| After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in | | | | Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the |
| the same way again.Bananas: Containing three | | | | nervous system.Overweight and at work? Studies |
| natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose | | | | at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found |
| combined with fibre, a banana gives an instant, | | | | pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort |
| sustained and substantial boost of energy. | | | | food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 |
| Research has proven that just two bananas | | | | hospital patients, researchers found the most |
| provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute | | | | obese were more likely to be in high-pressure |
| workout. No wonder the banana is the number | | | | jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid |
| one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But | | | | panic-induced food cravings, we need to control |
| energy isn't the only way a banana can help us | | | | our blood sugar levels by snacking on high |
| keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a | | | | carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep |
| substantial number of illnesses and conditions, | | | | levels steady.PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. |
| making it a must to add to our daily diet.A few | | | | The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose |
| people have a slight problem with the digestion of | | | | levels, which can affect your mood.Seasonal |
| bananas, the simple answer, even though it | | | | Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD |
| sounds strange, is to sprinkle a little Pepper on the | | | | sufferers because they contain the natural mood |
| banana before eating, it works wonders.Anaemia: | | | | enhancer tryptophan.Smoking: Bananas can also |
| High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production | | | | help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, |
| of haemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases | | | | B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and |
| of anaemiaBlood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit | | | | magnesium found in them, help the body recover |
| is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, | | | | from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.Stress: |
| making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So | | | | Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize |
| much so, the US Food and Drug Administration | | | | the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and |
| has just allowed the banana industry to make | | | | regulates your body's water balance. When we |
| official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the | | | | are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby |
| risk of blood pressure and stroke.Brain Power: 200 | | | | reducing our potassium levels. These can be |
| students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school | | | | rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium |
| were helped through their exams this year by | | | | banana snack.Strokes: According to research in |
| eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a | | | | "The New England Journal of Medicine," eating |
| bid to boost their brain power. Research has | | | | bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk |
| shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist | | | | of death by strokes by as much as |
| learning by making pupils more alert.Constipation: | | | | 40%!Temperature Control: Many other cultures |
| High in fibre, including bananas in the diet can help | | | | see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower |
| restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome | | | | both the physical and emotional temperature of |
| the problem without resorting to | | | | expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, |
| laxatives.Depression: According to a recent survey | | | | pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their |
| undertaken by MIND amongst people | | | | baby is born with a cool temperature.Ulcers: The |
| suffering from depression, many felt much | | | | banana is used as the dietary food against |
| better after eating a banana. This is because | | | | intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and |
| bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein | | | | smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be |
| that the body converts into serotonin, known to | | | | eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It |
| make you relax, improve your mood and | | | | also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation |
| generally make you feel happier.Hangovers: One | | | | by coating the lining of the stomach.Warts: Those |
| of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to | | | | keen on natural alternatives swear that if you |
| make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. | | | | want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana |
| The banana calms the stomach and, with the help | | | | skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side |
| of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar | | | | out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster |
| levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates | | | | or surgical tape!A banana really is a natural |
| your system.Heartburn: Bananas have a natural | | | | remedy for many ills. When you compare bananas |
| antacid effect in the body; so if you suffer from | | | | to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice |
| heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing | | | | the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, |
| relief.Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas | | | | five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the |
| between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels | | | | other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in |
| up and avoid morning sickness.Mosquito bites: | | | | potassium and is one of the best value foods |
| Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try | | | | around. Maybe its time to change that well-known |
| rubbing the affected area with the inside of a | | | | phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps |
| banana skin. Many people find it amazingly | | | | the doctor away!"P.S. Bananas must be the |
| successful at reducing swelling and irritation.Nerves: | | | | reason monkeys are so happy all the time! |