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"Banana Split"
May 13, 2005
Banna fanna fo fanna fanna fo fe fi fo fanna, banana, let's say banana.
I
say banana at least once a day, either in my breakfast
smoothie or as a yummy snack. I'm always
curious as to why bananas get such a bad rap. "They make you bloated", "they're full
of sugar" or "full of carbs".
Well, I did a little research about my little yellow fellows and I thought you'd
find it quite interesting. To begin with, bananas are full of sugar, the good sugar!
Yes, there is good sugar out there!
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!
Well, if you’re not running a marathon, chasing kids around the house or
working 12-hour work days, maybe all of that extra "banana energy" may not persuade you to keep
the monkey's treat around; but read on.
Women especially can benefit from bananas. Did you know bananas beat the
"monthly" blues?
Now,
don't feel pressure to run to the local farm stand just yet, additional research suggests that bananas
benefit your blood pressure too!
-
Blood Pressure: This unique
tropical fruit with it's own raincoat is extremely high
in potassium yet low in salt, making it a good choice to combat blood pressure in some cases.
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 high blood pressure and stroke.
(Source:
www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/hclm-k.html)
If
you decide to celebrate the fact that bananas are GOOD for you, you may have to rely on their benefit to
aid in:
-
getting over a hangover.
One of the quickest ways to help is to make a banana milkshake sweetened with honey. The banana calms
the stomach and, with the help of honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk (rice,
soy or other) soothes and re-hydrates your system.
A
few more golden fruit remedies:
Tryptophan: An essential amino
acid, C11H12N2O2, formed from proteins during digestion
by the action of proteolytic enzymes. It is necessary for normal growth and development and is the
precursor of several substances, including serotonin and niacin. (source: www.dictionary.com)
- 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.
So,
when you think of it, bananas really are natural remedies in disguise
as tasty treats; especially in my banana split!
"Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you
are."
---Antheme
Brillat-Savarin
All the Best,
Beth
Aldrich
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