Go Bananas!

Everybody loves a tasty banana, right? But do you really know just how good they actually are FOR you? Bananas have always been a huge hit in our home. Not only was it the first "solid" food that we introduced to Lucas, but it soon became his favorite. As he was just learning to walk, he was mesmerized by the giant mountain of bananas in the store! This may have had something to do with the hundreds I probably ate while pregnant or that its sweet flavor is similar to that of breast milk. Regardless, my home has been filled with bananas non stop for the past three years. I remember receiving an e-mail some time ago listing all of the health benefits of a simple banana, and it really blew my mind. I promised myself that whenever I became pregnant again, I would try to eat a banana every day...or at least every other.

Here are some amazing health benefits from such a delicious and cheap fruit:

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating one. This is because they 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 this fruit. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, they 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 this fruit’s 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 (England ) 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 them 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 milkshake with this fruit and sweetened with honey. This fruit 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: They 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 them 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: They are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Ulcers: It 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 them 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): They can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking & Tobacco Use: They 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 them 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!

"When you compare a banana 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 my new years resolution you ask? To eat 4-5 bananas per week (preferably organic). Most of the bananas in our house go to our little monkey, but I'm making a stand to snag a few more for myself. Considering I'll be pregnant for just under 75% of 2011, I think I can actually make this resolution stick!