| Nutritional Benefits of Bananas |
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Banana |
A Complete Food Supplement |
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Because of their impressive potassium content, bananas are highly recommended by doctors for patients whose potassium is low. One large banana, about 9 inches in length, packs 602 mg of potassium and only carries 140 calories. That same large banana even has 2 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber. No wonder the banana was considered an important food to boost the health of malnourished children! Those reducing sodium in their diets can't go wrong with a banana with its mere 2 mgs of sodium. For the carbohydrate counters there are 36 grams of carbs in a large banana.
Vitamins and minerals are abundant in the banana, offering 123 I.U. of vitamin A for the large size. A full range of B vitamins are present with .07 mg of Thiamine, .15 mg of Riboflavin, .82 mg Niacin, .88 mg vitamin B6, and 29 mcg of Folic Acid. There are even 13.8 mg of vitamin C. On the mineral scale Calcium counts in at 9.2 mg, Magnesium 44.1 mg, with trace amounts of iron and zinc.
Putting all of the nutritional figures together clearly shows the banana is among the healthiest of fruits. The plantain, when cooked, rates slightly higher on the nutritional scale in vitamins and minerals but similar to the banana in protein and fiber content. Banana is the cheapest and rich source of energy in the forms of sugar and starch
Containing 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 your daily diet.
bodyOffer(21743) Bananas also contain electrolytes, which are essential for maintaining fluid levels and preventing dehydration. 30% of your DV of vitamin B6 is provided by one banana. B6 keeps your nervous system in top working condition and boosting immunity. Folate is also in bananas, which is needed for proper tissue growth, and can protect against birth defects, heart disease, and cancer. |
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 brainpower. 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. |
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 trypotophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier. |
Heartburn |
| Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief. |
Lethargy |
| One of the quickest ways of curing lethargy and fatigue 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 . |
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. |
PMS |
| Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood. |
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). |
| Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer, trypotophan. |
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, there by 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%. Bananas are believed to prevent dangerous low-density lipoprotein from oxidizing, which causes it to stick to the walls of the arteries. This accumulation can contribute to arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, a major contributor to heart attack, stroke and high blood pressure. Even one serving of a potassium rich food, such as bananas, can lower your risk of stroke by up to 40% ! |
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. |
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-chroniculcer cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach. |
Wart |
| 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! |
Weight Control |
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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. Banana is one snack that actually cost less than Rs.3/- pc and has a bonus of being fat free, full of vitamins and minerals to keep hunger pangs at bay until lunch time without making hole in your pocket.
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. |
For more information on banana visit sites: |
http://www.eatmorebananas.com/lifestyle/fitness.htm
http://www.banana.com/nutrition.html
http://www.vegparadise.com/highestperch42.html
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