The humble banana has always been overlooked in terms of food choices. In our modern society where the more complicated the food fetches the higher value, how many people would choose to eat bananas as a pre-meal snack or even as a meal in itself?

If you are an active person, you would know that bananas are the best energy boosters. Marathon runners and athletics use bananas as a quick pick-me-up before and after races. Research has shown that just 2 bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90 min workout.

Bananas have 3 natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose, all of which are useful and needed by the human body. Combined with natural fruit fiber, bananas are indeed our best source of food fuel. Ripe bananas are easily digestible and rarely cause allergic reactions, they are popular for using as food for babies.

When using bananas however, care must be taken to eat only the ripe bananas, because unripe bananas contain indigestible starch, which can ferment in the intestines and cause problems if ingested.

Some of the more common benefits of the mighty banana includes:

1) Hangover Reliever
I wish I knew this during my crazy booze and snooze days! One quick way to soothe hangovers is to make a banana shake with a little honey. Bananas calms the stomach while honey replenishes sugar levels and comforts the body.

2) Heart-burn
Bananas have a natural antacid effect on the body, so eating a banana when a heart-burn is experienced will bring relief almost immediately.

3) Intestinal Discomfort and Disorders
Because of its soft texture and smoothness, bananas are used as a dietary food for intestinal disorders. It also neutralizes acidity and reduces the irritation causing intestinal discomfort.

4) Stress and Fatigue
Bananas are a natural source of potassium - an indispensable mineral which aids to regularize heartbeat, oxygen transportation to our organs as well as fluid levels in the body. When a person is under stree, the metabolic rate increases, while using up potassium reserves. The imbalance causes feelings of anxiety, worry and restlessness. Eating bananas can re-balance the body potassium levels and bring back calmness.

5) Anaemia
Bananas are rich in iron and stimulates the production of haemoglobin. People who have less blood and faint easily can have bananas as a snack to keep up their sugar and energy levels.

Remember the conventional saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”? When compared with an apple, a banana has 4X protein, 2X carbohydrates, 3X phosphorus and 5X Vitamin A. So, I’m sure you know what to do next time when you see bananas on the street.

Go grab them!

(C) Copyright 2009-1010, Linda Loo

Tags: raw food recipes, low fat recipies, low fat recipes, raw & living foods