Recently, I read an article in Dr.Janet Starr Hulls Healthy Newsletter which I receive once a month. I asked the author of the newsletter if I might share these interesting facts about the banana with my readers, she told me to pass it along. Seems everyone is trying to watch their diets and eat better. Hope you and your family will find this information helpful and interesting.
Bananas contain three natural sugars, sucrose, fructose and glucose, and when combined with fiber, bananas produce an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has shown that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90 minute workout. But energy isn't the only way a banana helps people stay fit. Bananas help prevent a number of illnesses and health conditions.
DEPRESSION: According to a recent survey of people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein the body converts into serotonin, which makes you alert, improves your mood, and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 in banana regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood (among other things).
ANEMIA: Bananas are high in iron, which stimulates the production of hemoglobin in the blood, which helps anemia.
BLOOD PRESSURE: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt making it the perfect food to lower blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration have permitted the banana industry to officially claim the fruit's ability to 'reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.'
CONSTIPATION: High in fiber, bananas in the diet can restore normal bowel movement without laxatives.
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: Snaking on bananas between meals helps keep blood sugar levels up so to avoid morning sickness.
MOSQUITO BITE: 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.
ULCERS: Bananas can prevent intestinal disorders because of the soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in sensitive health situations. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER (SAD): Bananas help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer, tryptophan.
SMOKING: Bananas can also help people trying to stop smoking. B6 and B12 in bananas, as well as potassium and magnesium, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
STRESS: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the body's heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain, and regulates the body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate raises reducing potassium levels. These levels can be rebalanced by eating a high- potassium banana.
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 as much as 40%.
WARTS: If you want to destroy a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart (with the yellow side out). Tape the skin in place with a Band-Aid or surgical tape.
ROSE BUSHES: Blend the soft part of the banana skin in a blender full of water and pour on the base of your rose bushes to promote healthy roots and new growth.
So, a banana is a natural remedy for many things. When you compare bananas to apples, it has:
* four times the protein
* twice the carbohydrates
* three times the phosphorus
* five times the vitamin A and iron
* twice all other vitamins and minerals
* is rich in potassium
* and is one of the best value foods around
Now ask yourself this question, "COULD A BANANA OR TWO a DAY HELP KEEP ME HEALTHY?" Reminder, research shows that heart disease risk may be reduced by more than 25% among those who eat 10 or more grams of fiber each day. That's three apples a day. Eat and stay healthy, see you next month with more Moments with Mary.
DID YOU KNOW?
I FOUND THESE INTERESTING NOTES IN DR. JANET STARR HULL'S NEWSLETTER. THOUGHT IT MAY BE SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.
ENZYMES IN GRAPEFRUIT HELP TO CONTROL INSULIN SPIKES THAT OCCUR AFTER A MEAL, WHICH FREES THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM TO PROCESS FOOD MORE EFFIC IENT LY. MANY FAR EASTERN CULTURES TRADITIONALLY EAT GRAPEFRUIT BEFORE AND AFTER THEIR DAILY MEALS.
AIMING AT THOSE WHO CAN'T DECIDE BETWEEN DIET AND REGULAR, PEP SI CO INC. ANNOUNCED THAT IT IS PLANNING TO LAUNCH A COLA WITH 50 PERCENT LESS SUGARS THAN REGULAR COLAS.
THE NEW DRINK, TO BE CALLED PEP SI EDGE , USES A BLEND OF SPLENDA, A SUGAR SUBSTITUTE MARKETED BY MCNEIL NUTRITIONAL AND HIGH-FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP. IT WILL BE LAUNCHED BY PEPSI-COLA NORTH AMERICA IN LATE SUMMER.
IS ANYBODY FEELING TIRED LATELY? MANY PEOPLE HAVE NOTICED AN INCREASED NEED FOR MORE REST. MODERN DAY STRESSES ARE ON THE RISE, AND THE BODY'S NERVOUS SYSTEM AND THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM MAY BE EXPERIENCING TREMENDOUS ENERGY OVERLOADS AS THEY CONSTANTLY ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN A STATE OF HOMEOSTASIS AND BALANCE IN THE BODY.
DENSER FOODS SUCH AS MEATS AND HEAVY PROTEINS ARE "HEAVY" AND STAY IN THE BODY LONGER, CREATING GREATER DENSITY IN THE BODY. IF EATING A HIGH PROTEIN DIET, REMEMBER TO KEEP THE LEVEL OF DIGESTIVE ENZYMES (FROM FOODS OR SUPPLEMENTS) HIGHER AFTER EACH MEAL, AND BALANCE YOUR DAILY INTAKE BY ALTERNATING THE INTAKE OF LIGHTER FOODS SUCH AS FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES WITH HEAVIER FOODS.
CELL FOODS, SUCH AS SPIRALINA, ARE NUTRITIONAL SUBSTANCES FROM NATURE THAT CREATE A BALANCE IN THE AMINO ACID TRACT. THESE FOODS HAVE A HIGH DEGREE OF "LIFE FORCE" AND ARE VERY GOOD TO EAT SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK FOR AN OVERALL GENERAL LEVEL OF WELLNESS.
KEY NUTRIENTS TO HELP PREVENT HEART DISEASE ARE FOLATE, VITAMINS B-6, B-12, AND BETAINE.
EATING FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES RESULTS IN A BASIC DETOXIFICATION DIET. SO, EAT AS MANY RAW AND PURE, UNPROCESSED AND UNCOOKED FOODS AS YOU CAN EACH DAY.
Motherhood is something special it should be treasured and adored, for love and caring goes together with this position and should never be denied or ignored.
Sometimes our feelings and the way we see things are unknown or misunderstood, but the love of our mother is to be honored and humbly endured.
Life is a journey, we can't always have everything we want, but sharing our feelings, desires and problems with a best friend known as our mother is truly a joy to one's heart.
Teaching our children throughout their life how to love, be honest, and learn respect is just a few values that make Mothers look forever admired and very smart.
Written by Mary D. Johnson
WHAT IS A MOTHER
Mother's Day is almost here, a truly special time of the year. I decided to take a survey on Mothers, what a perfect time to see what everyone thinks or feels about his or her Mother. I was delighted, shocked, and somewhat confused by some of the answers. It was most interesting, I would like to share a few of the comments with you to see where you might fit in or how you can relate to some of the comments I was given. The question I asked was;
How do you feel about your Mother and what kind of relationship do you share with her?
1.) I love her dearly, she has helped guide me and teach me values that I have used throughout most of my life.
2.) She was my best friend and always there for me and my brothers and sisters.
3.) I thank God for my Mother she was a special person. I was proud of her, she had morals, and respect.
4.) I learned a lot from Mom she was my first teacher and one of the best.
5.) My Mother was always a happy person. If she was ever unhappy I never knew it.
6.) Mom did without many times so we kids could have. Mom worked hard to help Dad when things were rough.
7.) I'll never forget how tired Mom was some nights but still read a book to us and never forgot our prayers.
8.) I can remember how Mom and we kids shared stories about the day before tucking us into bed each night.
9.) When I was sick nobody could make me feel better or comfort me more than Mom
10.) Mom taught me to be good to others and that giving was always better than receiving.
11.) My Mother was never there for any of us kids she only thought of herself. Thank God us kids had each other.
12.) My Mom was never home, she was a sad person most of the time. Mom didn't enjoy family life.
13.) Mom never had time to show me anything. Mom told me experience was the best way to learn, so go for it.
14.) My Mom never made holidays special. So I adopted my girlfriends Mother, Thank God for her.
15.) My Mother worked all the time she never took time to be with us kids or do fun things.
16.) Mom was jealous of me and my friends she put me down all the time. I have low self esteem to this day.
17.) My Mom ran off when I was born, but my adopted Mother was my Grandmother she was God sent.
18.) My Mother was from a foreign country. Mom didn't speak English so school was hard, and growing up harder.
Life is not always what it seems. When your life has been good you assume that others have had the same opportunity at life as you but that is just not true. I would like to wish all the Mother's out there a Happy Mother's Day enjoy your family, do something special this year that you and your children will never forget. Try to make a difference. See you again next month.
Moments with Mary.
