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 school ( England ) 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-chroniclercases. 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. 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!’
Source: http://www.karenstan.net
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