A BANANA a day keeps the doctor away
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 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 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.
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!"
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