Fw: Bananas -

June 5, 2008

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. Read on:

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.

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 ( 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.

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..

Overweightand 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 & 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! "

PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS

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 !!!

June 5, 2008

Their also good for cleaning and shining green leafed plants, and making

smoothies smoother. Also their one of the cheaper fruits around. At aleast in my

area.

Go Banana!

jennifer stec <jasperdog1020 wrote: