Going Bananas

Musa Acuminata - Banana Tree

Anyone that knows me knows I'm addicted to bananas. I LOVE THEM! Can't get enough. And so after a bit of a difficult week and not eating too well I decided that I wanted to do a short mono-fruit fast to get back on track - mentally, emotionally, spiritually and nutritionally - and to help my digestion along the way. Due to my work committments I chose bananas as they're high in carbohydrates that will keep me going and going and going and going (it's like an indulgence fast for me)... amongst SO MANY other AMAZING benefits I've listed below...


- Bananas are a GOOD MOOD FOOD as they contain an amino acid called tryptophan. Tryptophan is converted by the body into serotonin, which relaxes a person and helps in improving one's mood.

- Bananas are FULL of POTASSIUM. Potassium is beneficial for so many reasons... it helps to keep the body fluids and electrolyte balance in our body cells, it normalises our heart beat sending oxygen to our brain (so really good in times of stress when our potassium levels are depleted quite rapidly; perfect late night snack at the office) and it also helps muscles contract properly during exercise and in turn reduce cramps. Potassium is also known to prevent high blood pressure and reduce the lieklihood of strokes.

- Great post workout! During long exercises your body loses vitamins and minerals and a banana replaces these nutrients as well as giving you the energy you need. Conveniant. Nutritious. And comes in it's own packaging.

- Bananas are packed with vitamins B6 (helps to improve nerve function), loads of vitamin A (helps with the development of specialised tissue in the eyes and for the growth of the skin and soft skeletal tissue), and vitamin c.

- Bananas are the only raw fruit which can be eaten without distress in chronic ulcer cases. They neutralise the over-acidity of the gastric juices and reduce the irritation of the ulcer by coating the lining of the stomach.

- Bananas are great for heart burn as they have a natural antacid effect in the body.

- Rubbing the inside of a banana peel on a mosquito bite is very effective in reducing itching and swelling, and using the skin to get rid of warts worked for me as a kid!

- Bananas are also a natural source of iron. The iron found in bananas can help in the creation of haemoglobin, thus making bananas an ideal fruit for people who are suffering from anaemia.

- Bananas are very high in fibre, making them of great value in constipation and diarrhea as they normalize colonic functions in the large intestine to absorb large amounts of water for proper bowel moments. They also contain pectin, a soluble fiber that can help normalize movement through the digestive tract.

- Bananas also possess the ability to change the bacteria in the intestines - from the harmful type to the beneficial type thanks to an exceptionally rich source of fructooligosaccharide; a compound that nourishes probiotic (friendly) bacteria in the colon.

- ATTENTION ANY DRINKERS: Bananas are also considered to be a natural solution to hangovers. A banana milkshake mixed with honey will help to calm the stomach and build up depleted blood sugar levels at the same time (if you can stomach it) :)



- And last but not least bananas taste AMAZING, satisfy sweet cravings, can be made into mouth watering raw ice cream (see the bowl I whipped up for afternoon tea), eaten dried up, chewy and full of flavour, blended up with your favourite nut milk and added yummies then gulped down or straight out of the beautiful skin you find them in.

Day one of my two day fast. Feeling great. Full of energy. Loving life :)