Going Bananas

Bananas... This is very interesting.
After Reading THIS, you'll NEVER look at a banana in the same way again - Bananas. Containing 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 haemoglobin 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 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 aTwickenham (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 crisps. 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 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%!'

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. So maybe its 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!

Dengue Fever Remedy

I would like to share this interesting discovery from a colleague's son who has just recovered from dengue fever. Apparently, his son was in the critical stage at the ICU when his blood platelet count drops to 15 after 15 liters of blood transfusion.

His father was so worried that he seeks another friend's recommendation and his son was saved. He confessed to me that he gave his son raw juice of the papaya leaves. From a platelet count of 45 after 20 liters of blood transfusion, and after drinking the raw papaya leaf juice, his platelet count jumps instantly to 135. Even the doctors and nurses were surprised. After the second day he was discharged. So he asked me to pass this good news around.

Accordingly it is raw papaya leaves, 2pcs just cleaned and pound and squeeze with filter cloth. You will only get one tablespoon per leaf. So two tablespoon per serving once a day. Do not boil or cook or rinse with hot water, it will loose its strength. Only the leafy part and no stem or sap. It is very bitter and you have to swallow it like "Won Low Kat". But it works.

*Papaya Juice - Cure for Dengue*

You may have heard this elsewhere but if not I am glad to inform you that papaya juice is a natural cure for dengue fever. As dengue fever is rampant now, I think it's good to share this with all.

A friend of mine had dengue last year. It was a very serious situation for her as her platelet count had dropped to 28,000 after 3 days in hospital and water has started to fill up her lung. She had difficulty in breathing. She was only 32-year old. Doctor says there's no cure for dengue. We just have to wait for her body immune system to build up resistance against dengue and fight its own battle. She already had 2 blood transfusion and all of us were praying very hard as her platelet continued to drop since the first day she was admitted.

Fortunately her mother-in-law heard that papaya juice would help to reduce the fever and got some papaya leaves, pounded them and squeeze the juice out for her. The next day, her platelet count started to increase, her fever subside. We continued to feed her with papaya juice and she recovered after 3 days!!!

Amazing but it's true. It's believed one's body would be overheated when one is down with dengue and that also caused the patient to have fever. Papaya juice has cooling effect. Thus, it helps to reduce the level of heat in one's body, thus the fever will go away. I found that it's also good when one is having sore throat or suffering from heat (fever).

Please spread the news about this as lately there are many dengue cases. It's great if such natural cure could help to ease the sufferings of dengue patients.

Furthermore it's so easily available.
Blend them and squeeze the juice! It's simple and miraculously effective!!

Treatment For Suga (Diabetes) - Lady Finger

Last month in one of TV program I learnt of a treatment of Sugar (Diabetes). Lady Finger is a very useful in sugar control and helpful to people with diabetes. It can also reduce the intake of medicines for the diabetic.

Simple Tips:

Take two pieces of Lady Finger (Bhindi) and remove/cut both ends of each piece. Also put a small cut in the middle and put these two pieces in glass of water. Cover the glass and keep it at room temperature during night. Early morning, before breakfast simply remove two pieces of lady finger (bhindi) from the glass and drink that water. Keep doing it on daily basis.

Within two weeks, you will see remarkable results in reduction of your SUGAR.

My friend has got rid of her diabetes. She was on Insulin for a few years, but after taking the lady fingers every morning for a few months, she has stopped Insulin but continues to take the lady fingers every day. But she chops the lady fingers into fine pieces in the night, adds the water and drinks it all up the next morning. Please. try it as it will not do you any harm even if it does not do much good to you, but you have to keep taking it for a few months before you see results, as most cases might be chronic.

Star Fruit a Killer?

Wasn't sure if there's any truth in this, so my friend did a quick search. Medical blog for Malaysian medical professionals says quite the same thing!
http://medicine.com.my/wp/?p=3338

This is not an April Fool Joke. But a stern reminder to all my readers. We were advised to have a few servings of fruits a day in order to rep the benefits of fruits right? But obviously this is one big no-no fruit to be excluded from your f ruity feast!

In Shenzen, more than 10 people who consumes the star fruit had died. And now a 66-year-old, Malaysian who has been suffering from kidney ailment fell into coma after eating the start fruits. Yes, all it takes is one fruit or 100ml of its juice and the ordinarily harmless star fruit transforms poison in a mat! ter of hours for kidney patients. So does this mean, people without kidney problems should be fine with star fruit! My take: Not at all! Prevention is better right?

Universiti Malaya Medical Centre consultant nephrologist said that star fruits contain a neurotoxin which is not present in other fruits. It affects the brain and nerves. In healthy persons, the kidneysfilter it out. But for those with kidney problems, this potent toxin cannot be removed and will worsen the consumers' conditions.


The symptoms of start fruit poisoning include:

• Hiccups
• Numbness and weakness
• Feeling confused
• Agitation
• Epileptic fist

The risk of death is high if you are having kidney ailments! But healthy individuals should beware of this fruit's potential toxin too. It could also cripple your vitality if you are not lucky. So don't take it for granted. It's better to avoid them

Understanding Food Safety

Food safety is something that has become a major concern these days. We've read over the news of many problems that have spewed recently - E-coli breakout and the Avian Flu to name a few.

Understanding Food Safety

Many people do not think about food safety until a food related illness affects them or a family member. Diarrhoea diseases is the leading causes of illness and death in less developed countries, killing approximately 1.8 million people annually, in which the victims are mostly children.

Food safety basically means knowing how to avoid the spreading of bacteria and more as well as safe food preparation. The most common illness caused by unsafe food is food poisoning. While this may be a simple case of purging, but in some situations, it will be very serious and result in death.

Therefore, do not take any case of food poisoning lightly, let it be a warning on what you are doing wrong and if eating out, whether that particular restaurant is such a good idea.


Take Charge Of Your Food Safety

1: Keep Clean
Wash your hands before handling food and often during food preparation. Always wash your hands after going to the toilet. Also, do wash and sanitise all surfaces and equipment used for food preparation to avoid cross-contamination. Protect your kitchen areas from insects, pests and other animal that could carrying host of bacteria with them.

2: Separate Raw And Cook Food When Preparing Food
Use separate equipment and utensils such as knives and cutting boards when dealing with both raw and cooked food. When storing, keep into containers to avoid with raw and prepared food.

3: Cook Thoroughly
Food such as meat, poultry, eggs and seafood is especially dangerous when undercooked. Proper cooking kills almost all dangerous microorganisms. Food such as minced meat, large joints of meat and whole poultry require additional attention. Cooking food to a temperature seventy degree celcius will ensure whatever bacteria or germs are killed, making it safe for consumption.

4: Keep Food At A Safe Temperature
Do not leave cooked food at room temperature for more than two hours, refrigerate all cooked and perishable food; keep cooked food piping hot prior serving, do not tempted to store food for ages in the refrigerator and finally, do not thaw frozen food at room temperature. By keeping your food at safe temperature below 5 degree celcius or above 60 degree celcius, will slow down or stop completely the growth of microorganisms.

5: Use Safe Water And Raw Materials
Wash and peel your raw food selections. Stick to fresh and wholesome foods. When it comes to dairy, pick foods processed for safety, such as pasteurised milk. And most importantly, do not use any food beyond expiry date.


QUICK FOOD SAFETY FACTS

• 1,000 times as many germs can spread from damp hands than dry hands.
• If you are ill, do not handle food for others. Also, do not sneeze or cough near food.
• Avoid wearing dirty clothes when working in the kitchen. When cooking, wear a clean apron but don't wipe your hands on it!
• If you are preparing a feast for the entire family, remove your watch, rings and bracelets to avoid cross-contamination.
• A 1mm hair follicle can harbour 50,000 germs!
• Do not brush or comb your hair.