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Go bananas: 8 reasons why this yellow fruit should be your best friend

Go bananas: 8 reasons why this yellow fruit should be your best friend

An apple a day keeps the doctor away but a banana is certainly a close contender
22 Nov, 2015

Banana is the fruit which has come to my rescue time and again. I vote it’s the perfect fruit for today’s efficacious lifestyle.

Need a chipper? energy-rush on the run? Turn to the banana. Need to whip up the quickest shake? Blend a banana in milk. Want to begin weaning your baby? Soften a banana and feed your little darling. Here’s the ideal fruit for birthday parties and picnics and just about any occasion — sweet, easy to carry around and healthy to the core.

Experts have deemed that a high potassium intake may decrease the risk of death from all causes by 20pc and that may be enough reason to incorporate this potassium-packed fruit in your diet. But there are a myriad of other benefits concealed beneath the bright yellow peel of the banana.

A healthy energy dose

You can actually feel an energy-rush when you munch on firm yet creamy banana flesh. That is the reason fitness freaks will eat two bananas before a workout to boost themselves with energy and keep blood sugar levels up. Bananas also help to protect against muscle cramps during workouts and even night-time leg cramps.

The happy fruit

Bananas keep you upbeat and help overcome depression. That’s because they possess tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin — which is the happy-mood brain neurotransmitter. Consequently, you can ward off your bad moods, Seasonal Affective Disorders and reduce PMS symptoms by eating a banana — that’s because this fruit regulates blood sugar and relieves stress. They even soothe morning sickness during pregnancy.

Your heart’s best friend

Called the potassium super-fruit, bananas are a sure-shot and proven source of lowering blood pressure and protecting against heart attack and stroke. For maintenance of blood pressure, not only do doctors recommend a low sodium intake but a high potassium consumption. This combined with fibre, vitamin C and B6 content in bananas are all ideal for sound heart health.


An apple a day keeps the doctor away but a banana is certainly a close contender


A smarter you

Try eating a banana before an exam or presentation. The potassium levels in a banana will make you alert, sharper and smarter.

You tummy’s trouble-shooter

The pectin and digestive enzymes in a banana aids digestion and gently flush out toxins and heavy metals from the body. Come loose motions or constipation, a banana will do the trick. Not only do bananas sooth an aggravated digestive tract and help restore electrolytes. As a natural prebiotic and antacid, bananas help foster friendly bacteria in the bowel and soothe stomach ulcers, heart burn and reflux.

A diet food

If you’re watching your weight and still crave a sugar rush, turn to the sweetness of a banana. This low-calorie fruit also contains soluble fibre that helps slow your digestion which makes you feel satiated so you gorge less.

Stress buster

A sufficient potassium intake can help you regulate your heartbeat. This in turn helps send enough oxygen to your brain, maintain your water balance throughout the body and keep an ideal metabolic rate in check. All this in turn helps you feel less stress.

An eye full

Being a primary source of vitamin A and beta-carotene, bananas help to maintain the structures that bring light into the cornea so that your sense of sight is more effective.

Apart from these stunning assets, bananas are great for overall health as the vitamin C in bananas can help prevent the formation of free radicals known to cause cancer and its high fibre lowers the risk of colorectal cancer. Its iron content can help the anaemic as it stimulates the production of haemoglobin and its ability to counteract calcium loss during urination helps build strong bones. Eating a banana can even lower the body temperature on a hot day and cool you during a fever.

Is there anything a banana can’t do? Certainly, this is a fruit which is definitely not just for the monkeys.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine November 22nd, 2015

Comments

SHOAIB KAHUT Nov 22, 2015 12:20pm
Punch line : ) Certainly, this is a fruit which is definitely not just for the monkeys.
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Lucky Star Nov 22, 2015 12:26pm
Very informative !
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Zaheer Khurshid Nov 22, 2015 12:51pm
See how nature works.
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Sania Hamid Nov 22, 2015 03:31pm
Amazing
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Haseena302 Nov 22, 2015 05:08pm
Let's go bananas bananas bananas :)
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Bhushan Parimoo Nov 22, 2015 05:55pm
Bananas no doubt is what once we used to say every ones reach, it is quite costly one beside it is artificaly ripes beside what is used to make it pleasing , shudders one
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Sultan Alvi, Toronto, Canada Nov 22, 2015 06:34pm
If Apple could get an A, then why Banana should not get its B? It is my fav pre and post-gym snack.
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Satish Mahadevan Nov 22, 2015 06:41pm
it cured my constipation. i don't know the science behind banana, just got a tip from my friend that before sleeping eat two bananas and it will relieve your stomach. To my surprise it worked.
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Irshad Nov 22, 2015 06:59pm
Couldn't agree more. Banana and apple have been a part of my breakfast for years. It is a tried and tested recipe for good health.
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Azhar jamil Nov 22, 2015 07:59pm
But banana should be Pakistani.
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aspreddy Nov 22, 2015 08:43pm
Some doctors advise diabetic patients to avoid Banana. Is it right
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aspreddy Nov 22, 2015 08:44pm
Is Banana fruit acceptable for Diabetic patients/
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BRR Nov 22, 2015 09:46pm
be careful if you are diabetic. better to eat bananas when they are a little green, as they will provide less sugar and the glycemic index is less.
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Karan Nov 22, 2015 10:02pm
Being a primary source of vitamin A.... can you please let us know from where you got this information? Thanks
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Dr Riffat Jabeen Nov 22, 2015 10:06pm
Kinder should eat bananas instead of junk food. Good for body as well as brain. When you spend money on fruit it's worth it... Junk food is only junk...Be smart and take right decisions.
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Reader Nov 22, 2015 10:58pm
Very informative article. very true information and we must all try to follow.
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Bhuvnashwar Nov 23, 2015 12:27am
Its not fruit but a Herb and ofcorce verry usefull in all respect.
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Hindusthani Nov 23, 2015 12:59am
Bananas are the best appetit good digest food and also can use any type of meals & Desserts etc., There are 14 kind of veriety bananas in the world where we can find that is only South India, Tamilnadu.
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IMRAN QURAISHI Nov 23, 2015 02:39am
People taking blood water pills and blood pressure medications should supplement their medication with eating a banana every day to reduce water retention in their bodies also known as" edema"in medical terms. I used to get swelling on both my legs which is directly related to taking hypertension medications but the turning point came in my life when a doctor told me to start eating a banana a day and see the difference. I tried and it worked so here I am a living proof of the benefits of eating a banana a day. Just don't overdo it as anything in abundance is not good for you.
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Amer Rao Nov 23, 2015 04:48am
I really Love Bananas and every day i take two. No stress and life is good.
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Mian Amir Hakim Nov 23, 2015 08:38am
@SHOAIB KAHUT . Very well said but forgot to add the "minions".
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karliss Nov 23, 2015 09:15am
Great tip. Seems to cure almost everything . Love them when their fresh...hate mushy ones .
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Abdullah Jan Nov 23, 2015 09:54am
its really informative and knowledge based sharing of the scientific information. i think its a great contribution in balancing one's healthy habits in their life styles.
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nasirkhansak@hotmail.com Nov 23, 2015 10:31am
Banana also contains Melatonin harmone responsible for inducing sleep- so good for insomnia too.
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Tauqeer Nov 23, 2015 10:34am
Good. keep it up for more articles like this.
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A Fairdeal Muslim Nov 23, 2015 12:13pm
Certainly, it is a fruitful.
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Afsana Nov 23, 2015 11:14pm
Wow very well written
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Afsana Nov 23, 2015 11:14pm
I love bananas.....yummy
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Afsana Nov 23, 2015 11:16pm
Bananas can really decrease depression...wow that's so good..
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Avtar Nov 24, 2015 05:25pm
While I agree with you on the listed benefits of banana, it is very in sugar contents along with Mango and Pineapple. Doctors recommend limited consumption of high sugar content fruits especially for Diabetes 2 individuals. And, Diabetes type 2, afflicts a large number of people in South and South East Asia. Hence, Bananas should be consumed in moderation.
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Aamir Shahzad Nov 25, 2015 01:45am
Very nice article. thanks a lot
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khalid iqbal Nov 25, 2015 03:23am
we should feed bannanas to our people, they will do better,we need to grow lots of bananas.
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jarnail singh chahal Nov 25, 2015 07:38am
do you know banana is not fruit ? it is a herb.
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kk Nov 25, 2015 03:05pm
An apple a day keeps the doctor away and a banana a day may keep the doctor and hakim both away.
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