HEALTH BENEFITS OF BANANAS

A useful piece of information - About Bananas

Never put bananas in the refrigerator!!! This is interesting. 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.

Depression:

According to 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.

Anemia:

Bananas are relatively high in iron, which helps the body's hemoglobin function in blood.

Blood Pressure:

Bananas are extremely high in potassium (about 4673mg), yet very low in sodium (1mg), thus having a perfect ratio for preventing high 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 stokes.

Healthy Bones:

Bananas are exceptionally rich source of Fructooligosaccharide, a compound that nurishes probiotic (friendly) bacteria in the Colon. The beneficial bacteria produce enzymes that increase our digestive ability and protect us from unhealthy bacteria infections. This probiotic bacteria can also increase both in number and functionality, increasing our body's ability to absorb Calcium.

In addition, green bananas contain indigestive short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that are very nutrients to the cells that make up the mucosa of the stomach. These cells, when healthy, absorb calcium much more efficiently.

Brain Power:

200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams last 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 and Diarrhea:

Due to their high content in fiber, they help to restore a normal bowel function. In addition, diarrhea usually depletes your body of important electrolytes (of which the most important is Potassium, contained in high amounts in bananas). They also contain Pectin, a soluble fibre (hydrocolloid) that can help normalize movement through the digestive tract.

Eyesight Protection:

Research published in Archives of Ophthalmology has proven that adults consuing at least 3 servings of fruit per day have a reduced risk (by 36%) of developing age-related macular degeneration(ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in older adults, compared to persons who consume less than 1.5 servings of fruit daily.

Heartburn:

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

Ulcers:

This is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicle cases. It also helps to reduce acidity and reduces irritation. Bananas stimulate the cells on the internal stomach lining to produce thicker mucus (which protects against acid). Additionally, bananas contain Protease inhibitors that helps to eliminate bacteria in the stomach that have been pinpointed as a primary cause of Ulcer.

Nerves:

Bananas are high in B Vitamins that have been shown to improve nerve function.

Smoking & Tobacco Use:

Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. They contain Vitamins B6 and B12 they contain, as well as potassium and magnesium: these substances help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress Relief:

Bananas are high in potassium, which helps to normalize the heartbeat and regulates the body's water balance. During periods of high stree, our body's potassium levels tends to be rapidely depleted: eating bananas is a healthy way to rebalance them without using drugs.

Stroke Risk:

According to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can reduce the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%.

Conclusion:

A banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it with 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, may be its time to change the well known phrase as "A Banana a day keeps the Doctor away!"