BANANAS
 
               
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 B 6 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 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 crisps.
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 re-balanced 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!'

It is also good as a face mask. Helps keep wrinkles at bay , tightens skin and softens it.

Banana anti-wrinkle mask:
Mash banana well and apply to the face. Rinse off after 15 minutes. It is an anti-wrinkle pack.

Banana pack for glowing skin:
Mash banana until creamy, mix 3-4 drops of fresh lemon juice and 1/2 tsp of honey and apply to the face.

Banana mask for blemishes
Mash banana well and add 2 tsp of plain yoghurt to it. Mix well and apply it on your face.Rinse off after 15 minutes. This is very effective to get rid of blemishes.