THE GOODNESS OF BANANAS

My good friend, Khairiah, gave me two bunches of bananas last Friday. Both my mum and I enjoyed eating the bananas as they were very delicious. Do you know that one of the auspicious fruits for the Chinese is the banana. Yup. In Cantonese, it is 'koon chiew' which translates to mean to 'invite luck or wealth'. That is why bananas are placed as offerings on the altar with the bananas pointing outwards (like the way I am holding them above). The bananas are likened to our hands stretched out to beckon wealth luck.
Auspicious symbols aside, do you know that the banana has lots of goodness? Want to know more? Then read on ...

Why bananas are good for you

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. This makes it an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Besides, providing energy, the banana can overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions like the ones below:

• Depression;
• PMS or premenstrual syndrome;
• Anemia;
• Blood Pressure;
• Brain Power;
• Constipation;
• Hangovers;
• Morning Sickness;
• Mosquito bites: For insect bites, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin.
• Ulcers;
• Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit".
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD);
• Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking.
• Stress;
• Strokes
  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!"