Blog | January 19, 2018

Banana

You’ll never look at the humble banana the same way again after discovering the many health benefits and reasons to add them to your diet. And they are easy to incorporate! Just head on over to Juiced @ The Wicket in Cricket Square and order our popular ‘On The Green’ smoothie among many others from our thirst-quenching menu that contains this nutritional powerhouse.

Did you know that bananas can help with learning by keeping you alert? Eat a banana before an exam to benefit from the high levels of potassium.

Bananas can help to combat depression due to high levels of tryptophan that is converted into serotonin, the happy-mood brain neurotransmitter.

Eat two bananas before a strenuous workout to pack an energy punch and sustain your blood sugar.

Protect against muscle cramps during workouts and night time leg cramps by eating a banana.

Improve your mood and reduce PMS symptoms by eating a banana, which regulates blood sugar and produces stress-relieving relaxation.

Bananas reduce swelling, protect against type II diabetes, aid weight loss, strengthen the nervous system and help with the production of white blood cells, all due to high levels of vitamin B-6.

Strengthen your blood and relieve anemia with the added iron from bananas.

High in potassium and low in salt, bananas are officially recognised by the FDA as being able to lower blood pressure and protect against heart attack and stroke.

Rich in pectin, bananas aid digestion and gently chelate toxins and heavy metals from the body.

Bananas act as a prebiotic, stimulating the growth of friendly bacteria in the bowel. They also produce digestive enzymes to assist in absorbing nutrients.

Eating bananas protects the eyes against macular degeneration and builds strong bones by increasing calcium absorption.

Eating a banana between meals helps stabilise blood sugar and reduces nausea from morning sickness.

Rub a bug bite or hives with the inside of the banana peel to relieve itching and irritation.

To add to this long list of health benefits did you also know that you can shine your leather shoes and handbags with the inside of a banana peel, finished with quick polish from a dry cloth.