Bananas - Keep the stress of nursing school away, along with all you other problems

[smellyacres, BSN, RN]

my mom sent me this e-mail, i thought it may help all you sleep deprived, stressed out nursing/prenursing students.. apparently all you need is a banana!

a professor at ccny for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. he said the expression 'going bananas' is from the effects of bananas on the brain.

read on:

never, put bananas 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.

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 beat blood pressure. so much so, the us food and drug administration has just

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.

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 h as 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!'

ps:

bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! i will add one

here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? take the inside of the banana skin, a and

rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. amazing fruit