BANANAS        
The  expression 'going bananas' is from the effects of bananas on the  brain.  Read on: 

 Never,  put your banana in the refrigerator!!!
This  is interesting.
After  reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way  again.

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 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 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 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 quickestways  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 le vels 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  &Tobacco Use:

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 En gland 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!'  


PS:  Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will  add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes??  
Take  the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish  with dry cloth. Amazing fruit !