SS Richard Montgomery Matter
True facts about 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 2 bananas provide
enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the # 1
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 among 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.
Anaemia:
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood
and so helps in cases of anaemia.
Blood Pressure:
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt,
making it the perfect way 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 fibre, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel
action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangover:
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 chips. 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 2 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, potassium,
and magnesium they contain 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 re-balanced 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%!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an
apple, it has 4 times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, 3 times the
phosphorus, 5 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!"
Tips
Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't
have to
pick the little 'stringy things' off of it. That's how the primates do it.
Take your bananas apart when you get home
from the store.
If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.
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Foods that are Natural Painkillers
People take a lot of pills today. And sometimes that's ok. But using too many
painkillers can really cause your body damage. So, if your pain is small to
moderate, nature has provided us with quite a number of natural painkillers.
These foods are natural cures and can be used to alleviate many types of pain.
Muscle Pain – Ginger
Danish researchers found that regular consumption of ginger could reduce chronic
muscle and joint pains, as well as swelling and stiffness within just a couple
of months. The credit goes to the main ingredient in ginger – Gingerol, which
inhibits the production of pain-inducing hormones. A teaspoon of dried ginger or
2 teaspoons of fresh ginger every day will do the trick.
Toothaches – Cloves
Powdered cloves are a known home remedy for toothaches and gingivitis.
Furthermore, a recent research from the University of California proved it
scientifically by isolating the active ingredient that reduces the pain. It is
an organic compound called eugenol – a powerful natural anaesthetic. ¼ teaspoon
every day will help keep your heart healthy, and scientists are saying that it
also aids in stabilizing blood-sugar levels and even starts lowering cholesterol
levels within three weeks.
Acid Reflux – Apple Cider Vinegar
If heartburn constantly plagues you, you can stop them with apple cider vinegar.
The active ingredients in the vinegar that treat reflux are malic acid and
tartaric acid, which quicken digestion and help your body break down fats and
proteins. Faster digestion means fewer chances for the stomach to overflow with
acids, causing the reflux. By adding just a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to
a cup of water before every meal can prevent acid reflux within 24 hours.
Earache – Garlic
Often referred to as “nature’s antibiotics”, garlic indeed possesses powerful
anti-inflammatory qualities. Experts from the Mexico School of Medicine claim
that applying two drops of warm garlic oil into the ear can cure an ear
infection in five days. Garlic contains minerals such as selenium, germanium and
sulphur, all are very toxic to most kinds of bacteria. To make your own garlic
oil, slowly cook (do not boil) three garlic cloves in half a cup of olive oil
for two minutes. Filter the oil and use it as instructed (make sure it’s not too
hot). The oil can keep for up to two weeks in the fridge.
Headaches and join pains – Cherries
Michigan State University found that the daily consumption of a bowl of cherries
is highly beneficial for people who suffer from headaches and various joint
inflammations. Anthocyanin is the pigment that gives cherries their bright red
colour. It is also a powerful anti-inflammatory, ten times more powerful than
ibuprofen or aspirin. Anthocyanin actively paralyzes the enzymes that cause
tissue inflammation, making cherries the perfect treatment. Eating about 20
cherries every day will do the trick.
Stomach aches – Fish
Indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, enteritis – all of these can be treated
by eating fish. Many a research have shown that Omega3 fatty acids found in fish
can actively reduce stomach cramping and enteritis. In some cases, Omega3 was
found to be as effective as prescription medicine. The fatty acids aid in
maintaining the general health of the digestive system thanks to their
anti-inflammatory properties. 1 pound of fish per week is enough to support the
digestive system. The fish richest in Omega3 are salmon, tuna, herring,
mackerel, sardines, and trout.
PMS – Yogurt
80% of women suffer from PMS-related pains before and during their periods. The
reason for the pain is the nervous system’s sensitivity to the changes in
estrogen and progesterone levels. A study conducted at Columbia University found
that eating two servings of yogurt daily can reduce the intensity of PMS pains
by almost 50%. Yogurt is rich in calcium, a mineral that naturally soothes the
nervous system, thus preventing painful symptoms despite the hormonal changes.
Chronic Pains – Turmeric
Turmeric was found to be three times more powerful than ibuprofen, aspirin, and
naproxen. Researchers from Cornell University found that turmeric can heal up to
50% of people suffering from arthritis and fibromyalgia. The active ingredient
in turmeric – curcumin, paralyzes the enzyme that causes serial pain. A ¼
teaspoon of turmeric every day will reduce your chronic pains considerably.
Endometriosis – Oats
When the tissue that normally grows inside the uterus grows outside the uterus,
it may cause a severe and painful inflammation that drags on long after the end
of the period. Luckily, an oats-rich diet can reduce up to 60% of the pains
within six months. The reason is that oats don’t contain gluten, which can
induce inflammation in many women.
Ingrown Toenails and Toothaches – Salt
An ingrown toenail is a common ailment that affects millions of people around
the world. Luckily, it’s easily treatable by using salt-water. Stanford
University researchers found that soaking your feet in salt water can heal
ingrown-related infections in just four days. Salt is antibacterial and
anti-inflammatory, so adding just a teaspoon to a cup of warm water, and then
add it to your foot bath twice a day until the infection is gone. Additionally,
dentists recommend gargling with salt water to treat and prevent gingivitis.
Finally, gargling with salt water can also help when you’re suffering from a
throat infection.
Muscle Pains – Mint
Cramped muscles can be painful for months, especially if they originate from
incorrect posture or reoccurring overexertion. A hot bath with ten drops of mint
oil, three times a week, are 25% more effective than prescription drugs. The hot
water help relax and loosen the muscles while the mint oil soothes the aching
nervous system. Such treatment will also help reduce the frequency of future
pains.
Backaches – Grapes
In a study conducted at the University of Ohio, researchers found that one cup
of fresh grapes per day can help improve blood flow to the damaged tissue in the
back, sometimes within as little three hours. The spine is highly dependent on
the nutrients and oxygen in the blood, making eating grapes a highly beneficial
act.
Injury-Related Pains – Water
Good old H2O – we need it to survive, but researchers at Manhattan College in
New York found that water can also easy pain from injuries. When body tissue is
damaged, it produces a chemical compound called histamine, which causes pain.
Water dilutes the amounts of histamine in the blood, thus effectively reducing
the level of pain. Water is also essential for the health of the cartilage
tissue between our bones, as well as lubricate our joints, as well as the soft
tissues in our spine. A well-hydrated body is a well-lubricated machine, which
prevents joint pains. Doctors recommend drinking 8 cups of water per day.
Sinus Pain – Horseradish
Sinusitis is a chronic disease that affects many people. It is effectively a
state of infection of the cavities in the skull. Sinusitis causes severe
headaches, face pains and can even hinder breathing. German researchers
discovered that horseradish can increase the blood flow to the sinuses,
decongesting them and draining any obstructions that may cause the infection.
Eat a teaspoon of horseradish every day until your symptoms are gone.
Oral Infections – Honey
Experts from the Dubai Centre for Health recommend treating mouth sores, cold
sores and other oral infections with honey. Honey contains anti-inflammatory
enzymes that destroy viruses and speed up the healing process. To effectively
treat such sores, it is recommended that you apply unpasteurized honey directly
onto the wounds four times a day. The healing process will take 43% less time
compared to OTC ointments and creams.
Chest Pains – Flax Seeds
Flax seeds contain phytoestrogen, a compound that prevents changes in estrogen
levels that cause some women pain. All you need to do is to add three
tablespoons of flax seeds to your daily diet. This should help with the pain
within 12 weeks.
Migraines – Coffee
People suffering from chronic headaches or migraines can benefit from drinking
coffee. Caffeine improves the stomach lining's ability to absorb medication,
increasing its effectiveness by up to 40%. If you’re taking headache medication
– take it with a cup of coffee.
Cramped Muscles – Tomato Juice
Our muscles tend to cramp when our bodies don’t have enough potassium. Diuretics
or excessive sweating can cause potassium deficiency. Potassium is a mineral
that is essential to our muscles’ health. A study conducted by the University of
California found that drinking one cup of tomato juice every day can help ease
cramped muscles and prevent future occurrences, thanks to the high levels of
potassium in it.
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