Bananas are sexy & powerful!
DON’T we all love the way Korean singer and actor Kwak Hyun Hwa eats her banana? Miss Kwak says: “How can I eat the banana in a way that does not seem dirty? Whenever I eat food my eyes become like that. Also, when you eat don’t you use your teeth or tongue? I am curious, so please tell me.”
Bananas are not only sexy, they contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fibre. This power combo gives you an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has shown that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the no.1 fruit with the world’s leading athletes.
But energy isn’t the only way a banana helps us keep fit. It also helps overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and life-threatening conditions.
Depression
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND, among people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
Anaemia
High in iron, bananas stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood that helps in cases of anaemia.
Blood pressure
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. The US Food and Drug Administration has even allowed the banana industry to make official claims for banana to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain power
200 students at a Twickenham school in 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 assists learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation
High in fibre, bananas help restore normal bowel action, so constipation sufferers don’t have to use laxatives.
Heartburn
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, eat a banana for relief.
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.
Ulcers
The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It also neutralises over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Keeping you cool
Many other cultures see bananas as a “cooling” fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers.
Treasure trove
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 it’s time to replace apples with bananas in this much-quoted nursery rhyme,
When I was young and full of life
I fell in love with the doctor’s wife.
So I ate a banana every day
To keep the doctor far away.
