Sunday, April 27, 2008 Pages: More bananas to go bananas over bananas By John Pages Match Point
IT’S “the no.1 fruit with the world’s leading athletes.” Maria Sharapova devours it in-between sets. It’s tasty, easy to digest, inexpensive and, best of all, it’s perfect for you, me, athletes, non-athletes. A few months back, I featured an article that landed in my e-mail inbox entitled, “A Banana A Day Keeps The Doctor Away.” But due to space limitations, I posted only excerpts. Here’s the full list of health benefits....
Depression: According to a survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt better after eating a banana. Bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and 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 fruit is high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure... The US Food and Drug Administration has 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 were helped through their exams 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.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. It reduces swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight? 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.
Smoking: Bananas 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.
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 percent!
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.
One final tip: Want a quick shoe shine? Take the inside of the banana skin, rub directly on the shoe then polish with dry cloth. Amazing banana!
