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A
professor at NYU for a physiological psych class
told his class about bananas. He said the
expression 'going bananas' is from the effects
of bananas on the brain. Read on:
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Never, put
your banana in the
refrigerator!!!
This is
interesting.
After
reading this, you'll never look at a banana in
the same way again.
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Bananas
contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose
and glucose combined with fibre. 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.
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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.
Anaemia
: High in
iron, bananas can stimulate the production of
haemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases
of
anaemia.
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.
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Brain
Power: 200
students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) 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
fibre, 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.
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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.
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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-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.
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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!
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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
it's time to change that well-known phrase so
that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor
away!'
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