Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Thursday Thirteen- 13 Reasons Why You Should Eat Banana

THIRTEEN REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD EAT BANANA

1. 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.

2. PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.(hmmmm....I'll eat banana now)

3. Anaemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anaemia.

4. Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect remedy 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.

5. Constipation: High in fibre, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

6. 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.

7. Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

8. Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

10. 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.

11. Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

12. 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

13. 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.

Other Uses:

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%!

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


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12 comments:

Melanie said...

No kidding! Wow! I have a wart..do NOT tell anyone..yuck..I may have to try this..Very informative!

SJ Reidhead said...

I don't even like the odor of bananas.

SJR
The Pink Flamingo
http://thepinkflamingo.blogharbor.com/blog

Anonymous said...

I'm glad they are so good for you, but even if they weren't I'd eat them anyway! I love bananas.

cindy kay said...

Hmm. I'd heard about the potassium, but not the other things. Oh wait, I heard that bananas CAUSE constipation. I wonder which is right? In any case, that was a VERY interesting list.

SandyCarlson said...

No. 1 sells me on these guys. Sounds like just the ticket. This was an interesting read. Thanks.

Dane Bramage said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dane Bramage said...

I'm a bananaholic. You know turkey has tryptophan in it too. So if you stuff a turkey with bananas you'd be so mellow you'd melt.

Well its number 68 for me this week. I answer 13 More Questions from the 100 Question Meme. Stop by if you get a chance.

Anonymous said...

I already like them but you have convinced me to get more of them and give them the proper respect! *Grin*

Happy TT

~X

Anonymous said...

I love bananas
happy tt

Anonymous said...

I think the banana is Earth's single most amazing fruit!

Barbara said...

We love bananas around here. We keep them on hand most of the time. Great TT.

Toia said...

I must admit I do not like bananas and they don't like me. But it's good to see that they are good for many other things beside eating. Nice TT!