Bananas
A delicious fruit, right? Well, botanically, they are a berry. And banana tree, it’s actually an herb distantly related to ginger.
Bananas
were originally found in South East Asia, mainly in India. They were brought
west by Arab conquerors in 327 B.C., moved from Asia Minor to Africa, and
finally carried to the New World by the first explorers and missionaries to the
Caribbean.
We all know bananas
are healthy, but many of us don’t know the myriad of health benefits the banana
has tucked away behind its peel. For starters, they are rich in iron, which is
great for those who are anemic. They are also high in magnesium which is great
for relieving stress. If you have issues with gas, water retention or bloating,
especially after meals, try eating a banana before each meal. If you’d like a
little more energy, eat two bananas and you will be provided with enough energy
for an intense 90-minute workout. They also help in other ways. They are known
to reduce blood pressure due to high in potassium and they also contain
Tryptophan, which is an essential amino acid that serves several important
purposes, like nitrogen balance in adults and growth in infants. It also
creates niacin, which is essential in creating the neurotransmitter, Serotonin.
Serotonin, as we know, helps us to relax our body and improve our mood.
Apples
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” It may also be true that an apple a day keeps the dentist away. Apples have long been considered “nature’s toothbrush” because their thick skins and fibrous flesh are just the right texture for the natural brushing of the teeth.
Besides that, apples are packed with other health benefits. They contain a high amount of antioxidants, fiber, phytonutrients and vitamins that help to keep the body in optimum state. Apples contain no caffeine, but they do have 13 grams of natural sugar. Your stomach digests this sugar fairly quickly, and it raises your blood pressure, thus zapping your brain awake. There are no jolts, mood swings, jitters, crash, or anxiety involved here, unlike with caffeine. Most of the energy is due to the natural glucose in the fruit, which is digested and fed to the body’s cells. The “awake feeling” lasts about as long as it takes the body to metabolize the apple. A medium apple is about 90 calories and is a great idea to add to your breakfast or in place of your morning coffee. Believe it or not, apples are more effective in waking you up in the morning than coffee is. Coffee is just such an enjoyable beverage to most people, that there’s probably no danger of Starbucks being run out of business by apples. With that being said, an apple is going to be a healthier alternative to coffee, especially if you pour artificial syrups and sugary creamers in your morning cup. Not to mention, apples will not stain your teeth the way coffee can. It may not replace that beloved first cup of coffee in the morning, but it may replace the second.
Jewel Gonzalez
