Information: Bananas

[Guest guest]

This was e-mailed to me one day a few months ago. I don't remember who

it came from or where they got it.

 

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.

 

 

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 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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains

regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

 

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%!

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

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.

 

Jim

 

" The difference between sex and death is that with death you can do it

alone and no one is going to make fun of you " .

Woody Allen