A for Avocado

While some people may be apprehensive eating this cream and green fruit due to its high fat content, its useful to know that they're high in monounsaturated fat, the good fat, the kind of fat that may actually help lower blood cholesterol levels. 

Avocado also comes packed with nutrients such as beta carotene, fibre, folate, Vitamin E and potassium (avocados have 60 percent more potassium than bananas).

What are you waiting for! Go get some avocados and enjoy them on a wholegrain bagel, or whizzed up in your morning smoothie.

Start your day with a Banana Blast

For a nutritious breakfast drink - 

1/ Grab a blender

2/ Throw in some low fat yogurt

3/ Add some coconut or flax seed oil

4/ Add two bananas (peal the skin first !)

5/ Blend until the mixture reaches the consistency you prefer

Variations

Use your imagination; try combining bananas with other fruits. Bananas with strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and kiwi are good additional choices. Cocoa plus bananas offers yet another delicious combination.

It is all yummy, looks great and even better, it is all good for you ! 

Banana benefits

Wonderfully sweet with firm and creamy flesh, bananas come pre-packaged in their own yellow coats and are available throughout the year.  

What are the benefits of consuming Bananas in our diet?

Bananas contain natural sugar which combined with fiber provide an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has shown that eating two bananas provides enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. It is therefore understandable that the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

As a working nutritionist in Tokyo I regularly get asked by parents to recommend a good, natural energy source for children. My answer is bananas. Bananas, besides being a natural energy source can also help strengthen our bodies and in dealing with certain conditions including Stress, PMS, Depression, Constipation, Cardiovascular health and many others.

Stress

Due to their high potassium content bananas are a natural stress reducer. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin, which means that your body doesn't store it in excess. That's why it's so important to get plenty of vitamin B6 each day. Bananas which are high in Vitamin B6 can help PMS by regulating blood glucose levels (which effect mood) and can also help to calm the nervous system.

Depression

According to research people suffering from depression, many feel 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.

Constipation

As they are high in fiber, bananas can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome constipation without resorting to laxatives.

Heart Health 
Bananas are one of our best sources of potassium. Potassium is an essential mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function. A number of studies have demonstrated that eating potassium-rich foods such as bananas may help lower blood pressure.