A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class
told his class about bananas. He said the expression "going bananas" is from
the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:
This is
interesting.
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.
Bananas contain 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
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.
Overweightand at
work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at wor k
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 &Tobacco Use: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!"
PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one
here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and
rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit
!
