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.
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.
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!'
