The Banana is a Frugal Super FoodThe banana is an excellent fruit to keep in the home because it is both extremely good for you, and quite frugal. Why are bananas an inexpensive fruit to purchase? Because they are available year round rather than seasonally like most fruits, which allows them to be grown on a much larger scale than many other fruit choices. Bananas Out Performs Energy DrinksThe world's leading athletes all agree that the banana is the best fruit for boosting energy and potassium. Bananas contain three natural sugars, which are sucrose, glucose and fructose. When you combine these with the fiber that bananas offer, you have a boost of energy that is both substantial and sustainable, which makes it better than coffee, tea and energy drinks at making you feel "up" and keeping you there. Before you begin a strenuous workout, eating two ripe bananas can provide you enough energy to get yourself going.A Banana a Day Keeps the Doctor AwayBecause bananas are high in potassium but are low in sodium, they make an excellent health food for people with high blood pressure. The banana industry has actually been allowed to make official claims by the United States Food and Drug Administration attesting that bananas can reduce blood pressure and stroke risk.According to a recent survey conducted by MIND, people who suffer from depression often find themselves feeling better after consuming a single banana. Bananas contain a substance known as tryptophan, which is a protein that is converted into serotonin within the body. Serotonin is a substance that causes improved mood, overall happiness and feelings of relaxation. The tryptophan found in bananas can also reduce the effects of seasonal affective disorder or SAD. The vitamin B6 contained within the banana regulates the levels of blood glucose within your body, which can affect your mood and can counteract negative feelings from PMS. Bananas Boost Brain PowerBananas are also capable of boosting brain power, because of the level of potassium contained within. The banana has more potassium than any other fruit, and combined with all of the other health benefits that bananas offer, this can really pack a punch. In a study with school children, one group was fed a banana every morning while the other group was not. The ones that had a banana a day out performed the other children on school exams and quizzes.But Wait! There’s More!Bananas are also high in iron, which allows them to stimulate hemoglobin production in your blood which can fight against Anemia. The high fiber content in bananas can aid in the restoration of normal bowel movements which can combat constipation without requiring that you turn to laxatives for help. Bananas also have natural antacid capabilities which makes them an excellent way to sooth heart burn or acid reflux. The banana's soft texture and smoothness make it an excellent dietary food when looking to fight disorders of the intestine such as an ulcer. The banana is capable of neutralizing acidity and reducing irritation, and is the only fruit in existence that can be eaten without creating distress.When you combine the potassium, magnesium, B6 and B12 contained within bananas, you actually have a powerful stop smoking aid. You can recover from nicotine withdrawal more effectively thanks to the banana. The Potassium in the banana is also exceptional at normalizing your heartbeat, regulating the water balance in your body, and sending the right amount of oxygen to your brain. In other words, the potassium in a banana can also have a positive effect on stress, overall health, weight loss, and a wide variety of other facets of your life. The Versatile BananaThere are some truly interesting and innovative uses for bananas out there as well. For example, if you are suffering from a hangover, cure it quickly using a banana milk shake with some honey as a sweetener. The banana will calm your stomach, and you can quickly rebuild depleted blood glucose levels while rehydrating your system. If you are bitten by a mosquito, instead of using a chemical insect bite cream, you can rub the bite with the inside of the skin of a banana in order to reduce the irritation and swelling associated with the bite.The Frugal BananaNow that you understand how important the banana is for maintaining complete and total health, here is the kicker: The banana is a frugal choice that is easy to come by all throughout the year, and that you can acquire inexpensively from supermarkets and even the convenience store on the corner of your block. This is mainly because banana trees produce fruit all throughout the year and it is becoming easier for bananas to be grown elsewhere in the world aside from simply where they originate. Because bananas are available all throughout the year and from a variety of sources, grocers can keep their costs low and can offer bananas for an outstanding price.If you are looking for an easy food that is healthy, inexpensive and can last a while in your fridge or on your kitchen counter, the banana is your answer. It is easy to buy bananas that have not yet ripened and keep them on your counter until they are that lovely shade of yellow. Bananas can last a long time, so purchasing a bunch by the pound and keeping them around is a perfectly acceptable way to go. Have a banana every morning with your cereal, or eat two before a hard workout to boost your performance. Mix a banana smoothie to beat a hangover, or do whatever else it takes to get your daily dose of this wonderful yellow fruit.
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