Bananas!

When compared with apples, bananas have four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, and five times the Vitamin A and Iron. We all know that bananas are rich in potassium.   Here are 10 fun facts about Bananas and their natural healing power. Make bananas a part of your everyday, today!

1. Energy Boost: Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

2. PMS: Forget pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood and help to support healthy hormones.

3. Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood. However, the iron level in bananas is not going to be enough if your iron levels are super low.

4. Depression: For people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana, as they 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.Bananas also can help with Seasonal Affective Disorder.

5. Blood Pressure: Bananas are high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. The US Food and Drug Administration recently just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruits ability to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.

6. Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana peel. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

7. Ulcers and Heartburn: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

8. Stress: When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. Potassium helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance.

9. 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%!

10. Warts: Take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with tape and watch your wart go way! Hey, it's better than Duct Tape.

BONUS: Shoe Polish - want a quick shine on your shoes? Take the inside of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe. Finish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit!

Dr. Larrow's Morning Smoothie!

Most mornings my breakfasts consist of a smoothie. It is my way of getting in some of the supplements I know I should be taking, but do not always desire to take in capsule form. I change the smoothies by using different fruits and variations on the ingredients. This recipe will give you enough smoothie for two people

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons Finest Pure Fish Oil (Pharmax)
• 1 scoop ProBasics (Pure Encapsulations) - Whey and rice protein powder
• 1 scoop MediClear (Thorne) - nutritional support for gastrointestinal integrity and detoxification
• 1 scoop Pure Harvest Green Powder (Integrative Therapeutics Inc)
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• 1 to 1 ½ cups of Rice milk
• ½ cup of plain yogurt
• 2 bananas
• 1 cup frozen fruit (black berries, organic strawberries, cherries, mango, blueberries, pineapple, etc)
• ½ cup granola (optional) - it is my new addition for a bit of crunch

I start by putting in the rice milk and yogurt into the blender. Then I add the powders, fish oil, folic acid, peanut butter and bananas, before mixing until smooth. Finally I put in the frozen fruit and blend again. Sometimes I have to add more rice milk to get it to blend.

This recipe can be altered for any food allergies - 
Dairy allergies - use soy or rice milk and yogurt
Nut allergies - you do not have to use a nut butter in the smoothie, or just try a nut you are not allergic to.

Gluten allergy - use a gluten free granola or any gluten free cereal

Obviously there can be a considerable amount of sugar involved depending on what ingredients you choose to substitute. Be conscious of this and know that this is not a breakfast to have every morning, but it is a good way to break the monotony of our usual fair. Enjoy!