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.
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.
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. InThailand , 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 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! 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.
