Posts Tagged ‘Nutrition’
Moringa
*
Perspectives
only search SAB perspectives
Are you interested in submitting a Perspective Article? Be sure to read The Science Advisory Board's Editorial Guides for Perspective Articles. Click here.
Moringa: The Ideal Food for Obese and Malnourished?
by Monica G. Marcu, PhD, Pharm.D.
If I would tell you that science has discovered and characterized an amazing edible plant, loaded with most nutrients that we need (all essential amino acids, beneficial fats and omega oils, rich amounts of calcium and iron and many other vital minerals, as well as a wide variety and copious amounts of vitamins, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substances) but very few calories attached to it, what would you say ? Read the rest of this entry »
Look at a Banana
This is interesting. After reading this, you’ll never look at a banana in the same
- 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 high 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 high blood pressure and stroke. - Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school 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 wor k leads to gorging on comfort food like
chocolate and crisps. 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 has 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 its 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, and rub directly on the shoe…polish with dry cloth.
Amazing fruit!











































