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.
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, 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 find it amazingly successful
at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves:
Bananas are high
in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
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 heart beat, 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.
Weight:
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. 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.
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 carbohydrates,
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.
Maybe its time to change that well-known
phrase and say, "A
banana a day keeps the doctor away!"