When someone talks about bananas, one thing comes to mind - energy food. The reason for this is because we often see the tri-athletes gorging on this before and during their race events.
Well, it is a known fact that it contains three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose - combined with fiber. The sugars give us the instant and sustainable energy. Research has shown that just two bananas can sustain one for a vigorous 90-minute workout. But for an IBS sufferer, it is the insoluble fiber that we are interested in. The abundance of insoluble fibers helps in relieving constipation without the need for laxatives. So keep a banana or two in your daily diet. One banana has 16% of the fiber, 15% of the vitamin C, and 11% of the potassium we need every day for good health. Bananas are unique because it helps in both IBS constipation and diarrhea. A few (no more than 2) large bananas a day provide the fiber to promote bowel movement. Eating more bananas a day can help stop diarrhea. Bananas have other benefits as well. For anemic patients, bananas are high in iron, which helps in the production of hemoglobin - the foundation of blood. This is especially important to women when they have their menses.
For high blood pressure and stroke sufferers, bananas are high in potassium but low in salt. Research, has shown that potassium reduces blood pressure. In one research, keeping bananas as a regular diet can reduce the risk of death by stroke by as much as 40%.
For heart burn patients, bananas have antacid properties. Gulping down a couple of bananas provide relief in heart burn patients.
For ulcer sufferers, bananas coat the lining of the intestines, thus providing relief for over-active ulcers. A banana's antacid properties will reduce acidity in the stomach as well.
For mosquito bites and warts. Forget your creams, just use the banana skin and rub some on the mosquito bite. It not only provides irritation relief, but reduces inflammation as well. Keep the inside of the banana skin on the wart by using plaster and see the wart go away. Tips: Do not take bananas late at night. When you take bananas, also take lots of water after that if you want to prevent constipation. Apples are also unique because they are both beneficial in the treatment of constipation and diarrhea. Uncooked apples are good for constipation. On the other hand, baked apples are good for diarrhea as the cooking process softens the cellulose and provides bulk to stools. For the best IBS treatment, apples should be peeled. The sugars in apples are harder for the body to digest. And what the body can't break down, it pushes out. So apples are a natural laxative. Personally, I find combining bananas and apples into a drink is even more effective as a constipation relief, so here is a recipe for one IBS constipation relief drink. Banana, Apple Lassi (Yogurt drink) Combine two fruits with natural laxatives and digestion booster properties, and you get one of the best IBS constipation treatments. Yoghurt builds 'good' bacteria in the gut. (Caution: if you are lactose intolerant, do not take yoghurt made from milk - then use soya yoghurt)
Recipe
1. Use natural unflavored yoghurt (about 3 tablespoons). if you are milk intolerant, skip this and just use water or soya yoghurt.
2. 2 ripe, peeled bananas. Use 1 banana if you want to reduce the banana fragrance in the drink.
3. Peal an apple and cut into pieces and put in a juicer. Use the apple juice.
4. Add about 1 cup of cold water in a blender. Pour in the yoghurt. Pour in the apple juice and add in the bananas
5. Give the blender a spin so that they are mixed up.
6. Drink immediately. To keep, refrigerate. Drink this on a daily basis either early in the morning. Not only will this drink give you a boost the entire day but it keeps the gut well and bowel movement consistent.
