Foods for Better Health & Wellness

Kalee Carson

Bananas and Almonds

“A beautiful bunch a'ripe banana, Daylight come and he wan' go home”, ‘Day-O’, that catchy tune by Harry Belafonte from the iconic Beetlejuice!!! It always brings to my mind a boat full of workers in the night, singing and dancing and tossing around bunches of Bananas!!! Many consider them a meal all by themselves; bananas are pretty close to perfect!! Additionally, almonds are a great little powerhouse of nutrition!!

Healthy Food

Bananas, (Musa sapienta, Musa nana) recognized by many as the ‘World’s Healthiest Food’, most commonly come prepackaged in its own yellow jacket, however, it can also be found with red, pink, purple and black tones when ripe. They can also range from sweet to starchy in nature. The banana plant belongs to the same family as the lily and the orchid, with a cluster of fruits containing anywhere from 50 to 150 bananas and individual fruits grouped in bunches, known as "hands," containing 10 to 25 bananas.

Bananas are one of our best sources of potassium, and because they are also low in sodium they work to lower blood pressure. They contain 20% of the RDA for vitamin B6 which helps with the formation of red blood cells and the transportation of iron through the body, fighting fatigue. According to Tufts University, eating a banana will raise your energy level by 20% for 2 hours! So throw away those over caffeinated energy drinks that will crash you in the end and eat a banana instead!

The fiber in bananas can also help prevent heart disease, improve digestive function, as well as lower risks for atherosclerosis. They are especially protective in regard to stomach ulcers, and can be excellent to help replace lost electrolytes when we are sick.

In studies, it was shown that we should be eating 2.5 servings a day (75/month) of fruit in order to get better protection against certain types of cancers. Bananas were shown to be among the most protective of fruits tested. They also contain 15% of your daily allowance of both vitamin C and Manganese which helps with cancer prevention as well.

So Versatile

Bananas are one of the most versatile fruits there is. It can be eaten as is, used green, ripe, it can be cooked, frozen, baked, pureed, flambéed, in a smoothie or shake, and the list goes on…

Since it comes in its own healthy little package, we can tuck it into our purses, briefcases, or lunchboxes and take it with us wherever we go. Elvis loved his grilled, with a little peanut butter and bacon, some like theirs in pudding. However you like yours they are very good for you, and abundant, since they are available for harvest year round.

I am including a recipe for a Banana Energy Smoothie from the Chiquita Banana Company…

Banana Energy Smoothie

2 whole Chiquita® bananas (with brown peels*)
3 cups Ice
1 cup Milk OR Vanilla Yogurt (please feel free to substitute almond milk here or mix with yogurt or kefir)
1/2 whole Lemon to squeeze
1 Tbsp. Honey

Place all ingredients in the blender and blend at high speed till smooth (at least 30 sec).
* Brown bananas work well for smoothies; however, you can use less ripe bananas, too, such as yellow bananas with brown flecks.

You can add a banana to just about any smoothie recipe out there. There are quite a few or just experiment on your own with combinations that you might enjoy. I will be talking about this again in future articles, as time goes on, regarding other ingredients, so stay tuned!

Sexy Bananas

Bananas certainly win the prize as the most suggestive of all aphrodisiacs, hands down!! It’s actually the potassium, magnesium and B vitamins within, that boost the production of the sex hormones for both men and women and make it such a powerhouse. Gentlemen, the humble banana also contain chelating (in a form more readily available) minerals and the bromelain enzyme that are said to enhance the male libido. In Central America they drink the sap of the red banana tree as an aphrodisiac drink, and in Islam they believe it was the banana not the apple that tempted Adam in the Garden of Eden.

Almonds

Almonds (Prunus dulcis) are a tree nut, native to the Middle East and South Asia. Although they are available year round they are at the height of their season mid-summer. What we think of as the nut, is actually the seed of the Almond tree and it is the cousin of stone fruits such as the peach, apricot and cherry.

They can be eaten either raw or cooked, and are used in many forms from whole to paste, to flour, oil and even milk. They are very high in nutrition; an ounce contains 6g of protein, 23% RDA for vitamin E, many essential B vitamins including folic acid, Magnesium and Potassium, to name a few. They are high in antioxidants which, as you know means they fight cancer and heart disease, not to mention aging.

Culinary uses

Almonds are used for culinary purposes around the world. They are prevalent in pastry all over the world. Liqueurs are made from them in several countries including Italy and Mexico. Because almonds are gluten free almond flour is used quite often as a replacement for traditional flour in baked goods for those who are in need of gluten free foods. It is especially common in ‘quick breads’, muffins and pancakes, as it is more of a ‘meal’ rather than fine flour.

Another way that almonds are used is in the form of almond butter. As peanut allergies trend upward almond butter is becoming more and more appealing to families who have at risk children with these allergies. Not only is it safe, but it is a healthier alternative to peanut butter. Many school lunchrooms are turning to this as an alternative so that they don’t have the allergen risk.

Almond milk has also gained in popularity over the last 10 years or so. The almonds are soaked in water for 8-12 hours. This water is then discarded and fresh water is added. It is then ground together and can either be left as is, or vanilla and/or sweeteners can be added. It is then strained through a fine strainer or sieve. It should then be refrigerated for use, and can be used in cereal, smoothies, baking, cooking; pretty much any place regular dairy milk would be used. Almond milk will keep for 4-7 days in a covered container and should be shaken before use. Almond milk is a perfect substitute for those with lactose intolerance or milk allergies.

There is a special kind of almond that is grown in Spain called a Marcona almond. It is shorter and rounder, and slightly sweeter that the traditional almond. They have slightly higher oil content to them as well. I bought mine soaking in a jar of locally harvested, organic, rosemary honey, and they were heavenly! The vendor that I bought them from suggested that I try them simply on a plain cracker with some cream cheese as an appetizer or alongside a glass of dessert wine. They were fantastic!! If you ever get a chance to try some I highly recommend them, they are wonderful!

As an Aphrodisiac

Almonds have long been considered symbols of fertility. The aroma is said to arouse passion in women. As a result many bath and body products for women are almond scented. It is even documented that Sampson wooed Delilah with the nut. Scientists have proven that the almond contains high doses of Vitamin E, magnesium, and fiber; all of these are good for your general wellbeing. That is just what you need to keep things going on and on! Almond oil is also commonly used as a massage oil and personal lubricant. It is light weight and absorbs well, and essential oils can be added for aromatherapy use, so it lends itself well to couples massage.

So go make yourself a loaf of banana bread with almonds or the smoothie above with almond milk and get a double dose of great nutrient value!! You might just find you have some extra energy for the one you love!!

Till Next Time, Stay Healthy

Love,
Kalee

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