumyet 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 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!"
WOW!!
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