Research studies have proven that eating two bananas
provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.
Not the only great thing about bananas though! They do
not lose nutritional content after being picked as do other
fruits and vegetables with thinner skin!
My grandmother's saying, "If it tastes good it can't be
good for you," doesn't hold water with the banana case…
Studies have also found that bananas can overcome
and/or prevent a number of illnesses and conditions, making
it a great idea to include them in your daily diet.
1) Anemia: Bananas are high in iron and can stimulate
the production of hemoglobin in the blood therefore helping
in iron deficiency anemia. No constipation when eating
bananas as with iron supplements!
2) Blood Pressure: The doctors' I worked with would
tell the patient to eat a banana every day! Why?
Because they are high in potassium yet low in salt.
That advice was usually to people taking blood
pressure medications, since those medications help
to deplete the system of that most important mineral
potassium. People with low Potassium in the body
creates the climate for heart attack and/or other diseases...
Doctors in India discovered just two bananas a day
can reduce blood pressure by 10% in just one week.
This backs up a previous American study showing
that eating five bananas a day was 50% as effective
as taking prescription medication to reduce hypertension.
The US Food and Drug Administration now allows the
banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's
ability to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and
stroke.
3) Student Brain Power: A study done with the
help of 200 students at a Twickenham England, (Middlesex)
school showed; by eating bananas at breakfast, break
and lunch boosted their brain power making for better
exam results. Research has shown that, again the
mineral potassium-packed fruit can further learning
by making students more alert.
4) Constipation: Bananas are high in fiber thereby
including bananas in the diet can help restore
normal bowel action, assisting in overcoming
constipation without resorting to harsh laxatives.
5) Depression: Bananas contain tryptophan, a
type of protein that the body converts into serotonin
known to help you relax, thereby improving mood
and helping to create a happier feeling. This was
been proven when done with depressed patients.
6) Hangovers: Alcohol depletes the body of several
minerals and also dehydrates the body and one of
the quickest hangover cures could be eating a
banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The
banana shake calms the stomach replaces the
potassium lost and the milk helps to rehydrate the
body while calming the nerves with tryptophan...
7) Heart-burn: Bananas have a natural antacid
calming effect in the body. You might try eating
a banana next time you suffer from heart-burn,
and calm the gas!
8) Morning Sickness: Prevent that morning sickness
by snacking on bananas between meals helping to
keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Even if you forget to eat them before and you wake
up with morning sickness, eat a banana to calm the
stomach!
9) Bone builder: Bananas are high in phosphorus,
needed for bone development, calcium, and potassium.
They are particularly rich in vitamin C and contain
significant amounts of several other vitamins such
as vitamin A. Bananas do not contain fat and have
zero cholesterol.
10) PMS: Eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains
regulates blood glucose levels and tryptophan the
calming soothing chemical, which can affect your
mood.
11) 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-chronic ulcer
cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces
irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
12) Fevers: Many 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.
13) Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas
can help SAD sufferers because they contain the
natural mood enhancer, tryptophan.
14) Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to
give up smoking, as the high levels of Vitamin C, A1,
B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and
magnesium found in them, help the body recover
from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Contrary to popular belief, bananas are not fattening.
Eating tip! The more yellow the fruit the easier to
digest and the more nutrients!