A few words about Bananas . . .

Back in the days before power bars and goo we ate bananas and fig
newtons. Here are some banana facts.

*_Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!_*

*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.

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
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.