Health Benefits of a Banana

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!  Unless you want to use it for something other than the medicinal reasons listed below...  :)

This is interesting.  After reading this you will never look at a banana 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 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

(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 &Tobacco Use:  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!"

PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so

 happy all the time! I will add one here; want a

quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of

the banana skin, and rub directly on the

 shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit!