Many, many moons ago my wife and myself were searching for our barely two year old daughter in the house, wondering where she could be since only few minutes back we had seen her comfortably sitting on the floor playing with her toys in her own room. Of all the places in the abode I notice movement under the dining table and bent down to see what it was.
I saw my daughter with a banana in her mouth and a bewildered look on her face as if she had committed a crime and was expecting to be punished. I burst out in laughter when I realised it was the sixth banana she was eating as I could count 5 banana peels already laying next to her on the carpeted floor she was sitting on. It was just before lunch time on a Sunday and the poor kid could not control the hunger pangs so she probably went for it. Since then we always try to maintain the stock of bananas at home.
Well you must be wondering what the hell this review is about, bananas? Yes you sure guessed it right it is a review on nothing but a banana! Writing reviews on photography, home theatre equipment and computer related equipment, I thought why not take a break and do something very casually.
You know that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, right? What if I prove that wrong, possible?
Allow me to introduce to you the wonders of a BANANA.
THOSE GODFORSAKEN MOSQUITO?S THINK YOU ARE SWEET?
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.
OUCH MY ULCER IS HURTING!
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.
RAN OUT OF CIGARETTES? HAVE A BANANA INSTEAD!
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.
YOU DO NOT WANT TO BECOME A HEART PATIENT DO YOU? HAVE BANANAS!
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%!
WHAT ABOUT THOSE UGLY WARTS? BANANA PEELS TO THE RESCUE!
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!
ARE YOU A NERVOUS WRECK?
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
HAVE YOU BEEN EATING LIKE A PIG? NO KIDDING, HAVE A BANANA!
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
BEEN DRINKING LIKE A FISH AND HAVE A HANGOVER? HAVE A BANANA SHAKE!
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.
ARE YOU OVERWEIGHT AND UNDER PRESSURE AT WORK?
Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Australia 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 levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
CONSTIPATED? THE BANANA TO THE RESCUE!
High in fibre, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
ARE YOU DEPRESSED? HAVE A BANANA!
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.
SUFFERING FROM HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect antidote to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration have just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
ARE YOU ANAEMIC? TRY BANANAS!
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anaemia.
THE DREADED PMS
No need to have the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
DO YOU SUFFER FROM MORNING SICKNESS?
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
BANANA AS A BODY AIR-CONDITIONER!
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.
CONCLUSION
Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fibre, 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.
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.
I will never ever underestimate a two year old; only if we take the hint, they can teach us so much!
Your head has been banged by the word BANANA 39 times in this tribute to the mighty fruit, are you still not convinced? Now, what do you say, an apple a day or a banana a day?
Thank you for dropping by and reading what I write.
All text copyright Quadophile 2004
Note:
Many of the remedies have actually worked for me over a period of time, some I have not tested but believe they are workable and effective.