Bananas
contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and
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
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 ( 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 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 foodlike 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-chroniclercases. 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.
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 delightful.
No comments:
Post a Comment