>Bananas: Containing 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
>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 the perfect way 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: 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%!
>
>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 carbohydrates,
>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!" (I wonder if a banana split counts?
>)
>
>You might want to pass this tidbit to your friends!!!!