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 !