As biologists tell us, bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose, plus loads of healthy fiber. As a result, it gives not only an instant but a sustained as well as a substantial boost of energy. This sounds like a perfect packet of energy for a workout session. Isn’t it??
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder banana is the #1 preferred 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 large number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
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How banana helps in Anemia?
According to Wikipedia, anemia is decreased number of red blood cells or less than normal amount of Hemoglobin in blood. Anemia if left untreated, can even lead to heart failure.
Bananas being rich in iron, stimulate the production of hemoglobin, and helps in anemia.
How banana helps in regulating Blood Pressure?
Surprisingly, banana is extremely high in potassium, yet low in salt (its a fruit after all). But, this very thing makes it perfect to beat blood pressure. Adding more to your surprise, the US Food and Drug Administration has even allowed the fruit industry to make official, research-backed claims for this fruit’s superb ability in reduction of risk of blood pressure and hence, stroke. [1]
How banana helps students with Exams?
A recent research suggests, that consuming a potassium rich diet can actually improve learning and cognition by making pupils (a part of eye) more alert. In an attempt to further test the theory, 200 students at a Twickenham school (England) were made to eat bananas with regular three meals. And as predicted, all of them fared very well at their exams and reported longer attention span, less fatigue and restlessness.
How banana helps in Constipation?
Ooh! That’s something we’d love to ward off with a pill, ASAP. Can’t say much about you, but in my case, the laxative just worsened my condition every time. That’s precisely why I started including a banana salad in my daily evening snack. (Follow link for more Healthy snacking ideas)
As mentioned above, the fruit being rich in fiber, can help restore normal bowel action [2], thus, eliminating constipation altogether. Good bye laxatives!
How banana helps in Morning Sickness?
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness. So, when you wake up, you already have a full charged battery to begin your day with.
How banana helps after Mosquito Bites?
Next time a mosquito or insect bites, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
How banana helps in Calming Nerves?
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system. Not only will it help you keep your work stress in control, [3] but will also keep you away from reach of depression and anxiety [4]. This is not coming out of thin air, two separate studies have scientifically proven it to be true. Next time, when you feel beaten down by PMS, ditch pills for a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
How banana helps in Gastric Ulcers?
Because of its soft and smooth texture, banana has been used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders. Its pulp when ingested, coats the stomach mucosa (lining) and neutralized acidity. Though it is easy to consume, studies have shown efficiency of banana powder in prevention of undesirable mucosal shedding too. [5]
How banana helps in Hangover?
This is probably one of the quickest ways of getting out of a hangover – a banana shake, sweetened with honey. As already said, with its antacid properties, it calms the irritated stomach and, with the help of the honey, replenishes depleted blood sugar levels; while the milk soothes and re-hydrates system. Things cannot get better than this!
How banana helps in Temperature Regulation?
Many cultures view bananas as a ‘cooling’ fruit. One 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.
Indeed, a banana is a natural cure for many ills. If you compare it to an apple, it has almost five times the vitamin A and iron, four times protein, thrice the phosphorus, twice the carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals. Fully loaded with salt free potassium, it is one of the best value foods in any grocery store. So may be, its high time we placed in high regards as compared to apple and start chanting, ‘A BANANA a day keeps the doctor away!’
References [1] K. P. Sampath Kumar, Debjit Bhowmik, S. Duraivel, M. Umadevi. Traditional and Medicinal Uses of Banana - Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry [2] Sabater-Molina M, Larqué E, Torrella F, Zamora S. Dietary fructooligosaccharides and potential benefits on health. J Physiol Biochem. 2009 Sep;65(3):315-28. doi: 10.1007/BF03180584. Review. PubMed PMID: 20119826. [3] Stough C, Scholey A, Lloyd J, Spong J, Myers S, Downey LA. The effect of 90 day administration of a high dose vitamin B-complex on work stress. Human Psychopharmacology. 2011 Oct;26(7):470-6. doi: 10.1002/hup.1229. Epub 2011 Sep 8. PubMed PMID: 21905094. [4] Lewis JE, Tiozzo E, Melillo AB, Leonard S, Chen L, Mendez A, Woolger JM, Konefal J. The effect of methylated vitamin B complex on depressive and anxiety symptoms and quality of life in adults with depression. ISRN Psychiatry. 2013 Jan 21;2013:621453. doi: 10.1155/2013/621453. Print 2013. PubMed PMID: 23738221; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3658370. [5] Mukhopadhyaya K, Bhattacharya D, Chakraborty A, Goel RK, Sanyal AK. Effect of banana powder (Musa sapientum var. paradisiaca) on gastric mucosal shedding. Journal of Ethnopharmacolorgy. 1987 Sep-Oct;21(1):11-9. PubMed PMID: 2447444.
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