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I heard years ago that the Banana is the most perfect > of all foods. If you eat a banana, you get > everything you need...it is a very healthy food. Then > today I received the following from a friend of mine. > It is even better than I thought. After Reading THIS, > you'll NEVER look at a banana in the same way again!
> Bananas: Containing 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 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 > the perfect way 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.
> 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 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.
> 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!"
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