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
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 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 pressure 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,
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
