You might think of bananas as just something to decorate your cereal with, or to hold up three scoops of ice cream and syrup. But they have far more important roles. For the content of bananas can make up for many of the things we may be lacking in our natural diets, to promote good physical and mental health.
One example is combating stress. Many people who suffer anxiety and depression, also suffer from irritable bowels, resulting in diarrhea. Constant emptying of the intestines with its water content, leeches minerals like potassium from the human body. Potassium is considered one of the building blocks for new brain cells, as well as figuring in how we balance fluid levels in our bodies. Bananas are an excellent natural source of potassium to supplement or replace what is missing in our daily diets.
They can also aid emotional health, by helping the body to produce the natural “feel good” chemical, serotonin. In order to make this crucial chemical, our bodies need amino acids, such as tryptophan. Those people who have low levels of serotonin are often prescribed Prozac, which chemically regulates the production. Unless a person is experiencing a significant depression, they may find themselves benefiting from adding more bananas, a natural source of tryptophan, to their diet.
