BAJAN SUN
Bajan Sun Magazine
AUG 2014
A BANANA A DAY
KEEPS THE DOCTOR
by worldobserveronline
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, that
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 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 milk-
shake, 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. 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!’
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