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The Health Benefits of Bananas

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Let's go bananas!

Bananas are known for their creamy, delicious sweet taste. Being "prepackaged" by nature, they are easy to take on the go. Athletes are known to eat bananas after a strenuous activity. Rightly so, because bananas are packed with a load of vitamins and minerals that help our body function at its optimum level. In this lens, you'll find out the various health benefits of this beloved fruit.

Contents at a Glance

Bananas on the news
Bananas for upset stomach
The BRAT diet for diarrhea
Bananas for better digestion and elimina...
Bananas and hemorrhoids

Acknowledgment
This lens has 2 Squid Angel Blessings
as of June 4, 2011
Heavenly thanks!

Bananas on the news

Health benefits of Bananas: by media1512 | video info

1 rating | 3,543 views

curated content from YouTube

Bananas for upset stomach

Bananas are part of the BRAT diet recommended by medical professionals to children recovering from stomach and digestion problems. Bananas, along with the other BRAT diet components (Rice Cereal, Applesauce, Toast) are binding foods that assist in making the stools harder. The potassium in bananas replace the electrolytes in the body that were lost due to vomiting and diarrhea.

Bananas also help relieve an upset stomach by stimulating the production of mucus from the stomach lining, creating a barrier between the stomach lining and the acidic substances that causes heartburn and upset stomach

The BRAT diet for diarrhea

the diet includes BANANAS

Bananas for better digestion and elimination

Due to its high fiber content, bananas can help restore normal bowel function. Bananas also contain pectin, a soluble fiber that helps to normalize movement through the digestive tract.

Bananas and hemorrhoids

Bananas in the diet can help with hemorrhoids by increasing bowel movements when eaten in conjunction with plenty of water. Discover how the high fiber content of bananas can help to alleviate hemorrhoids with advice from a registered and licensed dietitian in this video on nutrition and diets

Bananas as brain food

Bananas are high in tryptophan, an amino acid that the body converts into serotonin, a brain chemical known to improve mood and encourage relaxation, influence memory and learning, produce healthy sleep, regulate temperature and even increase sexual desire and function.

Bananas and depression

More health benefits

Protection from high blood pressure

Bananas contain high levels of potassium (about 487 in a large banana) and very low sodium content (just 1 mg), a perfect ratio for preventing high blood pressure. The US Food and Drug Administration have allowed the banana industry to make official claims that bananas can help reduce the risk of high blood pressure and strokes.

Protection from kidney cancer

In a study published in the International Journal of Cancer, it was found that women who ate bananas four to six times a week halved their risk of kidney cancer.

Bananas and Gout

Gout is a type of arthritis that is caused by increased levels of uric acid, but bananas can help decrease the symptoms of gout due to its high levels of potassium and vitamin C. Eat bananas to help deal with the pain caused by gout with advice from a registered and licensed dietitian in this video on nutrition and diets.

Bananas and facial skin care

Banana Facts

Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce.

Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red.

Vitamins and minerals are abundant in the banana, offering 123 I.U. of vitamin A for the large size. A full range of B vitamins are present with .07 mg of Thiamine, .15 mg of Riboflavin, .82 mg Niacin, .88 mg vitamin B6, and 29 mcg of Folic Acid. There are even 13.8 mg of vitamin C. On the mineral scale Calcium counts in at 9.2 mg, Magnesium 44.1 mg, with trace amounts of iron and zinc.

Bananas are grown in at least 107 countries, primarily for their fruit, and to a lesser extent to make fiber, banana wine and as ornamental plants.

Let's eat 'em bananas

Banana Information on Squidoo

Banana Recipes

Cooking with Bananas

Additional information on bananas

Six Most Popular Types of Bananas: Photos and description of the 6 most popular types of bananas
Different Kinds of Banana Plants: Different kinds of banana plants
All about bananas: A full informational site on banana including cooking recipes, how to grow, medical uses, how to buy, nutritional benefits and girt basket ideas

Reminder

Get this banana reminders!

Banana is a healthy food for your family and you should include it in your diet. To remind yourself to buy some on your next trip to the supermarket, here are things you can display at home as reminders.

Please let me know you were here

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GreenOasis Jul 28, 2011 @ 8:43 am | delete

Great lens about the Health Benefits of Bananas. Thanks for this.

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Mickie_G Jul 9, 2011 @ 8:03 am | delete

When I lived in the Philippines as a child, I had a "pet" banana tree. As an adult, I still love to eat bananas. Thanks for giving me justification for loving this fabulous food.

Reply

squidoolenstar Jun 28, 2011 @ 6:35 am | delete

My grandfather died when he was 90. He kept eating bananas daily. I guess that was 1 reason why he lived long. Great lens.