The scoop on the Banana

What a glorious day...between the rain. I am so happy I purchased rubber boots last fall. Not the fancy ones by crazy designers, rather some good old fashioned steel-toed black boots. Have to make sure my toes don't get crushed while gardening...I wonder if those adidas cowboy boots came in steel toe?

(Okay, i have been trying for a half hour to insert some photos but unfortunately our computer has a new JAVA upgrade which now doesn't work. So here imagine my backyard with our dog Sadie protecting the plants.)

It is great to know that some things are just too fun to pass up on. I have been cheating with most of the group and doing trail trots on Wednesday with Jen, her husband Jamie, and their friend Paula. We have been traveling the city to find the best of places to dance with dirt. So I do confess to you all. I have others that I play with!

(Okay, here is a picture of a single track trail in the Weaselhead area of Calgary. There is a huge muddy puddle straight ahead. Fresh green shrubs all around. This was last night. Trust me! BEA-U-tiful)

This weekend the group needs to meet on the south side of town. So let's Jackrabbity over to McDonald's at Glenmore Landing for an 8 am start. Joy is off to Toronto for the next four days and I have two extra Westies to take care of while she, Dave, and Christine party hard in Toronto.

(okay, this picture is of Sadie, Chloe, and Griffin all sitting nice while I tease them with treats. They are so cute. Can't you see them? Oh yes, you can't cause our JAVA is pooched! On that note, my office mate's brother is James Gosling, the inventor of JAVA. He is going to be here for Stampede. Would it be wrong to ask him to fix our systems?)

A couple of months back I shared a blog on Margarine. Did I ever get some fun feedback on that! So I thought I would pull out from the archives an article shared by our friend Cathy. Ever since Fast Times at Ridgemont High a banana has had a different impression on its value. These points below I believe will broaden your thoughts on the yellow fruit. Bring out your banana guards!

(okay, hear is a picture of a half peeled banana. Not a green patch on it anywhere! I still think the best looking banana is one with chocolate syrup and ice cream...YUM)

The Scoop About a BANANA....who knew??? After reading THIS, you'll NEVER look at a banana in the same way again!

Bananas contains 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 way to beat high 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 high 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 brain power. 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 chips. 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 carbohydrates, 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!"