Bananas are one of my favorite fruits. I have one in a smoothie immediately following each of my hard morning trainer sessions. I also stuff one in my jersey pocket for rides as a natural alternative to processed bars, gels, etc...
Banana Bread is awesome.
Bree makes an insanely good one with coconut oil, agave, and I add strawberries or raisins.
Slice em up in oatmeal with some cinnamon. If you're lucky enough to have a Trader Joe's nearby (or a really nice friend who will buy and mail them to you, cough, cough) I highly recommend their "Flattened Bananas." They're Awesome.
Put em on a popsicle stick and freeze em for a healthy dessert. Slice em up and put em in a pan with some non-stick spray and some honey. Whatever, just eat em.
Here are some Banana facts:
They contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
A single banana can fuel a good chunk of workout time.
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.
Run down: 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 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.
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.
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 re balanced 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.
Happy Dining
