Bananas....

[Yasi 0]

One a day…

After Reading THIS, you'll NEVER look at a banana in the same way again!

Bananas Containing 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 the perfect way 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, 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.

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 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%! 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 its time to change that

well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS:

[iceyspots 0]

yes... potassium in bananas are good to avoid severe muscle cramping

[Bosco 1]

I never thought of a banana the same way after seeing this video here (about 3:30 in)

[sarah and hicham 3]

I hate bananas but I eat one a day for the nutritional value.

[Together4ever 1]

In Egypt we were munching bananas every day. Here, I always have them in the house because they're my bunnie's favorite treat. He'll even do a happy dance to get a banana.