Do you know what Beethoven’s favorite fruit is? No? Well, let me give you a small hint. Ba..na..na...naaaa......Ba..na..na..na......

You guessed it...it’s the banana! I’ve talked about bananas before, but I think this often forgotten fruit deserves a little more light shed on its many healthy attributes.

Did you know that the banana, which originated in Malaysia, is a most unique fruit because unlike most other large fruits, you won’t find it growing on a tree, but rather from giant herb plants, which are related to the lily and orchid family. As well, there are more than 300 varieties of bananas bred for cultivation.

The banana is such a common place fruit, easily found at all grocers, supermarkets and corner stores and as such has been a staple fruit in our lives since childhood, therefore, you may not be affording this versatile fruit the reverence it deserves because you may not be aware of how healthy the common banana actually is.

For instance, if you’re low in IRON eating bananas helps to stimulate the production of hemoglobin in your blood to improve iron deficiency. 

Do you have HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? Bananas are very low in salt and very high in potassium making them the perfect food to help beat high blood pressure issues. Even the US Food and Drug Administration has permitted the banana growers industry to make official claims in favor of the banana’s ability to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.

How’s your BRAIN POWER these days? Did you know that eating potassium packed bananas can boost your learning power by making you more alert?

Have you been taking laxatives to relieve CONSTIPATION? How about increasing your fiber intake the natural way, by eating a healthy banana instead? The high fiber content in bananas can help restore normal function without resorting to laxatives.

Are you feeling a little DEPRESSED lately? Don’t pop a pill – eat a banana. Apparently, a recent survey by MIND taken of people suffering from depression revealed that many felt much improved after eating a banana because bananas contain tryptophan. Tryptophan is a protein you body converts into serotonin, which in turns improves your mood, helps you to relax and feel happier overall.

Did you poison your system with alcohol last night and now you’ve got a miserable HANGOVER? If so, you need to know that one of the fastest ways to cure a hangover is to toss a banana in the blender with your favorite soy milk or bovine lactose and add a spoonful of honey. This really works because while the banana calms your upset stomach, the honey goes to work building your depleted blood sugar as the soy or lactose re-hydrates and soothes.

Many people suffer from HEARTBURN or reflux. Try eating a banana instead of popping those dangerous antacids (because the problem is not too MUCH acid, it’s too LITTLE) and you’ll find that the banana will provide a natural, soothing effect on your stomach.

Are you IRRITABLE and crabby? Are your nerves frayed? Bananas to the rescue, again, because they’re high in B Vitamins to help calm the nervous system and regulate blood glucose levels which can affect your mood.

Mothers with MORNING SICKNESS can find relief by snacking on bananas because they help to keep your blood sugar levels up.

Anyone struggling to overcome a WEIGHT PROBLEM will find snacking on bananas approximately every two hours will help to control blood sugar levels, which in turn will help you to avoid those panic-induced food cravings that find you gorging on high sugar, high fat, high salt comfort foods, such as chocolate, cookies and potato chips.

Are you trying to beat the dreaded SMOKING habit? Bananas can help because they contain high levels of Vitamins C, A1, B6 and B12, as well as potassium and magnesium, which helps the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

How much STRESS do you have in your life these days? When you’re stressed, it’s time for a banana break, because when you're stressed your metabolic rate increases, which reduces your potassium levels. The high potassium levels contained in bananas help to normalize your heartbeat, send oxygen to your brain for clearer thinking and regulate your water balance.

Do you know anybody who has suffered from a STROKE? Perhaps they could have avoided this terrible outcome if they ate more bananas because according to The New England Journal of Medicine, consuming bananas as part of your regular diet can cut the risk of death by stroke by as much as an incredible 40%.

Did you know that the banana is the only fruit that can be eaten by someone suffering from intestinal disorders, such as chronic ULCERS? This is because of it’s soft texture and its natural ability to neutralize an upset stomach by coating the lining.

Do your muscles CRAMP up when you’re exercising? Bananas can help this problem because the high potassium content helps muscles to contract properly while avoiding painful cramping.

Need an ENERGY boost? Down a banana because they contain plenty of easily digestible carbohydrates, which are your body’s main source of energy.

Watching your CALORIES? An average banana contains just 110 calories and 4-grams of fiber, which makes the banana a healthy, low calorie snack.

Are you having troubles with INSOMNIA? Again, don’t pop a pill – eat a banana because this incredibly versatile fruit is packed with Vitamin B6 to help you get a good night’s sleep.

Many other cultures believe the banana is a cooling fruit that can assist in lowering both the physical and emotional TEMPERATURE of expectant mothers. To this end, pregnant women in Thailand eat bananas to ensure that their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Have you ever tried to get rid of a WART with one of those old wives remedies? Perhaps you should try the skin of a banana, instead. You simply take a small piece of banana skin and tape it over the wart with surgical tape, yellow side out.

And the next time you have a MOSQUITO or BUG BITE grab a banana, eat the banana to calm your irritation and rub the bite with the inside of the skin. Apparently many find this remedy amazingly successful at reducing swelling and itching.