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> Bananas > > 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: > > Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!! > > > > > 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. > > > > > > > Overweight and 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!" > > > > > 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 !