Forget The Apple - A Banana A Day Keeps The Doctor Away

I've always been a big fan of bananas way before I knew about all of the benefits. Now that I know just how good for us they are, I love them even more. Not only are they a tasty sweet treats, they’re my second favorite pre-workout snack (pure coconut water is my absolute favorite). If you’re still not entirely ready to jump on the banana bandwagon, keep reading. Here are a few of the benefits of bananas.

LOWER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE

If you suffer from high blood pressure, and are reluctant to add another pill to your personal pharmacy, consider trying a food-based alternative to lowering your blood pressure. That’s right: one of the most amazing benefits of bananas is that eating two of them a day has been proven to lower your blood pressure. Scientists believe it’s got something to do with the potassium in bananas, but for whatever the reason, bananas really are a super-food!



POTENTIALLY PREVENTS CANCER

According to Japanese Scientific Research, full ripe banana with dark patches on yellow skin produces a substance called TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor) which has the ability to combat abnormal cells. The more darker patches it has the higher will be its immunity enhancement quality; Hence, the riper the banana the better the anti-cancer quality. Yellow skin banana with dark spots on it is 8x more effective in enhancing the property of white blood cells than green skin version. Eating 1-2 banana/s a day increases immunity. Of course this is just one study; further studies need to be done to ensure that these statements are 100% accurate.

RELAXATION

Need to relax and unwind? Then have a banana! They contain tryptophan, a protein your body converts into serotonin, to help you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier. Who knew?


SWEET GOODNESS

On occasion I'll have a sweet tooth. Having a banana is one of the best ways to indulge but still rest assured that your not polluting your body with the usual calorie rich and carb filled junk foods. About half of a banana's calories come from sugar, but since it’s natural sugar, not processed added sugar, and because bananas are loaded with other nutrients, it’s a guilt-free sweet treat.

VEGAN-FRIENDLY SOURCE OF B6

The USDA recommends adult women get about 1.3 milligrams of pyroxidine, or Vitamin B6, each day, for healthy nerve tissue. But most sources of B6 are from animal proteins, so what’s a vegan girl to do? No worries – bananas are a very good source of B6, and they’re entirely vegan friendly.


EASY ON THE TUMMY

There’s a reason bananas are included in the pediatrician-recommended “tummy trouble” BRAT diet: they’re remarkably easy to digest. They’re loaded with electrolytes, which may be depleted if you’re suffering from a range of tummy troubles, and they even help with nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea. 

ALL NATURAL WORKOUT FUEL

Bananas are quite possibly the perfect pre-run or pre-workout fuel source, because they’re loaded with potassium to prevent muscle cramps, but also because they provide all the energy you’ll need to get across the finish line or to push through the last 5 minutes of Zumba class. The carbs in bananas are both the slow-burning and long-burning type, so before your next workout or run, try a banana.


HANGOVER HELPER

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 RELIEF

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.

EASY ON THE POCKETS

Why is it that junk food is cheap, but healthy food seems pricey? Bananas prove that myth plain untrue! Most times, a single banana costs mere pennies. Compare that to chips or cookies and suddenly, the healthy snack choice makes even more sense… or cents.

Now that you’ve got the scoop on all the benefits of bananas, will you start adding them to your grocery cart? If you’re already a fan, why do you like bananas?