Banana, What a fruit!

(Passed from YY Wong)

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 can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must-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 the perfect way to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and
>> > Drug Administration have 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.
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:
>> > 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%!

>> > 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 carbohydrates, 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!"