Bananas - Informative facts about bananas

At Bharatbeat we are always trying to find new and interesting information to share with our readers.

I'd like to share the following contribution from a friend of mine named Paul G.. Obviously Paul has thought this one through!

Dear Friends

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 *!!!