You'll never look at a banana the same way again after discovering the many health benefits and reasons to add them to your diet. Bananas combat depression, make you smarter, cure hangovers, relieve morning sickness, protect against kidney cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis and blindness. They can cure the itch of a mosquito bite and put a great shine on your shoes.

If you think bananas are just for monkeys, think again.

1. Bananas help overcome depression due high levels of tryptophan,

which is converted into serotonin -- the happy-mood brain

neurotransmitter

2. Eat two bananas before a strenuous workout to pack an energy punch

and sustain your blood sugar

3. Protect against muscle cramps during workouts and night time leg

cramps by eating a banana

4. Counteract calcium loss during urination and build strong bones by

supplementing with a banana

5. Improve your mood and reduce PMS symptoms by eating a banana,

which regulates blood sugar and produces stress-relieving relaxation

6. Bananas reduce swelling, protect against type II diabetes, aid weight

loss, strengthen the nervous system, and help with the production of

white blood cells, all due to high levels of vitamin B-6

7. Strengthen your blood and relieve anemia with the added iron from

bananas

8. High in potassium and low in salt, bananas are officially recognized by

the FDA as being able to lower blood pressure, and protect against heart

attack and stroke



Eating bananas aids digestion




9. Rich in pectin, bananas aid digestion and gently chelate toxins and

heavy metals from the body

10. Bananas act as a prebiotic, stimulating the growth of friendly bacteria in

the bowel. They also produce digestive enzymes to assist in absorbing

nutrients.

11. Constipated? High fiber in bananas can help normalize bowel motility.

12. Got the runs? Bananas are soothing to the digestive tract and help

restore lost electrolytes after diarrhea.

13. Bananas are a natural antacid, providing relief from acid reflux,

heartburn and GERD

14. Bananas are the only raw fruit that can be consumed without distress to

relieve stomach ulcers by coating the lining of the stomach against

corrosive acids

Natural cures from a simple banana

15. Eating bananas helps prevent kidney cancer, protects the eyes against

macular degeneration and builds strong bones by increasing

calcium absorption

16. Bananas make you smarter and help with learning by making you more

alert. Eat a banana before an exam to benefit from the high levels

of potassium.

17. Bananas are high in antioxidants, providing free radicals and protection

from chronic disease

18. Eating a banana between meals helps stabilize blood sugar and reduce

nausea from morning sickness

19. Rub a bug bite or hives with the inside of the banana peel to relieve

itching and irritation

20. Control blood sugar and avoid binging between meals by eating a

banana

21. Eating a banana can lower the body temperature and cool you during a

fever or on a hot day

22. The natural mood-enhancer tryptophan, helps to relieve Seasonal

Affective Disorder (SAD)

23. Quitting smoking? Bananas contain high levels of B-vitamins as well as

potassium and magnesium speed recovery from the effects of

withdrawal

24. Remove a wart by placing the inside of a piece of banana peel against

the wart and taping it in place

25. Rub the inside of a banana peel on your leather shoes or handbag and

polish with a dry cloth for a quick shine

Oh, and remember -- bananas make great snacks and delicious smoothies.

Now you know why monkeys are so happy. Eat a banana