BANANAS - very  interesting

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!!!

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 ( 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 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  &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  !!!