If you want a quick fix for flagging energy levels there's no better snack than a banana. Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose - combined with fibre,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 your daily diet.

Anaemia:  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 the perfect food for helping to beat blood  pressure. So much so that 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 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.

  Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by  MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better  after eating abanana. 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.

  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.
 

Heart-burn:  Bananas have a natural antacid effect
in the body so if you suffer from heart-burn, 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 andirritation.

  Nerves:  Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

 Overweight and at work?  Studies at the Instituteof Psychology in Austria found pressure at  work leads to gorging on comfort food likechocolate 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 such as bananas every two hours to keep levels steady.

PMS:  Forget the pills eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

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-chronic ulcer cases.It also neutralises 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.

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