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8 Health BANANAS R U Bananas contain three natural sugars -- sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fibre. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. 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. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. 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. Anaemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia. High blood pressure and stroke: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat high blood pressure. 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%! Consequently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of high 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 the potassiumpacked fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert. Constipation: High in fibre -- 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. Students at a Twickenham school were helped through their exams by eating bananas at breakfast, break and lunch Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system. Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods like bananas every two hours to keep levels steady. Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in chronic cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach. Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan. Tobacco withdrawal: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6 and 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. Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape! So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe it’s time to change that well-known phrase to say, “A banana a day keeps the doctor away!” PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! Also: want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe... polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit! [Contributed by Peter Doyle]
HUMAN VS ANIMAL RIGHTS New report The Commonwealth Secretary- General Kamalesh Sharma says "declarations about values and human rights are hollow if they are not backed by deeds", in a new publication launched by the Commonwealth Secretariat on 8 December, 2010. In the foreword to the book, Human Rights in the Commonwealth - A Status Report 2010, the Secretary-General said: "The Commonwealth's clear commitment to human rights cannot be taken to mean that all its members have achieved them and are observing them to the letter. But it does mean a determined commitment to pursue the goal. All members are journeying on the same path, and the information we present here is testimony to the continued work being done across the Commonwealth to advance in upholding and protecting human rights." The publication, which was edited by Dr Purna Sen, Head of Human Rights at the Commonwealth Secretariat, is a survey of the state of human rights in the 54 member countries of the association. The report outlines the Australia Northern quoll Concern remains in the community of Kununurra, in Western Australia, over the fact the Federal Government is yet to give environmental approval to phase 2 of the Ord Irrigation Expansion. The expansion project promises to deliver an extra 8,000 hectares to the existing scheme -- but without environmental human rights instruments ratified or acceded to, together with information on the main human rights institution in the country. It also highlights key initiatives being taken across the Commonwealth to protect the human rights of persons with disabilities. Dr Sen added that new issues in human rights continue to be brought to the forefront of international thought. "Climate change and its impact on human rights, especially for those in developing countries, is a new area that has been given attention in recent years," said Dr Sen. "Disability rights have also received more thought and increased commitment from states since the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities came into force in 2008. Efforts to protect human rights will always need revision and renewed thought -- but the underlying principles of nondiscrimination and equality remain relevant and need to be promoted." She noted that positive steps have been taken over the past two years to promote opportunities for persons with disabilities to enjoy the same rights as others. She pointed out that Cyprus has established a dedicated approval, the new farms can't be developed. Project director Peter Stubbs says if the approval isn't in by the end of March 2011, it'll put a halt to the Au$220 million construction project. Mr Stubbs says the assessment process has been more "complex" than people expected. He says the new farm area is being assessed on a variety of issues including whether development will negatively impact on Gouldian finch numbers, as well as other threatened species such as the northern quoll. "I think it should be noted that while we are developing 8,000 hectares of farmland, there will be 10,500 hectares of environmental buffers to be managed around this area, as well as over 110,000 hectares of new conservation reserves," he said. "So the trade-off between Gouldian finch development and conservation in this part of the world is very healthy and appropriate." (Source: ABCnet Australia, 10 December 2010 http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/ 201012/s3090140.htm) Advertise in The Umbrella! Contact the BCS Office: tel 21 2537-6695 bcsrio@bcsrio.org.br department, to ensure persons with disabilities do not face social exclusion. Uganda announced a new programme, which will provide grants to increase the income of persons with disabilities, while Guyana has launched a national strategy for persons with disabilities. In New Zealand, a review was conducted on the effectiveness of its Sign Language Act. (Source: Commonwealth press release, 8 Dec 2010 ) [On Monday 10th April 2010 the Governor General signed the New Zealand Sign Language Bill at Government House in Wellington, the final step in New Zealand Sign Language for the deaf becoming an official language of New Zealand. The New Zealand Sign Language Bill became the New Zealand Sign Language Act. – Ed.] Commonwealth 9
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