Magical Bananas
A professor at CCNY 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
After reading this, you'll never look at a 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 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
Constipation
High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal
bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives
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
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-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, 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
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time !
