Fruit- Banana

The banana is nature's oldes offering among fruit amd , much like a trusted friend.,it is available all year round, come rain or shine. A sweet, seedless, easily digestible fruit, it packs a combination of energy-boosting sugars, tissue-building proteins abd nerve-empowering vitamins and minerals. It has been said that just one fruit has 116 claories and contains Vitamins C, carotene, thiamine,riboflavin, niacin, calcium, phosphorous,iron, trace minerals and the list goes on.

An average banana contains about 467mg of potassium, a boon in reducing stress by lowering salt levels and also harmonising blood pressure levels. This can also be evidenced through the slowing down of heart palpitation- transporting oxygen to the brain and boosting brain power. Moreover, the body converts the banana's inherent proteins(tryptohan)into serotonin, the hormone that calms an agitaed mood and lightens depression.

With its high fibre content, the banana helps in constipation by restoring normal bowel function.It also contains pectin, a water absorbing nutrient which aids in firming the stool. The stomach lining is additionally protected with the soft coat if its fruity flesh from the pain of ulcers.

Other conditions that banana have been known to alleviate include anaemia, strokes and nervousness. Because of their high iron content, banana have tha ability to stimulate haemoglobin production in the bloodstream, good news for anaemia sufferers. Being high in B-complex vitamins, it is know to have a calming effect on the nervous system, It has also been revealed that adding banana to your regular diet can actually cut the risk of death by as much as 40 per cent.

Owing to its many benefits, beauty companies have been using the banana in the manufacture of their products for serveral years now. The moist inside of the banana's skin reduces the itching irritation of insect bites or warts, while mashed bananas have been know to relieve dry skin.Other homespun banana beauty treatment include exfoliating masks(blend mashed banana with cosmetic clay), hair conditioner(combine mashed banana with few drops of almond oil, see below for a complete recipe) and hand moisturising lotion(mash a banana with 2 pats of butter).

But for all tis wholesome goodness, the banana is not recommended if you are prone to colds, cough, sore throat and asthma. Similarly, if you are overweight and / diabetic and have opted for a weight-loss programme, your dietician will advise you to avoid banana, as they have high glycaemic index(GI). The GI was intially developed as a handy yardstick for diabetic. Foods that gradually increase our blood-glucose levels have low GI. They keep our blood sugar steady and enhance our stamina. Food that rapidly increase our blood sugar levels have a high GI. On the other side the coin, sports enthusiasts do appreciate the potassium-power delivered by this high energy fruit.