Bananas are one of nature’s sweetest foods, and they have a surprising number of health benefits.
For most people, banana is only known for its great source of potassium. What is unknown is that bananas can actually help combat depression, make you smarter, cure hangovers, relieve morning sickness, protect against kidney cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, and blindness.
In addition, eating bananas could help lower blood pressure and reduce the risks of cancer and asthma as well.
Unarguably, these might seem too much to be true; but it is actually what it is.
Here are some of the unimaginable health benefits of banana
1. Potassium
Although a lot of people know that bananas are very rich in potassium, they still cannot tell the importance of potassium to the human body.
Potassium, as a mineral, helps maintain fluid levels in the body and regulates the movement of nutrients and waste products in and out of cells.
It also helps in the contracting of muscles as well as the responding of nerve cells. It keeps the heart beating regularly and can reduce the effect of sodium on blood pressure.
Studies have also shown that potassium may reduce the risk of kidney stones.
2. Source of energy
Professional athletes will tell you that when it comes to dishing out energy, banana is king.
Two bananas, before a strenuous workout, is enough to pack an energy punch and sustain your blood sugar. Another interesting quality of banana is that it protects against muscle cramps during workouts and nighttime leg cramps as well.
3. Cures and protect against ulcer
Regular consumption of bananas may help protect against stomach ulcers because over time bananas thicken the protective mucus barrier in the stomach, which prevents damage from hydrochloric acid.
Banana is also known to contain protease inhibitors that help eliminate stomach bacteria which can cause stomach ulcers.
4. Treats hangover
If you were told that banana can actually get rid of the morning inconvenience that comes after the night groove, would you believe?
Well, you should; because a couple of bananas blended with ice, berries and coconut milk or cow’s milk makes a really good hangover recovery drink.
In as much as the better solution is not to drink so much the night before, it is advisable to have some bananas and coconut milk around to help you with the morning trouble just in case.
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5. Combat depression
As funny as this may sound, it is actually true. Bananas help overcome depression due to high levels of tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin — the happy-mood brain neurotransmitter.
Eating bananas also improves your mood and helps reduce PMS symptoms, which regulates blood sugar and produces stress-relieving relaxation.
6. Fights cancer
According to recent Japanese animal research, bananas that are fully ripe (with dark spots) have been observed to produce a compound called TNF–a.
TNF–a, on the other hand, is a cytokine that is believed to have the potential to increase white blood cell count. This, in return, helps enhance our immunity and combat cancerous cell changes.
7. It improves digestion
How many of us know the importance of fiber? Do we even know that fiber is needed to help food travel smoothly through the digestive tract and also improves our bowel movement?
Well, banana is a great source of dietary fiber, which means they help improve digestion.
