> The Scoop About a BANANA.... Who knew???
>
> 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!"
