General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Eat your bananas! Rss Feed  
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2004-12-30 2:10 PM

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Pro
3870
200010005001001001002525
Virginia Beach, VA
Subject: Eat your bananas!
This was forwarded on to me and I though I'd pass it on to the forum. The Reader's Digest version is that bananas are good for you



Bananas. Containing 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 the 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 were helped through
their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid
to boost their brainpower. 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 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: 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%!

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!"


2004-12-30 2:12 PM
in reply to: #97339

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Pro
4228
2000200010010025
Broomfield, Colorado
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!
Who knew?
2004-12-30 2:28 PM
in reply to: #97339

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Champion
4902
20002000500100100100100
Ottawa, Ontario
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!
AND, they taste great!!!!! 
2004-12-30 2:31 PM
in reply to: #97354

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Expert
1240
100010010025
Columbia, MO
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!
Machiavelo - 2004-12-30 1:28 PM

AND, they taste great!!!!! 
Less Filling....
2004-12-30 2:34 PM
in reply to: #97356

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Veteran
171
1002525
Tampa, Florida
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!
bsjracing - 2004-12-30 2:31 PM

Machiavelo - 2004-12-30 1:28 PM

AND, they taste great!!!!! 
Less Filling....


TASTE GREAT!!!!
2004-12-30 2:36 PM
in reply to: #97339

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Extreme Veteran
347
10010010025
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!
This is great news!

Does a banana daiquiri count?


2004-12-30 2:36 PM
in reply to: #97339

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Master
2033
200025
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!
They are great in a Peanut Butter sandwich!
2004-12-30 2:53 PM
in reply to: #97339

Regular
309
100100100
north end of vancouver island, BC, Canada
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!
I actually hate bananas, but will eat them only when they are ripe (must have brown spots), and only in a peanutbutter and jelly on toasted 100% whole wheat bread. Does anyone have any other banana ideas for me?

Darlene
2004-12-30 2:55 PM
in reply to: #97379

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Pro
3870
200010005001001001002525
Virginia Beach, VA
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!
EWWWWWW...soft with brown spots...NASTY! Gotta be firm and a little green even if I eat them alone. Doesn't matter if I'm dumping it in the blender with my prot shake though.

dolly - 2004-12-30 2:53 PM

I actually hate bananas, but will eat them only when they are ripe (must have brown spots)

Darlene
2004-12-30 2:58 PM
in reply to: #97339

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Pro
5153
50001002525
Helena, MT
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!

Bananas are trying to kill me. No, really. I'm allergic to the little buggers. But I can still eat them in Banana bread.....

2004-12-30 2:58 PM
in reply to: #97339

Master
1741
100050010010025
Boston
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!
I had half of one for a snack today!!!


2004-12-30 5:59 PM
in reply to: #97339

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Extreme Veteran
360
1001001002525
Camarillo, California
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!
I dont really like bannanas either so sometimes I make a smoothie then just put one in there, you cant taste it but you still get all its good stuff
2004-12-30 6:17 PM
in reply to: #97339

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Veteran
302
100100100
Virginia
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!
Thanks for the info. I eat one or two a day to help me get my daily helpings of fruit. I like the banana daquri suggestion, maybe that would help too!
2004-12-30 6:21 PM
in reply to: #97339

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Pro
4206
20002000100100
Los Angeles, CA
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!
They are great in icecream sundaes (sp?) and with life cereal and milk. :-)

Edited by auto208562 2004-12-30 6:21 PM
2004-12-30 6:24 PM
in reply to: #97339

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Veteran
343
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San Antonio, Texas
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!
I eat one every day!
2004-12-30 6:29 PM
in reply to: #97339

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Member
43
25
Ames, Iowa
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!
I don't have anything to add to this thread, except that I admire anyone who, like Gatorgirl22, can eat just half of anything. Admirable self control that I wish I could emulate. And now I am going to go in search of a life.


2004-12-30 6:30 PM
in reply to: #97339

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Regular
87
252525
Toronto
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!
OK - have to agree with the EWWW on the squishy brown spot bananas , I like barely ripe ones, that cut nicely. I agree with the PB and banana sandwich, my other favorite is with maple brown sugar oatmeal. If you just cut it up and eat it with the oatmeal.

Easiest way to get an extra serving of fruit/ veggie a day - lots of night I have a banana to get up to the quota.

Jen
2004-12-30 8:11 PM
in reply to: #97501

Veteran
294
100100252525
MO
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!
Shoot, there goes my male/female theory! In my somewhat narrow experience (I have an n < 15, here), men seem to prefer bananas in an unripe, still greenish state; while women seem to prefer them riper with brown spots.

But Jen just shot my theory down.

Then again, she could just be an outlying data point -- anyone else care to weigh in for the sake of my (extremely scientifically rigorous, well-controlled) study?
2004-12-30 8:13 PM
in reply to: #97525

Veteran
294
100100252525
MO
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!
Oh, and I forgot to say -- a slice of American cheese wrapped around a banana can be good. I learned that from Mr. Rogers when I was about seven.

Another way I like to eat them is baked, with sugar and cinnamon. You cut them lengthwise, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, and bake until softened. OR, you can nuke one for awhile in milk and add sugar and mash the whole thing up -- I think that's really good too.
2004-12-30 8:51 PM
in reply to: #97339

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Elite
4344
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Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!

Bananas Foster with flaming rum is a dramatic touch., but just about any way a banana is served is ok by me.  I eat green to almost totally brown, banana bread after that.

TW

2004-12-30 9:14 PM
in reply to: #97500

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Veteran
275
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San Diego, CA
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!
iowaguy - 2004-12-30 3:29 PM

I don't have anything to add to this thread, except that I admire anyone who, like Gatorgirl22, can eat just half of anything. Admirable self control that I wish I could emulate. And now I am going to go in search of a life.


You mean I DON'T always have to eat the whole thing? :-O


2004-12-30 9:16 PM
in reply to: #97339

New user
63
2525
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!
Try to eat the organic banana's .
2004-12-30 9:48 PM
in reply to: #97525

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Regular
87
252525
Toronto
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!
Sorry for shooting down your theory but there is always the exception that proves the rule ;-)

I like the idea of cheese, I am definately trying it.

and the rum and banana combos go without saying

Happy New Year to All

Jen

Edited by jdlake 2004-12-30 10:16 PM
2004-12-30 10:07 PM
in reply to: #97339

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Veteran
267
1001002525
Southern Ohio
Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!

Green banana for me! I love them. Also if you dont like banana's, try  potato skins, they are packed with potassium, more so than a banana.

Beth

2004-12-30 10:22 PM
in reply to: #97339

Subject: RE: Eat your bananas!
TH3_FRB - 2004-12-30 2:10 PM

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.



Well this is indeed timely information. Looks like banana milkshake it is for Sat morning!!

And my favorite is toasted Pumpernickle with PB, sliced banana and drizzled with honey.
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