Sunday, May 22, 2011

Banana's


I recieved the following from an OT friend of mine...  knew most of it and figured I'd share... if you have anything to add or disclaim please let me know.

~Wendy

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about 
bananas. He said the expression 'going bananas' is from the effects of 
bananas on the brain. Read on:
  

Never, put your banana 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.

 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 perfect 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 ( England ) 
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 &Tobacco Use: 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%!

 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!

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 carbohydrate, 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!'

 PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS
 PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will 
add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the 
banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing 
fruit !

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