Bananas
Bananas are an amazing food. They are full of vitamins, phytonutrients, protein, carbohydrates, fiber and even antioxidants. Specifically, bananas contain two powerful antioxidants, dopamine and catechins (3,4).
While dopamine is usually associated with improving your mood, research shows that in bananas, dopamine does not cross the blood-brain barrier, but simply acts as a strong antioxidant, which is exactly what you need when you are sick (5, 6).
According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, bananas are one of the best sources of manganese (7). This essential nutrient promotes wound healing, which is essential for compromised lung tissue during bouts of bronchitis.
What is more exciting, however, is that research shows an enzyme called manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is the principal antioxidant enzyme in mitochondria, which are responsible for the biochemical processes of respiration and energy production in all of your cells. According to researchers, because “mitochondria consume over 90 percent of the oxygen used by your cells, they are especially vulnerable to oxidative stress.” Plus, studies show this enzyme has significant potential as an anti-inflammatory agent, including in the lungs (8).
continued on next page
For complete cooking times, go to the next page or click the Open button (>), and don't forget to SHARE with your Facebook friends.
