Nutritional Benefits of Bananas

Bananas are available all round the year. Also, there is no fuss carrying them with you in your usual morning rush. In case you did not know, merely two of these yellow-skinned fruits give you enough energy to work out for about an hour. During the lazy afternoon hours, I usually feel sluggish and sleepy. So what do I do? Munch on one or two of these fruits and voila! My sleep is gone and I am back to my work, as if it is morning!

Health Benefits of Bananas

Cheer up!
One of the most important benefits of bananas, which needs to be mentioned here is about its property to reduce the symptoms of depression. The fruit is a rich source of a chemical known as tryptophan. It contains a protein that helps in improving the mood, making the person feel happier.

Helps your Stomach
Banana is a high source of fiber and helps in treating constipation. And as it is also rich in potassium, it helps in restoring electrolytes which is lost due to diarrhea. Hence, bananas and constipation go well together and in the bargain help relieve you of your diarrhea and watery bowels.

Monthly Medicine
Reducing menstrual pain is also one of the notable benefits of having bananas. Their content of vitamin B6 helps in the regulation of blood glucose level and mood swings.

Stronger Bones
People who have bananas as an important part of their diet, have lesser bone disorders. The compound known as fructooligosaccharide in these fruits play a significant role in enhancing the body's ability to absorb calcium from multiple sources.

Healthy Kidneys
Many kinds of kidney diseases can be averted from occurring, by including bananas as a regular part of the daily diet. Women who consumed bananas and other fruits daily, were known to cut their risk of kidney cancer by an appreciable margin. Bananas ability to set up a protective barrier against such diseases comes from their content of antioxidant phenolic compounds.

Hypertension
Bananas are known to significantly lower high blood pressure, due to their high content in potassium whilst low quantity of sodium.

Throw Away the Fag
One of the reasons quitting the habit of smoking is never easy, is the occurrence of the nicotine withdrawal symptoms. As bananas are high in potassium and magnesium, they aid the body to fight off the effects of all such symptoms thus, helping the person quit smoking.

Reduce Acidity, Reduce Irritation
Ulcers become unbearable with acidity, and the banana's ability to reduce the acid levels in the stomach, make them an ideal immediate treatment for painful ulcer symptoms. They cause the body to produce thicker mucus which protects the stomach against acid. Not only this, they also help in eliminating pathogens which are responsible for causing ulcers. The same quality of bananas, i.e., to reduce acid in the stomach, makes them a good treatment for heartburn, as well.

Beef Up Your Iron Levels
In case you are anemic, then a banana must be your best friend. Its abundance in iron, would supply your body with the required amount of this essential nutrient. This in turn would help your body to manufacture optimum amount of hemoglobin, thereby, improving the blood clotting process in case of injuries.

Concentrate
Children who love to eat bananas tend to be brighter than those who are ignorant of the nutritional benefits of these fruits. Thanks to the generous amount of potassium which these fruits have, they help in boosting brainpower thus, helping students and even adults to increase their concentration power.

Manage Hangover
If you happen to be a party animal, then do not forget to munch on a few bananas for your breakfast, after you have had sessions of heavy boozing. The active ingredients in the fruits help the body to replenish vitamins and reduce the effects of a hangover.

Ease Your Morning Sickness
A lot of expecting mothers have felt a reduction in morning sickness episodes, after making bananas an important part of their diet. The fruits also help maintain healthy blood glucose level, apart from regulating the body temperature.

See Clearer
One important nutritional benefit of bananas is about their ability to reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). This disorder is known to be the primary cause of vision loss in the elderly.

Play Safe With Strokes
People who are vulnerable to be hit by stroke, must consume bananas on a daily basis. By doing this, they can avert stroke and prevent serious complications.

Cure Mosquito Bites
The banana is a 'superfood', because even its peel do not go waste. Simply rub the inside of the peel on the mosquito-bitten area, and you will see it works even better than medications. How less inexpensive does the treatment for mosquito bites can get than this?

So, are bananas good for you? The answer is a definite 'Yes'! Boy, I never thought that my favorite fruit had been giving me so much of benefits right from when I was a child. I am glad that my mother made such delicious banana recipes. Another relative which should not be confused with bananas are plantains. Though they look and feel the same, they're a little less sweeter and more starchy than the banana.