Banana is rich in fiber content and also contains natural sugars like sucrose, fructose and glucose. 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.   It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and  conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst  people suffering from depression, many felt much better after  eating a banana.   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.

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

Anemia: 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 way to beat blood pressure. So much so, 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 t 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.

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.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, 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 and irritation.

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

Smoking: Bananas can also  help people trying to give up smoking.  The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body’s water balance.  When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels.  These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in “The New  England Journal of Medicine,” eating bananas as part of a  regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Park and Walk
Whenever you have an errand, park your car as far away as you can handle and walk to the store. At the mall, park at the farthest end and walk the length of the mall. Use every opportunity to walk. At the end of the day, it all adds up to better fitness.

Crunch in Bed
Before you even get out of bed in the morning, do 10 stomach crunches while lying flat on your mattress. Increase daily by one until you get up to 100. Think you’ll never get there? Try it. You may eventually have to set your clock to wake up 15 minutes earlier, a small price to pay for a flatter stomach.

1. Exercise regularly: You don’t have to shell out an exorbitant amount towards expensive gym memberships that you hardly ever use. All you need are comfortable clothes and a good pair of shoes and you’re all set to go – jog or walk in the park everyday, go swimming at your community pool, play in the park with your kids, dance at home to music you like, or do lunges and squats at home – all activities that do not require you to spend a ton of money in order to get fit.
2. Reduce the undesirables: Smoking and drinking are costly habits, what with the prices of cigarettes and booze. So if you want to stay healthy, do your bank balance a favor and cut out these habits from your lifestyle. Not only do you preserve your health, you also save yourself hundreds of dollars each month, money that can be put to good use elsewhere or saved for an emergency.
3. Limit eating out: When you’re on a tight budget, it’s simpler and cheaper to cook at home. You get more bang for your buck, and what’s more important, you get to eat healthier fare too. When you cook your own meals, you control what you add to the dishes that you serve, and you’re able to use healthy and quality ingredients to make delicious food. You’re healthier and you save yourself money by not eating out.
4. Shop wisely: You know that fruits and vegetables are healthy; in order to make them cost-effective as well, shop for those that are in season. You get them fresh and they’re cheap as well. Vary your recipes to include fruits and vegetables that are available at that time of the year so that you don’t get bored of eating similar food everyday. You could also buy non-perishable items in bulk and save on your food costs in a large way.