Banana News - A Must Read

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 &
nbsp; 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!"


PS:  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 !!!


Success To Your Wellness Plans,
Emma Saford, RN
Founder & Wellness Consultant
Good Health - Good Scents
http://youngliving.org/ghgs
http://www.goodhealth-goodscents.com