If you are one who enjoys eating bananas, now you will find out even more reasons to consume them. Bananas may be known for being popular with monkeys and are quite delicious and filling. But they have lots more great benefits to offer than most people know.
Here are some of the best benefits of eating this tasty yellow fruit.
By the way, don’t put your bananas in the refrigerator! Having said that, let’s get to it.
After reading this, you are likely to reconsider the way you see bananas in the future.
Bananas contain three natural sugars and fiber, giving an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has shown that only two bananas provide enough energy to do a grueling 90-minute workout. It is not surprising that the banana is the number one fruit among the most important athletes in the world.
But a boost of energy is not the only way a banana can help us stay in shape. It can also assist and overcome or prevent a considerable number of diseases and discomforts, so it is a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression
According to a recent survey conducted by MIND among people experiencing difficulties from depression, many people felt significantly better after consuming bananas. This is primarily because bananas contain a type of protein that converts to serotonin which is known for having relaxing effects, improving our mood and providing a feeling of being “happier.”
PMS
Consider putting the pills aside, and eat a banana instead. The vitamin B6 a banana contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia
Bananas contain a good amount of iron, which stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and helps in cases of anemia.
Blood pressure
This unique tropical fruit contains large amounts of potassium and not salt, which makes it perfect to combat blood pressure. Significantly enough that the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make corresponding claims about the fruit’s benefits in reducing the risk of blood pressure and strokes.
Brain power
200 students from Twickenham School (Middlesex) (England) received help during this year’s exams by eating bananas at breakfast, mid-morning and on a test to increase their brain capacity. Research has shown that the potassium contained in the fruit can help to learn, giving them greater alertness.
Constipation
The high fiber content, such as the one found in bananas as part of your diet, can help restore the normal action of the intestines, helping to overcome the constipation problems without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers
One of the quickest ways to cure a hangover is to make a banana smoothie, sweetened with honey. The banana soothes the stomach and, with the addition of honey, restores the levels of sugar content in the blood, while the milk calms and re-hydrates your biological system.
Acidity
Bananas have a natural antacid effect on the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, eat a banana to soothe the relief.
Morning sickness
Eating some banana between meals helps maintain blood sugar levels and prevents morning sickness.
Mosquito bites
Before resorting to the mosquito-bite cream, try a more natural approach by rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana peel. For many people it is surprisingly successful in reducing swelling and irritation.
Nervous System cravings
Bananas are rich in B-complex vitamins that help soothe the nervous system from cravings.
Gaining weight because of work? The studies of the Institute of Psychology in Austria found that pressure at work leads to eating comfort foods such as chocolate and French fries. By looking at 5,000 hospital patients, the researchers found that the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concludes that, to avoid the anxiety caused by food cravings, we must control our blood sugar levels by taking high-carb snacks every two hours to maintain constant levels. Eating bananas is a good way to relieve and counter some of that stress eating we often go through.
Ulcers
Banana is used as a dietary food against intestinal disorders due to its nice and smooth texture. It is the only raw fruit that one can eat without distress in many chronic cases. It also neutralizes excess acidity and reduces irritation by covering the lining of the stomach.
Body temperature control
Many other cultures see the banana as a “refreshing” fruit that can lower the physical and emotional temperature of pregnant women. In Thailand, for example, expecting women eat bananas to make sure their babies are born at a cool temperature.
These are some of the reasons why eating a banana is often seen as a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it with an apple, it has four times the protein, two times more carbohydrates, three times more phosphorus, five times more vitamin A and iron, and twice as many other minerals and vitamins. It is also abundant in potassium and is one of the best value foods that exist. Perhaps it’s time we change that famous phrase, you know the one with the apple, and make it like this: “A banana a day can keep the Doctor away.”
Bananas must be the reason the monkeys are so happy all the time! Here’s an extra bonus tip, what if I want a quick shine on my shoes? Well, take the inside of the banana skin and rub it directly on the shoe … polish with a dry cloth… Amazing fruit!
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Other sources to learn more: Health Benefits of Eating Bananas | Top 10 Health Benefits of Bananas