Bananas for well-being

Bananas are one of those fruits which are almost omnipotent. They are the easiest and cheapest available nutritious food loaded with a wide array of minerals, vitamins, amino acids, neurotransmitters and sugar. Among the variety of beneficial effects of bananas like protection against diabetes, anemia, weight loss, muscle cramps, acidity and impaired digestion, prevention against various types of cancers and strengthening of eyes and bones, there is a very unique property of bananas which distinguishes it from all the other fruits. It has a profound effect on mood enhancement and is an important antidepressant.
Bananas are said to have originated in South-east Asian countries like Philippines and New Guinea. From here they have probably arrived in India, Malaysia and other countries. Domestication and cultivation of bananas goes back to as early as 3000 BC and their benefits in food and medicine was also known for a long time by the local people. They had been introduced in Africa by Arabian traders and to Americas by Portugese explorers.
Bananas have exceptionally high levels of potassium which helps maintain the ionic balance, lowers blood pressure and prevents stroke. They are also rich source of vitamin B6 which is a precursor of the neurotransmitter, serotonin. Not only this, bananas also have great amounts of amino acids like tryptophan and tyrosine which are important for the synthesis of dopamine and serotonin, two most important neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation. Bananas have been used for a long time for treating PMS (Pre-menstrual) symptoms and SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).
In fact, bananas contain not only the precursors but the three neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine in considerable amounts. Though it has been debated for a long time as to the direct effectiveness of these dietary neurotransmitters because they are unable to cross the blood-brain barrier. Still the presence of the neurotransmitter synthesizing materials makes bananas an important medication against stress and depression.
Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter, a molecule that carries signals along and between nerves, found throughout the body especially in the central nervous system, the gastrointestinal tract and blood platelets. As serotonin is found widely in the body it is thought to influence various physiological function and is a key factor in maintaining mental well-being.
Changes in tryptophan levels, serotonin precursor also found in bananas, have been known to affect several psychological, behavioral and physical processes including cognition, mood, sleep, social interactions, memory and visual interpretations. Historically lowering of tryptophan levels has been related to substantial mood-lowering effects in healthy young men. It is an important antidepressant used therapeutically to treat depressive symptoms in patients.
Since now it is clear that both serotonin and tryptophan are happiness inducing molecules, we should focus on their sufficient intake for our well-being. There are several supplements available in the market for augmenting the dietary consumption of these mood-regulators. However, it is always better to replenish our body with dietary intake of all essentials substances as they have minimum side-effects. Thanks to mother nature we have an excellent dietary source of both tryptophan and serotonin, i.e. bananas.
Let us find out how we can increase our dietary intake of bananas,
1. Every morning, banana milk shake without sugar and fat-free milk, is a healthy and easy way to incorporate bananas in diet.
2. To have bananas after lunch or as snacks is also a very good way to have them.
3. Fruit salads with a variety of seasonal fruits including bananas is a tasty alternative. A little cream on top of the fruit salad won't do much harm.
4. Vanilla ice-cream and bananas is a all time favorite combo. Also, make sure, the ice-cream is a low fat one, so that you can check the cholesterol and saturated fat content of your food intake.
5. Banana-walnut cake  or banana chips are not that great an alternative because cooked bananas lose a lot of their nutritional qualities.
Other than the above amazing feature of bananas, it is also important for good digestion and proper bowel movement. Controlling acidity and constipation is helpful in relieving people from pimples or acne.
In the same context, I would like to add that packs made up of bananas are quite good for your skin. Along with acne, it can reduce inflammation, itching sand irritation leaving your skin looking fresh and smooth.
So, we can summarize this article as A banana a day keeps a person healthy, happy and wise.

The clove therapy

Spices not only make your food taste good but they are also excellent medicines for various ailments. In this post I would be explaining how cloves can relieve you from tooth ache.

Cloves are the the flower buds of a tree native of the Maluku islands in Indonesia and are known for their distinct aroma and sharp taste. Apart from its culinary use, it is also an important part of Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. The essential oil extracted from the clove flower bud is used as a painkiller to relieve dental pain and its anti-inflammatory properties help control the painful inflammation of your gums. It also has antimicrobial properties which help in controlling tooth decay. You do not need a mouth wash to fight bad breath anymore, just put a clove in your mouth and you would feel the freshness all day long. 

So lets see how we can use clove at home for dental care. I suffered quite a lot from toothache when I was a kid and this was the best treatment offered to me by my grandmother-

1. Take 10 clove buds, put them in a grinder with a 3-4 drops of water and make a thick paste. 

2. Wash your mouth with arm saline (glass of water with 3-4 tbsp).

3. Apply a very thin layer of the clove paste around the painful gums and teeth. Keep it for 10-15 mins. If it causes a burning sensation you can decrease the amount of paste, but the burning sensation is normal. If you can bear it, its best for you.

4. Wash the paste away after 15 minutes with lukewarm water (no salt). 

5. Put a clove in your mouth all day long if possible. 

This treatment will definitely help you fight the pain as well as restrict tooth decay. Nowadays many toothpastes have clove oil in their formulas and also clove oil is available commercially for medicinal use. 

Eugenol, the active ingredient in cloves which is also responsible for its aroma, numbs your nerves around roots of your teeth and gums. Its better to make a paste of cloves at home as commercially available clove oil is very concentrated and if not applied in the correct amount may cause burns. Also, you are never sure if the commercially available powders and oils are free of adulteration. 

Using cloves for dental problems is a preventive measure and a temporary treatment. You should always visit the doctor for further treatments. 

The magic of warm water

We have always emphasized on various herbs and medicines for rejuvenating our body and mind. However, we have often neglected simple things like water. It is a well known fact that 60% of our body weight is water and it is common knowledge that drinking water is one of the healthiest habit one can have. Today, I will discuss some of the beneficial effects of warm water.

1. Drinking cold water is good for health but drinking warm water can help your digestion. It is known to aid in digestion by providing the ambient temperature for the enzymes in your stomach to act. Also, it helps preventing any bloating and puffiness of the stomach and makes your belly look slim.

2. Also, warm water with a little salt is a wonderful antiseptic mouth wash fighting any kind of dental problems and pain.

3. Warm water helps opening up your skin pores. So whenever you come from outside after being through all the dust and smoke, just wash your face with lukewarm water and apply a mild face wash. Then wash off the face wash with warm water again. Before wiping your face with a soft towel wash your face with normal cold water. This will help closing the pores of your skin as you do not want external pollutants or dust to enter your skin pores. This treatment will keep your skin free from acne and skin blemishes.

4. If you have really bad body ache like stiff shoulder or painful spine just fill your bath tub with warm water and lay there for 15 minutes immersing yourself in the refreshing bath and soon you will realize that the magic has already begun.

5. The last but not the least is a benefit that will free you from the cost of regular pedicure. You have to have a tub filled with warm water in which you add 1 medium sized lemon juice and 2-4 tablespoons of salt. Keep your toes submerged in the water for 15-20 minutes. Do not let the water cool, keep adding warm water to maintain the comfortable temperature. Do it every night before going to bed and you will have the most beautiful feet ever.

Isn't it fascinating how such a simple thing like warm water can do wonders. So, what are you waiting for. Get started with the simple home remedies and enjoy life to the fullest.