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Wednesday, September 6, 2006

Posted by Ms Faizah

Going Bananas

Bananas... This is very interesting.

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 haemoglobin 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, 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

crisps. 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%!

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 that well-known phrase so

that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

PSBananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time!


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