Guide to Healthy Italian Food

Guide to Healthy Italian Food

To many Americans, Italian food means a heaping plate of lasagna, manicotti, or some other pasta, or a large pepperoni pizza. To Italians, Italian food means starting the meal with a big soup or salad, then having a small appetizer portion of pasta, followed by grilled, baked, or roasted chicken, meat, or seafood with lots of vegetables as accompaniments. You may be wondering whether you can still dine on Italian food while trying to lose weight, get fit and healthy. The answer to that is YES you can still enjoy your Italian favorites, whether dining out at a restaurant or preparing a classic Italian meal at home, here are some healthy tips to help you stay on track:

1. Watch out for unhealthy appetizers.

When dining out… Avoid the bread basket. Garlic bread, white rolls, or breadsticks are off-limits on all Phases. Other foods to avoid are the salami and other fatty meats and cheeses often served as part of an antipasto. Fried calamari and other fried appetizers are also off-limits.

When at home… Serve whole-grain bread or start with a homemade minestrone soup, a broth-based soup, or a fresh green salad. Another healthy appetizer? Reduced-fat mozzarella and vine-ripened tomatoes drizzled with a little bit of extra-virgin olive oil.

2. Enjoy a mixed green salad.

When dining out…Ask for a basic house salad with veggies and request salad dressing on the side (be sure to stick with two tablespoons). If you prefer a classic Caesar salad, skip the croutons.

When at home… Start off your meal with mixed greens, such as arugula, endive, escarole, and/or spinach. Prepare a lemon or balsamic vinaigrette, using extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice or balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, and herbs. Grate a very small amount of Parmesan cheese over the salad to contribute added flavor, and sprinkle with a few walnuts, slivered almonds, or pine nuts.

3. Go for whole-wheat pasta.

When dining out… Stick with 1/2 cup of whole-wheat pasta and be sure to avoid cream-based sauces like Alfredo. Choose pasta dishes that are made with tomato- or seafood-based sauces.

When at home… Prepare homemade pasta using whole-wheat flour instead of white flour, or purchase 100 percent whole-wheat pasta at the grocery store. Instead of high-fat cheese sauces, make a baked pasta dish, such as lasagna and ziti, with lots of vegetables and/or lean ground meat or turkey. Top your pasta with a small amount of freshly grated Parmesan cheese or reduced-fat mozzarella cheese, or reduced-fat ricotta cheese.

4. Choose a lean meat, poultry, or seafood dish as a main course.

When dining out… Be sure to avoid parmigiana dishes as they are typically breaded and fried. Veal, which is commonly served in Italian restaurants. Be sure to choose veal chop, cutlet, leg, or top round, rather than veal breast, which is a fattier cut.

When at home… Choose a lean meat such as sirloin or poultry, or seafood like halibut or shrimp for the main course, and top it with a tomato sauce. Grill, bake, or roast for a healthy Italian dinner.

5. Pair your main course with grilled, roasted, or sautéed vegetables.

When dining out… Avoid all fried or breaded side dishes, including fried zucchini. Skip the starchy sides and ask for a double serving of fresh vegetables.

When at home… Roast or grill eggplant and peppers or serve sautéed broccoli or spinach with garlic, lemon and extra-virgin olive oil.

6. Go for a healthy dessert.

When dining out… Skip the rich and decadent traditional Italian sweets like tiramisu, cannolis, and full-fat cheesecake. Instead, choose fresh fruit as a healthy dessert.

When at home…Enjoy a homemade ricotta cheesecake, using part-skim ricotta cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar substitutes, eggs, and vanilla or almond extract.

Eggplant (Aubergine) – learn how to buy, store and cook this vegetable

Eggplant (Aubergine) – learn how to buy, store and cook this vegetable

Whether you choose to grill it, roast it, or bake it, the slightly sweet, fiber-rich eggplant can be enjoyed in a variety of dishes utilizing various cooking techniques. Eggplant has a mild flavor and “meaty” texture and is available year-round, hitting its peak from July to October. Because of its robust flavor and texture, it makes the perfect addition to stews, casseroles, and vegetarian main dishes. Here are a few tips for buying, storing, and cooking eggplant.

Buying and Storing Eggplant

The most common eggplants, which are dark purple, are known as American, or globe eggplants. But there are also Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Italian, and Spanish varieties that come in a whole host of shapes, sizes, and colors, including squat and tear-shaped, canary yellow, bright orange, and white, as well as striated.

When shopping for eggplants, be sure to look for those that are firm, heavy, and smooth. Eggplants with wrinkled or flabby-looking skin will most likely be bitter-tasting. To check for freshness, simply press the vegetable with your thumb; the indentation should fill up rapidly if the eggplant is fresh.

Eggplants should be kept in a cool, dry place and used within a day or two of purchasing. It's not necessary to refrigerate them if you'll be using them right away, though you can store them in the fridge for up to a week (as long as you wrap tightly in plastic wrap).

Cooking Eggplant

Eggplant can be cooked and eaten with or without its skin. If you want to eat it without the skin, you can peel it before cooking or choose to scoop out the flesh when you’re ready to eat. The flesh of eggplant begins to turn brown when exposed to air, so avoid cutting the vegetable until you're ready to cook. Eggplant can be added to soups, stews, and casseroles, or eaten on its own.

Here are a few ideas on how to enjoy eggplant:

• Grill whole eggplant (with a couple of holes poked in it to let steam escape) or grill it halved or sliced with a light coating of extra-virgin olive oil and a sprinkling of herbs.
• Roast eggplant slices for sandwiches or add cooked cubed eggplant to a tomato sauce and serve with whole-wheat pasta
• Add cooked and mashed eggplant to your favorite hummus recipe.
• Steam halved or cubed eggplant, drizzle with a little sesame oil, some reduced-sodium soy sauce, and vinegar for a delicious appetizer.
• For more recipes, type the word eggplant in the search tab (top left hand corner of this BLOG).

HOW MEN SHOULD DRESS FOR THE GYM

HOW MEN SHOULD DRESS FOR THE GYM

It always amazes me how so many guys at the gym do not wear the proper work out attire. How often have you seen some guy on the bench press wearing jeans or cargo pants? Worse yet, have you ever had the displeasure of witnessing a man doing squats in spandex shorts?

The gym is perhaps the most important setting to wear the proper clothing because sporting baggy clothes, long track pants or ill-fitting shoes may result in injury. And since you're trying to dress well to avoid getting hurt, you might as well be fashionable doing it. Many men take their gym clothing for granted, throwing on an old shirt and some sweatpants. They figure that they'll just sweat all over it anyway, so why wear something nice?

This attitude, however, will get you nowhere; the gym is just like any other setting in your life where it is important to look clean and stylish. Like a shopping mall, you never know who you might meet at the gym, such as a potential girlfriend, a boss or a useful business contact. So why look good in one setting and not in another?

CLOTHES AND SHOES – DOS AND DON’TS

Tops

The easiest and most acceptable fashion choice for top wear is a T-shirt. However, this does not mean your stained and tattered tourist T-shirt you bought five years ago. You're going to have to be a little pickier than that. To ensure that you choose a functional and fashionable tee, you should look for a few particular characteristics.

T-shirts should be made of light, breathable material, such as cotton. Avoid polyester. Your shirt should also fit properly; T-shirts that are too large or too tight should be avoided. Wear T-shirts that are light and made with microfiber material, as these will help to keep you cool and dry.

Don't: This is not the 80s so do not even think about wearing a mesh T-shirt!
Though tempting, you should also stay away from the basic white t-shirt for three reasons: White does not radiate heat as well as darker colors, making it harder to stay cool, it picks up dirt and stains easily (especially under armpits...yuk), and when you sweat through it, everyone will know what your body looks like as it becomes see-through.

Avoid wearing skimpy tank tops, but if you insist on showing your “guns” then sleeveless shirts can be a better option. For everybody's sake, even if you can bench press 350 pounds, do not wear one of those ridiculous tank tops that have spaghetti like straps.

Bottoms

Your best bet here is simple cotton gym shorts that don't extend more than an inch or two below the knees. These shorts should be worn at or slightly below your waist, not hanging off your butt -- you aren't in a rap video. Stylish sweatpants are a good alternative, especially for those are self-conscious about their chicken like legs.

Don't: Leave spandex to women, for men it is never a good idea to wear them. If you have some reason to wear form-fitting spandex shorts, wear longer shorts to cover them up.

Short shorts are fine for jogging in the park, but they look unattractive in the gym even if you have great legs.

Shoes and Socks

With so many versatile and stylish athletic shoes on the market, it shouldn't be hard to find a pair that is functional and that also appeals to your personal taste.
Never wear any kind of shoe other than a sneaker because you won't get the appropriate type of arch support you need during a rigorous workout.

Wear cushiony socks that are either black or white or a variation on white.

Don't: Colored and patterned socks do not mix with the gym. Also, don't wear dress socks at the gym or any sort that come up much past your ankle.

Head

Hats are ok once in a while when you are having a bad hair day. However, generally they are a bad idea. They can get in the way of your weightlifting. They also trap heat coming off your head, making it harder for you to stay cool. Also, most people do not wash their hats as often as they wash their other clothes, so they develop a less-than-savory odor rather quickly.

Don't: Headbands are generally ridiculous unless you're playing basketball and want to look silly.

GENERAL TIPS

Gloves

Weight gloves are a good idea if you do a fair amount of weight training because callused hands aren't attractive. Find a very breathable pair or they will start to smell like your hat.

Jewelry

Only wear a watch if you must. In that case, make sure it is a plastic, lightweight sports watch. Other than the watch, you should leave your jewelry at home, as it will only get in your way. Besides, the gym isn't the place for bling.

Extra Clothes
If you do intense cardio before weights, you will sweat all over the gym. As a courtesy to fellow gym members, avoid this problem by bringing a change of clothes for the rest of your workout.

Matching Colors

Many guys who manage to wear functional clothing still don't look as stylish as they could at the gym. You would never wear a maroon shirt with orange pants on a date, so why would you wear it at the gym? It isn't necessary to purchase ready-to-wear exercise ensembles -- that's going a little far. It's never that hard to put in the extra effort to match your workout clothes.

IN SUMMARY

Wearing functional clothing at the gym is important for practical reasons, but keeping fashion in mind is also a good idea. So even if your clothes are still relatively functional, but beginning to look a little dingy and/or worn out, it's time to purchase some replacements. With your gym attire in control, you can now focus on more important things at the gym -- like watching your form or getting rid of that extra pound around your tummy.

Sardines on Toast

Sardines on Toast

Ingredients

1 slice of whole grain brown bread
1 can of 3.75 oz sardines packed in hot sauce
1 tsp hot & sour sauce
1 tbs Salsa Con Queso (or any low fat cheese sauce)
Spritz of lime juice
1/2 tsp dried mint
Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

Toast the bread to your liking
Decant the sardines and the hot sauce they are packed in to a microwaveable bowl and warm for one minute
First drizzle the hot sauce over the toast before placing the sardines on it
Drizzle hot & sour sauce and the cheese sauce over the sardines and then squeeze lime juice on top
Garnish with dried mint
Season with salt and pepper to taste

A health dish that is perfect for brunch, prepared almost instantly.

Plantain Broccoli & Chicken in Cranberry Sauce

Plantain Broccoli & Chicken in Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients

1 yellow plantain cut into 1/4" circles
1 cup broccoli florets
1 cup grilled chicken breast meat
1 small red onion diced
2 tbs homemade cranberry sauce
2 tbs lemon juice
1/2 tsp red chili pepper flakes
1 tsp dried mint
Salt to taste

Instructions

In a nonstick sauce pan add cranberry sauce, lemon juice, onion, plantain and broccoli. Mix well and cover pan with a lid and cook on medium low heat for four minutes.
Add chicken and chili flakes to the pan and cook for one additional one minute
Season with salt to taste and garnish with dried mint

This dish makes a perfect nutritionally balanced dinner one person.

Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup sugar or sugar substitute SPLENDA (measures cup for cup like sugar)
1 cup water
4 cups (1 12-oz package) fresh or frozen cranberries
2 tbs lemon juice
Pinch of salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp sweet and sour sauce (store bought)

Instructions

Wash and pick over cranberries. In a saucepan bring to a boil water and sugar, stirring to dissolve sugar
Add cranberries, return to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer for 10 minutes or until cranberries burst. Add all remaining ingredients and mix well.
Remove from heat. Cool completely at room temperature and then chill in refrigerator

Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools. The recipe should make just over two cups of cranberry sauce. Enjoy the sauce with cold turkey slices in sandwiches or over grilled chicken.

ALL ABOUT CHILIES – their health benefits and different varieties

ALL ABOUT CHILIES – their health benefits and different varieties

The Health Benefits of Eating Chilies

The Health benefits of eating Chilies are well documented but surprisingly little known, despite the many numerous and profound ways in which they are known to aid, relieve and prevent many conditions.

The main component in Chilies is a chemical called Capsaicin, which is responsible for the intense heat felt.

But what else does Capsaicin do?

Lowers Blood Sugar Levels

Eating Chilies can have a very positive impact on people that are overweight or suffer from diabetes, say a team of researchers at The University of Tasmania, whose research was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, in July 2006. The study carried out yielded that the normal eating of chilies can help significantly control insulin levels after eating a meal. The actual data they collected was able to show that after eating Chilies, the amount of insulin needed to lower the body's blood sugar level following a meal was reduced by a staggering 60%. The exact way in which Chilies act to reduce the need of insulin by this amount is not fully understood yet, but it certainly spells good news for people that have diabetes, as the effects produced by consuming a low amount of Chili are easy to achieve in everyday cooking.

Provides Pain Relief & Reduces Inflammation

Capsaicin is well known to contain a Neuro-peptide associated with the inflammatory process. Chili related alterations in plasma proteins have been reported in patients with auto-inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid and arthritis. The regular intake of chilies can help to minimize the effects these diseases have on the body.

Capsaicin has also been found to provide effective pain relief without the numbing effect usually associated with anesthetics, and the inability in some cases, to operate machinery, along with the usual sedative effects some Painkillers cause. Researchers at Harvard University recently announced that they believe Capsaicin can be used to target pain receptors, without affecting nerve cells and causing the side effects mentioned above, which is a big plus. Real world uses for the compound might include: treating pain caused by Child Birth, providing effective pain relief during Dental Procedures without the side effects of numbness all day, enabling the patient to carry on with their daily tasks straight away, without delay.

Acts as a Therapeutic & Relaxant

Many studies now reveal that Chilies can have a Therapeutic effect on the body, allowing one to relax more easily. Capsaicin blocks a natural chemical called Substance P, which is involved in the transmission and perception of pain. As a result Chilies can be useful in relieving and preventing common problems such as headaches, migraines and discomfort caused by sinus problems, allowing a person to relax more easily.

Capsaicin also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which lend themselves perfectly to the relief of conditions such as irritable bowel, neuropathy caused by the onset of diabetes and psoriasis.

Helps Clear Congestion

No doubt you would have noticed the almost immediate relief of congestion, after eating a good hot curry if you have a cold. Chilies are great at quickly and effectively opening your nasal passages, allowing you to breathe more easily, although this is probably a side effect of preparing you for the panting following a particularly hot one!

Limits Spreading of Prostate Cancer

Cancer Research published a study in March 2006 which concluded that Capsaicin helped stop the spread of prostate cancer. The Capsaicin found in Chilies triggered suicide in both primary types of prostate cancer cell lines. "It also dramatically slowed the development of prostate tumors formed by those human cell lines grown in mouse models. The dosage on mice that produced these effects equated roughly to about only 5 Habanero Peppers a week for an average adult man.

Lowers Risk of Stomach Cancer

A Berkley neurobiology study concluded that Capsaicin/Chili consumption to be "protective against stomach cancer". They also pointed to the fact that the gastric cancer rates in Mexico, where Chili Pepper consumption is particularly high, are relatively low. They also noted the correlation between increased Chili consumption in the USA and falling rates of gastric cancer. The incidence of stomach and colon cancer is far lower in South America, where they eat far more Chili than they do in the North. Scientists have also found that Capsaicin inhibits cancer cell growth.

Other Health Benefits

Chilies can help to burn fat. This is because Capsaicin is also a thermogenic compound, and increases the metabolic rate, which aids in the fat burning process. Studies reveal that eating chilies can raise your metabolic rate by up to 23% for about 3 hours. Finally, eating Chilies has recently been shown to lower cholesterol, and to reduce the amount of fibrin in the blood, and as a result, lower the blood's tendency to clot.

In Summary

There are many rewards and health benefits of eating Chilies and some of these are clear and proven. Try to include in your daily diet these little balls of fire!

Different Types of Chili Pepper

As the saying goes, “some like it hot” and one of the easiest ways to turn up the heat in a variety of dishes is to add chili peppers. There are a number of chili pepper varieties, which can range in taste from mild to excruciatingly hot. Here’s a snapshot of the most popular chilies and some tips on how to buy and handle them properly:

Anaheim peppers are the most commonly used in the United States, with a mild to moderately hot taste. These long, slender, lobed peppers are often used in the Mexican dish called chilies rellenos.

Ancho peppers are the dried version of poblano peppers (see below). They are usually heart-shaped and are flat and wrinkled. Anchos range in color from a very dark red to almost black. They’re typically ground for use in sauces, chilies, and rubs.

Chipotle peppers are smoked, dried jalapeños with a medium hot, deep smoky flavor. They are available dried, whole, powdered, pickled, or canned in “adobo sauce.” They’re great in a homemade BBQ sauce or for flavoring yogurt dip.

Jalapeños are small green or red peppers, about 2 to 3 inches long. They are most commonly used in Southwestern and Mexican cuisines and are delicious pickled, grilled, or added to baked dishes. They’re also great in guacamole. Jalapeños vary in degree of heat, sometimes tasting much like a green bell pepper and other times being very hot (have a small taste before adding to a dish).

Poblano peppers range from mild to very hot and from 3 to 6 inches long and about 2 to 3 inches wide. They’re typically roasted and peeled before using in casseroles, soups, and sauces, or they can be stuffed and baked. An immature poblano is dark purplish green in color but eventually turns a red so dark as to be nearly black.

Serrano peppers are skinny, bright green (sometimes red) peppers that look similar to jalapeños but are considerably hotter. They can be used in a variety of dishes, including guacamole, salsa, or a spicy sauce.

Thai peppers are very hot and typically measure less than an inch. They’re primarily used in Asian cuisine.

Buying Chilies
When shopping for fresh chili peppers, choose those with firm, smooth skin. Avoid wrinkled peppers with blemishes. Fresh peppers should be used soon after purchasing. Most of the spiciness in a hot pepper comes from the white membrane and seeds found inside. You can lessen the spiciness by cutting the pepper in half and scraping out the seeds and membrane using the tip of a paring knife. Be sure to taste first before adding too much chili pepper to a dish; the peppers often range in hotness and cooking can intensify the heat.

Handling Chiles
Anyone who’s ever cooked with chili peppers knows that it’s a good idea to avoid touching your face or eyes during or after handling them. The juice from the pepper can cause a painful burning sensation and in some cases, an allergic reaction. Remember to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water after working with chilies. Some people choose to wear rubber gloves, but this is only necessary if you’re especially sensitive to chilies.

Thinning Hair – tips on hair care, products and hairstyles

Thinning Hair – tips on hair care, products and hairstyles

Your thin hair is something like a vintage Cadillac—the better you preserve it, the longer it lasts. With careful styling and smart cuts, you’ll feel younger and more confident. It’s merely a question of style: if you’ve got thin hair, you’ve got to know what to do—and what to avoid.

Unfortunately, there is not a great abundance of styles to choose from for thinning hair. Both men and women, through genetics or just aging, face the issue of thinning hair that is not full anymore. For men it might not be as bad, but for the many women with thin hair, it becomes a major issue.

Because hair is very important to a woman's appearance, thin hair often appears less appealing in many different situations. For example, at formal occasions where so many beautiful long, flowing hairstyles are on display, all women want great thick, full hair. For men, the ability to show thick hair that looks healthy and great often increases confidence as well. There are a few hairstyles for thin hair for both men and women that just seem to make it look full and flowing.

Thin Hair Hairstyles for Men

For men, the best choices are very short cuts, as they make hair look thicker. Long hair is definitely out of the question as hair will appear thin and brittle.

Hairstyles that are very short will often give the appearance that hair is very thick but trimmed very short. Hair is also much stronger towards the root as oils that keep hair healthy are secreted there. Also, when hair is worn short no light will shine through and highlight sparse patches, thus reducing the appearance of thinning.

The choice of short haircut could be a Cesar or a very short crew cut. These two hairstyles not only use the short hair advantage mentioned above but also seem to mold hair in a manner to where it seems to be more in abundance and thicker as well. The Cesar hairstyle is great for thin hair as it joins hair closely together to form an image of thicker hair. Short crew cuts hairstyles have the same result on thin hair as well. Thus for you guys with thin hair, keep hairstyles short and hair clumped close together for a better, fuller hairstyle.

Thin Hair Hairstyles for Women

For women, hairstyles for thin hair often will be short, about chin length or slightly longer. Because longer hair often seems brittle and coarse, short hairstyles are the dominant type. Short hairstyles that take the attention away from the hair and to the face are great choices. These include styles that have hair bangs lightly covering the face, light curls at the ends, or even pinned back behind the ears. These hairstyles keep hair together to provide an appearance of thicker, fuller hair. For longer hairstyles, the only really great choices are the updo or the braids. Updos hide the fact that hair is very thin and with the many styles of updos, there are plenty of looks. Braids offer a look for wearing out and about. Braids pretty much have the same effect as updos in bunching hair together to keep hair looking thick and full.

Hair Care Products for Thinning Hair

With thin or fine hair, you can always add the appearance of volume with the right products. Limp hair will look thinner than it already is, and who wants that? Some recommended products are Aveda’s Blue Malva shampoo, which is formulated to give body and shine, and Aveda’s Cherry Almond Bark conditioner, to be used when hair is feeling lifeless and dry. Poor quality shampoos and conditioners can end up damaging your hair and causing breakage, so invest in salon quality shampoos and conditioners from a reputable brand, such as Wella or Modern Organic Products.

Stay clear of firm holding gels or the wet look. Try a moisturizing cream with medium hold—and just a dab. Try MiN’s Grooming Creme, which does the job perfectly without getting crusty or Architecture by L’Oreal.

Accessories for Thinning Hair

It’s not a cover-up: hats should be explored by men merely on the merits of fashion. Hats have all but disappeared in our day-to-day, but there’s nothing like a good trilby with a sophisticated overcoat. For weekend casual, give a beanie-style cap a chance, like we saw for summer 2006 by designers McQueen and Yamamoto. After all, there’s no need for thin hair to affect your dress sense. In this case, it might actually improve it.

General Tips on Thinning Hair

There are often techniques that can help keep hair from being thin. Keeping hair out of the sun for an extended amount of time can really help. Using curling irons and hair straighteners too often can also damage hair. Keeping good hygiene when it comes to hair will really help. Washing out dirt and old oils and restoring hair with vitamins will keep hair healthy and strong. There are many products that will help straighten hair and help it grow out much fuller. Eating right also helps keep hair healthy. Eating too much junk food, fast foods, and fattening food will limit healthy hair growth and cause hair to be more brittle and coarse. There are many factors to healthy hair.

Banana - A Great Fruit

Banana -a great fruit to include in your daily diet

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression 'going bananas' is from the effects of bananas on the brain.

Never store your bananas in the refrigerator!!! They keep and taste much better at room temperature.

Bananas contain 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 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.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) 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 &Tobacco Use: 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%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

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. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. Some might argue that it is time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'

PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit !!!