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BANANA POWER

One of the benefits of living in a tropical country is that we are able to enjoy a bounty of delicious, healthy fruits. Among these many riches of the earth is the brightly coloured, cheery banana. Growing in bunches on a tree, they are easily picked and consumed – just peel and eat. The many different varieties of banana also mean that some can solely be used to create snacks – like the simple by tasty ‘fried banana’ and banana fritters that most of us have had since childhood.

But despite its unassuming, commonplace image, the banana is actually a great source of nutritional benefits previously unknown to the general public.

Besides containing vitamin C, it is quite well known already that bananas are rich in potassium. This 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, leaving the body open to the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. These can be re-balanced with the help of a high potassium banana snack.

Bananas are also rich in fibre, which can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives. A fibre-rich diet can also help cut down the risk of some cancers.

Those wanting to watch their weight can also take heart in the fact that bananas are low in fat, contain negligible saturated fat, have no cholesterol and are also low in sodium.

Munching down on bananas everyday can also do your body good in other ways. Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief. Bananas are also high in iron, and can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood, which helps in cases of anemia.

If you want a quick fix for flagging energy levels then you should try snacking on a banana. Containing natural sugars sucrose, fructose and glucose, 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.

Besides your body, can eating a banana also be good for your mind? It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds. In fact, eating a banana is an easy way to make you feel energetic and less prone to depression. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into a chemical clled serotonin which is known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

The potassium contained in the fruit can also help keep the mind more alert and help people concentrate, which is an easy way to boost the brain before an exam or even before an important meeting. This is why most people choose to eat a banana for break snackfast or as a quick snack during the day.

If that’s not enough, banana can even help you quit smoking! The B6 and B12 vitamins they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Even the skin can be used for various purposes. The next time you get bitten by a mosquito, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin if you don’t have insect bite cream. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation. Those keen on natural alternatives would also be interested to know that banana skin is also reputed to be a cure for warts! Just take a piece of banana skin and hold it (yellow side out) on the wart with a plaster or surgical tape.

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Source : Manja Delight