Going Bananas

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!

This is interesting.

After reading this, you’ll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber.

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.

No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.

But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit.

It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Muscle Cramps

In two Mintues Cramps is gone that power full And amazing Fruit

Depression:

According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana.

This is because 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.

PMS:

Forget the pills eat a banana.

The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia :

High in iron, bananas 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 beatblood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration hasjust allowed the banana 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 bananas 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 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: 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.

Nerves:

Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work?

Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to

gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips.

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.

Ulcers:

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.

Temperature control: 

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.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):

Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood Enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use:

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.

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.

Shine on our shoes

Quick shine on our shoes??

Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth.

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 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!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills.

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 So maybe it’s time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, ‘A banana a day keeps the doctor away!’

8 Ways To Fight Aging

Aging is a concern for lots of us. Sure, many people (namely celebrities), go under the knife, and undergo some type of cosmetic procedure; but, this is not the only solution out there. In fact, there are many things you can do, which do not require spending thousands of dollars, to avoid aging.

There are several simple things you can do, when searching for the best ways to fight aging. In fact, most of them are things you can start doing at a young age, which will help keep you looking young, help keep you feeling young, and help you avoid the common signs of aging, most people want to avoid. Regardless of how old you are, it is never too early to start with some of these techniques, when you are trying to avoid aging.

1. Wear sunscreen -

Believe it or not, the sun causes major damage to your skin; and, for most people, sunscreen is just a way to protect your skin from cancer. But, this is not the case. Too much exposure to the sun can cause wrinkles, sun spots, dryness, and uneven skin tones; if you are outside more than 10 to 15 minutes a day, sunscreen can help. Using something that is SPF 15 or stronger, is best for your skin. In addition to helping fight aging, sunscreen is also going to help with even tan lines, and avoid that tomato red skin shade.

2. Eat well -

Seems simple enough, right? But, for most of us, our days are hectic. When we can’t make lunch, we stop at the fast food restaurant. If we have a busy day at work, we might pick up dinner on the way home. These things are not only unhealthy, but a poor diet, and lack of balanced nutrition, will lead to early signs of aging. 

Five servings of fruits and veggies each day, getting in the required vitamin sources each day, and 8 glasses of water each day, will surely help keep your body looking younger, and will help you feel younger as well. You should try to limit fat consumption to 35% of daily calories, and try to get in at least 15% of calories from rich protein sources. Doing this will help fight aging, but will also help fight different illnesses and ailments which are common in individuals who have a poor diet, such as diabetes.

3. Sesame oil -

Massaging sesame oil in to the face, arms, and areas of the body where wrinkles are common, can help fight the signs of aging as well. The oils not only help get your blood pumping and flowing, but will also help with hydrating the skin. Many people are not aware of how dehydrated their skin is; this in turn results in a much older appearance. The oil also helps to naturally cleanse away dead skin cells, so this will help with the ashy appearance, and will help provide a balanced, all natural skin tone, which looks healthier, and is healthier.

4. Hydration -

Drinking 8 glasses of water a day is not only recommended to help your systems, and internal organs function, but is also a way to fight the signs of aging. Water is required for nearly every body function, this includes perspiration, which removes the harmful toxins from our system. Drinking sufficient amounts of water will also help provide that plump appearance, moisture, and soft supple skin that you strive for, without having to purchase the $200 cream at the health and beauty shop. When you are dehydrated, fine lines and wrinkles are more pronounced, and are far more visible; when your skin is hydrated, not only does the appearance of your skin look better, but it also helps to reduce these lines, wrinkles, and signs of aging, which are bound to take place as we age.

5. Exercise -

Although you might hate doing it every morning, exercise helps to release toxins from the body, helps to reduce stress levels, and helps to balance your mind; all of these things will result in a younger looking appearance, and will result in a healthier looking body. Regular aerobic exercises greatly reduces the signs of aging; studies also show that exercise helps balance bone density, stamina levels, and muscle development as we age. Individuals who exercise more often, appear younger, and those who exercise for a majority of their lives, will not only fight the signs of aging, but will also feel much better, healthier, and tend to lead longer, and happier lives as well.

6. Fish oil -

Not only does it help you get in your omega 3 fatty acids for the day, but these anti-inflammatory products are the best anti-aging products available to you on the market today. They help improve heart health, they help with hair growth, skin hydration, and other beneficial functions to the human body.

7. Increase antioxidant intake -

Dozens of studies have shown that the release of free radicals (which is one of the consequences of exercise), can be slowed down, when you increase antioxidant consumption. Antioxidants help to neutralize free radicals, and this in turn helps fight the signs of aging which are all too often associated with free radicals. Diet and supplementation should be taken, in order to help you get the sufficient intake of antioxidants on a daily basis. Including berries as a part of the diet, is also a simple (and tasty) way, to ensure you are getting sufficient antioxidant levels in your system on a regular basis.

8. Cut back on alcohol intake -

Alcohol dehydrates the skin and it also depletes the essential vitamin levels, and essential minerals which are found in your system. This does not mean you can’t drink, it simply means when you do drink, try to do so sparingly, and drink a couple of glasses of water for each alcoholic drink you take in. This will help limit the consumption of alcohol, and will also help avoid the nasty hangover that you tend to experience, after a long night out.

Why We Take Vitamins. Why We May Be Wrong!

One-third of Americans (and an even higher percentage of Canadians) takes vitamin and mineral supplements each day. Reasons include:

1. Our new understanding of the body's requirements for particular chemical nutrients. For example, Vitamin C helps reduce free radical damage in cells.  It's easy to take Vitamin C in capsule form and to assume that it will give you the same benefits as a glass of orange juice. 

2. Our food supply is not as nutritious today as it was in the past.  This is due to large-scale farming which focuses on quantity, shelf life and profit rather than quality and nutrition. 

3.  Our modern lifestyle makes eating a balanced diet more difficult.  Increased stress has also boosted our need for certain nutrients.
We now assume that a vitamin pill will fill in these ‘gaps’ in our nutrition.  It may seem like a simple solution, but they often don't do enough.  And sometimes they just DON'T WORK.  Why is this?


A report in the December issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association concludes that the formula for optimal health isn't in the supplement aisle of a health-food store but in the FOOD AISLE. The American Dietetic Association is the largest organization of professionals that deals directly with your diet. It also has access to the most data and research in the field. So why do they state that foods are better than supplements?

5 Reasons To Use a Food Based Approach
1. Vitamin supplements are limited to what is written on the label. If it lists 20 chemical isolates, that is all you get. In comparison, every whole food has thousands of different micro and macro nutrients. This is why the better (and the more expensive) the supplement, the more factors it has in it.  But the best supplements are whole foods.  An orange, for example, has not only vitamin C but bioflavonoids, beta-carotene, folic acid, fibre, magnesium potassium and many other valuable nutrients. 
2. Foods contain nutrients we don’t fully understand.  Nutritional science is still young. Each day it discovers new phytonutirents which have profound influences on the body. More importantly, nutritional science is only just discovering the relationships between the various nutritional factors: how one factor influences another and how different ratios of nutrients affect the body.  The ‘facts’ of nutrition may change tomorrow, so why should you depend on them today?



3.  Each person has UNIQUE nutritional requirements. These requirements will change over time and in different environments.  If you take this into account and try to prescribe isolated vitamins and minerals it becomes very complicated very quickly. The ‘gaps’ are constantly changing.  You would need expensive professional help to pinpoint the best nutrients for your body.  And they can only determine what your body needs at a single point in time while your needs will change from one day to the next. 



4.  The body absorbs foods best.  Mere decades of nutritional research cannot compete with millions of years of natural evolution. The body evolved to eat real foods. Isolates found in artificial supplements are poorly absorbed and are often eliminated by the body before they can be used.  Many isolates are not recognized by the body as food, and may even be interpreted as toxins. Although certain higher quality supplements offer superior absorption, again, they usually do so just because they are closer to real food.  Unfortunately, they still can't compare with whole foods. Why not give your body what it deserves and eat food instead of pills?



5. Foods have LIFE.  There is something about the aliveness of food that makes it instinctively attractive. Fresh food is always more attractive than leftovers.  People have recently discovered the value of raw foods. This value can be measured in terms of enzymes and specific nutrients, but also in qualities that are harder to measure like energy and vitality.  All of these qualities are important for our physical and mental well-being.