(I have no idea why I made this page, lol !)

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 proved 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 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 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: 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, you see, 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".

Just a peel away,

Chiquita Banana

This came my way via e mail.

Thank You "U" 

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