Thursday Thirteen -- #54 Banana Factoids

My good friend, Pixie ... Daisy the Curly Cat's sister ... knows what's good. She's been a banana fan (or banana-fana?) for years.

This Thursday Thirteen of Banana Factoids comes from an email that Mom's friend, Lana (Lana-Banana?), sent a coupla days ago.

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.

THURSDAY THIRTEEN: 

BANANA FACTOIDS

Or why you should eat a banana a day!

1. 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.

2. PMS: Forget the pills -- eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which  can affect your mood.

3. Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

4. Blood Pressure: This unique tropical  fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt,
making it  the perfect way 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.

5. Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school 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.

6. Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel
action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

7. 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.

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

9. Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

10. 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.


11. 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.


12. 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.

13. 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%!

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 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 maybe its time to change that well-known  phrase so that we say, 

"A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"