Bananas

I had no idea!! Did you??

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 fibre.

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.

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 
contained regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

3.  Anaemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production
of haemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anaemia.

4.  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.

5.  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.

6.  Constipation: High in fibre, 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.       Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm
the nervous system.

12.       Overweight and pressure 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.

13.       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.

 14.       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. Similarly, if you don’t want sex, eat banana!

 15.       Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help 
SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer
tryptophan.

 16.       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.

 17.       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.

 18.       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 percent.

 19.       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 
imes 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 it’s 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 more here; want a quick shine on
our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub 
directly on the shoe then polish with dry cloth. 

Banana is really an amazing fruit but don’t go banana over 
banana eh.

PERSATUAN PENGGUNA ISLAM MALAYSIA: 395) EMEL PILIHAN