Do You Know; Eating a Banana a Day May Keep the Doctor Away
Do You Know; Eating a Banana a Day May Keep the Doctor Away
Banana 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 as compared to most other fruits.
It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best-value foods around.
Bananas contain three natural sugars sucrose, fructose, and glucose combined with fiber.
In this form a banana gives an instant, sustained, and substantial boost of energy.
Research has shown that just two bananas can provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.
Bananas have also been found helpful for several illnesses and conditions:
Depression:
- Depressed people often feel better after eating a banana.
- This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin.
- This powerful hormone is known to make you relax, improve your mood, and generally make you feel happier.
- The banana’s vitamin B6 helps regulate blood glucose levels, which can positively affect your mood and calm the nervous system.
Anaemia:
- High in organic iron (versus inorganic iron used in supplements), bananas can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and thereby improve anaemia.
Blood Pressure and Brain Power:
- High in potassium, yet low in sodium, bananas are very effective in balancing blood pressure.
- Because of this, the US Food and Drug Administration allows the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
- And, for the same reasons, students were found to be more alert and increased academic performance when eating bananas for breakfast and at lunchtime.
Constipation:
- High in fiber, bananas in the diet have helped restore normal bowel functions in people suffering from constipation.
Heartburn:
- Having a natural antacid effect, bananas have helped people suffering from heartburn.
- Banana neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Morning Sickness:
- Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites:
- If bitten by an insect, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin.
- Banana skin is known for reducing swelling and irritation.
Stress:
- The banana’s potassium helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain, and regulates the body’s water balance.
- During stress, our metabolic rate rises; this in turn drops potassium levels.
- Bananas can reverse this effect of stress.
In addition;
- Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
- Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
- Bananas have also helped people trying to give up smoking.
- The B6, B12, and the potassium and magnesium found in them help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
- According to research published in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by stroke by as much as 40%!