Good Reasons to Eat a Banana

Bananas are America's #1 fruit. Bananas are available all year-round. They are harvested every day of the year. Bananas contain three natural sugars, sucrose, fructose and glucose, combined with fiber that gives you an instant boost of energy. If you consume two bananas they provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. They replace carbohydrates, glycogen (stored energy) and fluids burned during exercise. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the athletes. It's an easy snack food, there is no packing required. You can put one in your purse ,briefcase, backpack or your child's lunch . In these restricted times of things you cannot carry on an airplane, it's the perfect food. If the flight doesn't included meals (most don't anymore) and you don't want to buy a salty, or high fat snack from them , this is great choice and easily accessible when you are hungry. I have a banana every day in my protein shake for breakfast. If you find that the bananas are ripening too fast, cut them up and freeze them. This way you don't have to add ice to your smoothie! But energy and hunger are not the only way bananas can help. They can also help overcome or prevent a number of illnesses and conditions.

Here are some facts about bananas I learned when researching online:

Bananas have no fat, cholesterol or sodium.

The average American consumes over 28 pounds of bananas each year.

Over 96% of American households purchase bananas at least once each month.

Bananas are available all year-round. They are harvested every day of the year.

Bananas can help Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer, tryptophan. Tryptophan is a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin. Serotonin is known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

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.

When you compare it to an apple, it has 4 times the protein, 2 times the carbohydrate, 3 times the phosphorus, 5 times the vitamin A and iron, and 2 times the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium.

If you suffer from PMS, forget the pills -- eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Adding bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel movements, helping to overcoming constipation without using laxatives.

One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach, the honey builds up depleted blood sugar levels and the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana instead of taking an antacid.

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.

Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

So pass on the apple and grab a banana instead!