There truly seems to be ample
evidence that bananas are more than just a good source of potassium.
Nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and niacin, as well as the
minerals phosphorous, calcium, magnesium and manganese are all present in
bananas.
In addition, no fruit is higher in
energy value except the avocado. This is because the banana has three natural
sugars -sucrose, fructose and glucose which give a substantial boost of
energy.
Other benefits of bananas are as follows:
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Help fight depression. They contain tryptophan, which converts into
serotonin, a chemical known to make you relax and improve your mood. For this
reason, bananas can also help sufferers of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
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High in iron. Bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the
blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
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Reduces the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. Bananas are
extremely high in potassium yet low in salt. The US Food and Drug
Administration allows the banana industry to make official claims for the
fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke. 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%.
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Research has shown that the fruit can assist learning by making pupils
more alert.
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Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body so if you suffer from heartburn, eat a banana for soothing relief.
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Some people even rub mosquito bites with the inside of a banana skin to
reduce swelling and irritation.
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Bananas can also help people who try to give up smoking. It seems the B
vitamins, along with potassium and magnesium found in bananas help the body
recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
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