Dr. R and Bananas

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I read alot but don't post much, but I thought this was interesting since we

need all they have to offer...and Dr. R suggests them..

BANANAS

This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the

same way again.

Bananas Containing 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 subs! tantial 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 th! e 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 the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US

Food and Drug Administra! tion 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.

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 lin! ing 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: 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 leve! ls.

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 h! old 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

Hope you all enjoyed this..

Mikee

310 / 170

3/2003 Dr. R

[Guest guest]

Mike, its so good to hear you back on the board, Hugs Cary Sue