After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way
again. And no I'm not talking about phallic bananas either (thats a whole other Xrated blog post)...
Profound Banana Philosophy 1:
If
a person walking down an empty desert highway early in the morning
slips on a banana peel, falls and kills themself, does it make a sound? Banana Peel : The silent, but deadly killer.
Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose
combined with fibre. 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.
The amazing health benefits of bananas:
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. So ditch your Prozac, skanks for a Nana!
PMS
Forget the pills - eat a banana! The vitamin
B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your
mood.
Anaemia
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the
production of haemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anaemia.
Blood Pressure
This unique tropical fruit is
extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat
high 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
Two hundred students at a school in
England were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at
breakfast, break, and at 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 fibre, bananas included 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 from hell 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 rehydrates 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.
Swap these for a banana when you snack at work
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. Take a
banana to work with you so that when that craving hits you have
something healthy to snack on.
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 neutralises over-acidity and reduces
irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature Control
Many 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 and Tobacco UseBananas can also help
people trying to give up smoking. The B6 and B12 they contain, as well
as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body to recover
from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress
Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps
to normalise the heartbeat, send oxygen to the brain and regulate the
body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises,
reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with 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
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.
So maybe it’s time
to change that well-known phrase so that we say
: 'A banana a day keeps
the doctor away!'
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