Friday, July 07, 2006

Nutritional benefits of Banana

SEXY DIET
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.

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Friday, March 24, 2006

Why is banana so important ?

Bananas:
Containing three natural sugars - sucrose,
fructose
and glucose combined with fiber,
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.
Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken,
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 haemoglobin 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 rebalanced
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, 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!"