Nutri-Booster Banana Enriched

Ingredients: Rice,Mungbean,Soybean,Banana,Moringa (Malunggay)

Health Benefits of Moringa (Malunggay):

Malunggay is your all-around miracle tree

The malunggay tree. You just cannot not love it.

The multi-purpose malunggay tree (its scientific name is Moringa Oleifera), once considered “the poor man’s veggie,” has been touted as a “miracle tree” or “nature’s medicine cabinet” by scientists and health care workers from around the world. As clinical pharmacologist Monica Marcu explains in this video interview, this single plant “contains a wide variety of nutrients in high amounts.”

Dr. Marcu, who has made some extensive research on the significant nutritional potency of malunggay, says that the “miracle vegetable” is an ideal energy food — the leaves can actually be eaten raw, but best added in meals as a special ingredient — or diet supplement that “can help offset a typically unhealthy Western diet” due to its high concentration of nutrients combined with low calories and low sodium content. The author of the recently published book Miracle Tree adds that “most Westerners are deficient in antioxidants mostly found in plants.”

Findings of a study made in India, which were used as the basis of many news reports on malunggay as a wonder plant, states that malunggay contains anti-cancer compounds (phytochemicals) that help stop the growth of cancer cells. Malunggay is said to be effective in treating ovarian cancer, among a host of other diseases like arthritis, anemia, heart complications, kidney problems, scurvy, asthma, and digestive disorders (ulcer, gastritis, diarrhea, colitis, dysentery).

Aside from these, malunggay helps lactating mothers produce more milk. So a breastfeeding mother, say, in poverty-stricken areas in Africa, where cases of malnourishment are quite rampant, can curb malnourishment in her family if she eats malunggay-filled soup or salad, or just about any meal with malunggay ingredients.

According to the Los Angeles Times article written by Mark Fritz way back in March 2000, an ounce of malunggay leaves is worth four glasses of milk (calcium), seven oranges (vitamin C), three bananas (potassium).

The malunggay plant is also a proven water purifier with its remarkable antiparasitic, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. Its seeds can be used to clean dirty or polluted water.

So, basically, having malunggay trees planted in your garden is like having your ready pharmacy that offers free medicines in your own backyard. (Note: If you want to know how to plant and harvest a malunggay tree, click here. Two American volunteer workers, who are part of the Moringa Project in an African community, show you how it’s done in this video.)

Hawaii-based farmer Vicky Domingo, who has been planting malunggay trees for more than 25 years now, reportedly harvests malunggay twice a week all year round. She says that all parts of the malunggay tree are usable for nutritional and medicinal purposes — from the roots, trunk, and branches to the leaves, flowers, and seeds. The roots, for instance, can be used to make tea, while the trunk, after it’s scraped and squeezed for its juice, can be used to clean wounds.

Malunggay trees thrive in countries that have hot and dry climates. These plants grow wildly and do extraordinarily well in such tropical conditions. They can be found mainly in Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and Africa. It is said that these plants are “low maintenance,” requiring little to no care, which makes it so easy for cash-strapped people to gain health without thinking of budget concerns.

In the Philippines, anything malunggay-related has become an “in thing” ever since the mainstream media reported the plant’s medical wonders on TV and in print.

The Philippine Department of Education had initiated the planting of malunggay in school yards. Moreover, it had promoted the serving of malunggay meals (using 40 original malunggay recipes its health and nutrition center had created) in public elementary schools, where there are lots of undernourished school children. Malunggay recipes, featured in the cookbook, include polvoron, fish balls, buchi-buchi, lumpia, malunggay con caldo, mal-pinakbet, and malunggay laing, plus malunggay-based shakes and juices.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Department of Agriculture had urged the planting of malunggay as a “revenue-generating industry” under its biotechnology program and had encouraged households to plant malunggay in vegetable gardens for personal consumption.

According to this opinion column, Sen. Loren Legarda, an environment advocate, is giving away free malunggay seedlings to those who ask for them.

Today, there is a wide array of malunggay products manufactured in the Philippines and being sold in local and international markets — malunggay tea, malunggay pan de sal, malunggay polvoron, malunggay oil (for cooking and cosmetic purposes), malunggay noodles, malunggay food powder, malunggay supplement capsules, malunggay shampoo and conditioner, and yes, even malunggay ice cream. You name it, the people of the malunggay industry have it, or are currently manufacturing it.

It’s almost too good to be true, this ‘malunggay magic.’ But it is true, and scientific findings can prove it. The malunggay hype is not without basis.

So, if you can plant a malunggay tree or two in your backyard, why not start now? It can save your life and help you cut down on medical costs in these trying financial times. (Source: YouTube video courtesy of the Youmanitas Energy Farms in Holland)

Health Benefits of Banana:

6 Awesome Health Benefits Of Bananas

By Golb on Jun 26, 2007 in Nutrition and Diet

Before we start discussing the health benefits of bananas, here is some nutritional information for a serving of banana (source - these numbers can be slightly different when obtained from a different source):

Serving size = 1 medium sufficiently ripe banana [about 7″ long and 126 grams (0.28 pounds) in weight]

Total Fat = 0 g; Cholesterol = 0 g; Calories = 110

Potassium = 400 mg (10% of daily recommended value)

Dietary Fiber = 4 g (16% of daily recommended value)

Sugar = 14.8 g; Protein = 1 g (2% of daily recommended value)

Vitamin C = 16% of daily recommended value

Vitamin B₆ = 20% of daily recommended value

With this nutritional information in the background let’s work through the incredible health benefits of this commonplace fruit. I will try and list only substantiated facts with references wherever possible. I am particularly concerned about this because there have been some unsubstantiated claims (rumors) about extraordinary banana benefits floating around the internet (here is an example).

1. Bananas are good for your heart and nerves: Bananas contain a high dose of potassium - an essential ingredient to keep your heart and nervous system in good shape. Potassium is essential for proper muscle contraction and hence plays an important role in muscle-influenced activities including: the normal rhythmic pumping of the heart, digestion, muscular movements, etc., Some studies have also linked low potassium intake to high blood pressure and increased risk of stroke. Most Americans don’t get enough potassium in their diet (recommended dose is about 4 g per day) - blame it on our fast food culture. Including a banana (or two) in your diet everyday would take you a step closer towards getting your daily recommended dose of potassium (references: American Heart Association, University of Maryland Medical Center, Colorado State University).
2. Bananas are good for your kidneys and bones: Benefits to the kidneys and the bones are again due to the high potassium content of bananas. A normal intake of potassium suppresses calcium excretion in the urine and minimizes the risk of kidney stones. Also, for the same reason (suppressing of calcium excretion), it minimizes the loss of calcium from the body and thereby reduces the risk of osteoporosis (references: University of Maryland Medical Center, University of Kansas Medical Center).
3. Bananas can act as mood enhancers or mild sedatives: Bananas contain tryptophan (although it’s not one of the major sources, a medium still contains about 10.6 mg of tryptophan). Tryptophan is one of the 20 amino acids which are building blocks of proteins (btw, an incredible number of articles on the internet call tryptophan as a “mood-enhancing protein” and that is technically not correct). Tryptophan helps the body to produce serotonin - which has a calming effect on the brain (creates a stable mood) and acts as a mild sedative. It should be noted that the only way our our body gets it’s dose of tryptophan is through our diet - it does not produce tryptophan naturally; bananas is one of the easiest ways to get it (references: Nutritiondata.com, Chemistry Daily, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, NIH MedLinePlus).
4. Bananas are good for your blood: Bananas are one of the highest sources of naturally available vitamin B6: Vitamin B₆ plays an important role in converting tryptophan to serotonin (read #3 above), and also helps the body to make hemoglobin - a crucial ingredient of your blood. Vitamin B₆ is also essential for antibody production and to maintain a healthy immune response. It also helps to convert carbohydrates to glucose and thereby maintains proper blood sugar levels. A medium banana can take care of 1/5th of your daily recommended intake of vitamin B₆ and is one of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to increase your dietary intake of the vitamin (references: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements).
5. Bananas are good for kids: Let me quote this from NIH’s Medical Encyclopedia -
   

   Bananas are part of the BRAT diet, a diet many physicians and nurses recommend for children recovering from gastrointestinal problems, particularly diarrhea. BRAT stands for the different components that make up the diet: Bananas, Rice cereal, Applesauce, Toast. These are binding foods that make the stools harder.

6. Bananas are good source of dietary fiber: A single serving (one medium-sized banana) contains 16% of the daily recommended dietary fiber intake for a normal adult - that’s substantial for a single serving of any food. Fiber improves laxation (smooth bowel movements). Fiber-rich diets have also been linked to lower risk of coronary heart disease and of type 2 diabetes. Also, view this information in light of the following facts (references: Health.gov, NIH PubMed - abstract is sufficient):

The banana is one of the few fruits that has actually had a song composed in its honour. Many of us have listened to Harry Belafonte's classic Banana Boat Song some time or the other, but how much do we really know about the banana?

Bananas are originally from Malaysia. They were then brought to India around the 6th century. By 200 A.D., there were banana plantations set up in southern China. Here they were considered to be exotic fruits. It is said that when Alexander the Great visited India during his campaign in 327 A.D., he savoured bananas and took them to the western world.

This fruit comes in yellow, green, and red varieties and has been proven to have a number of medicinal benefits.

A Source of Potassium

Bananas are a natural source of potassium. Potassium is important for the human body as it helps keep the body fluids and electrolyte balance in body cells and helps in regulating blood pressure. Higher levels of potassium in the body can reduce the possibility of a stroke. The fact that bananas are high in potassium and low in salt makes them ideal for people who are suffering from blood pressure problems and have to watch their salt intake.

Research also states that potassium can help in improving a person's alertness. However, it should be noted that excessive quantities of potassium cause decreased heart muscle activity. A medium-size banana contains at least 450 mg of potassium

Vital Vitamins and Minerals

Bananas pack their share of vitamins. Large-size bananas have high amounts of vitamin A in them. Vitamin A is essential for the development of specialised tissue in the eyes. It is also important for the growth of the skin and soft skeletal tissue. Vitamin B is also present in the form of Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, and Folic acid. These help in calming the nervous system. Bananas also have a small amount of Vitamin C in them.

Electrolytes

Bananas have their share of electrolytes too. Electrolytes are elements like magnesium, potassium, and calcium. They are important for maintaining the body's fluid level and preventing dehydration. So, bananas can form an important part of the diet for a person who is suffering from diarrhoea.

Iron

Bananas are also a natural source of iron. The iron found in bananas can help in the creation of haemoglobin, thus making bananas an ideal fruit for people who are suffering from anaemia.

Other Benefits of Bananas

• Bananas are fruits that are high in fibre, making them an ideal remedy for constipation and an alternative to chemical laxatives.
   
• Bananas contain an amino acid called tryptophan. Tryptophan is converted by the body into serotonin, which relaxes a person and helps in improving one's mood.
   
• Bananas are considered to be a natural solution to hangovers. A banana milkshake mixed with honey will help to calm the stomach and build up depleted blood sugar levels at the same time.
• Bananas can act as a natural antacid. This gives relief to a person who is suffering from heartburn.
   
• The inside of the banana skin when rubbed on a mosquito bite is found to reduce the swelling and irritation.
   
• Bananas are an ideal diet for people who are trying to quit smoking. This is because of the combination of Vitamin C, A1, B6, and B12 that helps the body to recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
   
• Due to the high level of potassium in them, bananas are considered to be an excellent snack when a person is highly stressed or is working late at the office. This is because potassium helps to normalise the heartbeat sending oxygen to the brain. Increased metabolic rates during stress reduce our potassium levels. Bananas help to replenish them.
   
• Research conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine states that a regular intake of bananas in your diet can help reduce the possibility of stroke by up to 40 percent.
   
• Bananas are an ideal fruit to be eaten when a person is suffering from ulcers. This is due to the soft texture of the fruit which makes it easily digestible, combined with its ability to neutralise acidity.

Health Benefits of Banana :

1. Banana is an energy booster.
2. Banana contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin. Serotonin is a hormone that is known to make you feel happy and improve your mood.
3. Banana is a rich source of iron, thus it is helpful in cases of anemia.
4. Banana is good a good source of potassium. If you are taking diuretics take 2 bananas a day to prevent the depletion of potassium in the body.
5. The skin of the banana is said to help remove warts(cover the warts with the inner skin of banana).
6. Banana is good for people who have high blood pressure because it is low in salt.

Banana is also helpful in the following cases : Stomach ulcer (banana has a natural antacid), Colitis, Digestive disorder, Diarrhea, Constipation (banana is high in fiber), Hemorrhoids

Nutritive Values : Per 100 gm.

• Vitamin A : 430 I.U.
• Vitamin B : Thiamine .04 mg.;
• Vitamin C : 10 mg.
• Calcium : 8 mg.
• Iron : 6 mg.
• Phosphorus : 28 mg.
• Potassium : 260 mg.
• Carbohydrates : 23 gm
• Protein : 1.2 mg.
• Calories : 88

Health Benefits of Soybean:

Contains carbohydrate, fat, protein, vitamins, minerals like calcium, folic acid and iron. The protein in soybean has all the essential amino acids that is adequate for human health.

Nutritive Value of Soybean : Per 100 gm.

• Vitamin A : 110 I.U.
• Vitamin B : Thiamine 1.07 mg.;
• Niacin : 2.3 mg.
• Vitamin C : Trace
• Calcium : Trace
• Iron : 8.0 mg.
• Phosphorus : 586 mg.
• Potassium : 540 mg.
• Fat : 18.1 gm.
• Carbohydrates : 34.8 gm.
• Protein : 34.0 gm.
• Calories : 331

Health Benefits of Soybean :

• Soybean is an excellent food for diabetes.
• It is easily digested and is one of the most nourishing and body building foods in the world.
• It is especially good for growing children to aid growth and development.
• Soybean has high lecithin content and is therefore excellent for mental fatigue and for protection against cholesterol deposits.
• It has been claimed that lecithin lowers blood cholesterol thru emulsification of fats and is valuable against the development and hardening of the arteries and all the complications of the heart, brain, kidneys and eyes that follow.

• Lecithin is a brain food, a tonic and energizer.
• It has been reported that diabetic patients were successfully treated with lecithin.

• It has also been reported that lecithin is effective in treating psoriasis.
• Prevents gall stones, when adequate lecithin is included in the diet.
• Liquid lecithin application helps heal bed sores and persistent diaper rash.It is also reported to prevent pellagra, the disease marked by disturbances of the stomach and intestines, skin eruptions and many nervous symptoms such as melancholia.
• Because of the high content of linoleic and linolenic acids (unsaturated fatty acids), this food is conducive to a healthy skin and corrects many cases of eczema.
• The pure pressed oil is used for skin conditions, as it contain the natural and lecithin. Soybeans have about twenty times more alkali than milk.
• Lecithin has the ability to increase the gamma globulin content of the blood . The gamma globulins are known to be associated with the natures protective force against the attack of various infections in the body, thus increasing immunity.

Health Benefits of Mung Beans:

Mung beans are part of the legume family and are a good source of protein.  If they are combined with other cereals, a complete protein can be made.  When sprouted, mung beans contain vitamin C that is not found in the bean itself.

Mung beans are rich in the following nutrients:

• protein
• vitamin C
• folic acid or folate
• iron
• zinc
• potassium
• magnesium
• copper
• manganese
• phosphorus
• thiamine

Mung beans are also high in fibre, low in saturated fat, low in sodium, and contain no cholesterol.  Because of the wide range of nutrients contained in mung beans, they offer a whole host of health benefits for the immune system, the metabolism, the heart and other organs, cell growth, protection against free radicals, and diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

The folic acid, or folate as it is also known, that is contained in mung beans helps to lower the risk of heart disease, fights birth defects, contributes to normal cell growth, helps in the metabolism of proteins, and is essential for the formation of red blood cells and for healing processes in the body.  Another B vitamin, thiamine, is needed to ensure that the nervous system functions properly.  It is also important for releasing energy from carbohydrates.  Manganese is a trace mineral that is key for energy production and antioxidant defenses.  It is also necessary for the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, and can be helpful for the brain and nerves.

Magnesium helps the veins and arteries to relax, lessening resistance and improving the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients throughout the body.  Research has shown that a deficiency of magnesium is not only associated with a heart attack but that immediately following a heart attack, a lack of magnesium promotes free radical damage to the heart.  The body requires copper in order to absorb iron and copper is also involved in the metabolism of protein.  Iron helps to build resistance to stress and disease and it is essential for the formation of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen from the lungs to every cell in the body.  It is also part of key enzyme systems for energy production and metabolism.  Potassium is necessary for maintaining the acid-alkaline balance in the blood and for muscle contraction and a normal heart beat.  Zinc is a well known immune system booster and can be helpful in fighting male infertility.  Zinc aids healing processes in the body, growth, and tissue repair.

Like all legumes, mung beans are very high in fibre – more so than fruits and vegetables and even better than wholegrains.  The soluble fibre in mung beans captures cholesterol in the intestines, keeps it out of the blood stream, and carries it out of the body.

Health Benefits of White Rice:

Health benefits of rice include providing fast and instant energy, good bowel movement, stabilizing blood sugar levels and providing essential source of vitamin B1 to human body. Other benefits include skin care, resistance to high blood pressure, dysentery and heart diseases. Rice is the staple food in most of the countries and it is an important cereal crop that feeds more than half of the world’s population.

Health benefits of rice can be found in more than forty thousand varieties of this cereal available in the world. The two main categories include whole grain rice and white rice. According to Rice-Trade, rice is extremely nutritious. Some of the health benefits specified by them are as follows:

• Great Energy Source: As rice is rich in carbohydrates, it acts as fuel for the body and aids in normal functioning of the brain.
• Cholesterol Free: Eating rice is extremely beneficial for health, just for the fact that it does not contain harmful fats, cholesterol or sodium. It forms an integral part of balanced diet.
• Rich in Vitamins: Rice is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals like niacin, vitamin D, calcium, fiber, iron, thiamine and riboflavin.
• Resistant Starch: Rice abounds in resistant starch, which reaches the bowel in undigested form. It aids the growth of useful bacteria for normal bowel movements.
• High Blood Pressure: As rice is low in sodium, it is considered best food for those suffering from high blood pressure and hypertension.
• Cancer Prevention: Whole grain rice like brown rice is rich in insoluble fibre that can possibly protect against many types of cancers. Many scientists believe that such insoluble fibres are vital for protecting the body against cancerous cells.
• Skin Care: Medical experts say that powdered rice can be applied to cure some forms of skin ailments. In Indian subcontinent, rice water is duly prescribed by ayurvedic practitioners as an effective ointment to cool off inflamed skin surfaces.
• Dysentery: The husk part of rice is considered as an effective medicine to treat dysentery. A three month old rice plant’s husks is said to contain diuretic properties. Chinese people believe that rice considerably increases appetite, cures stomach ailments and indigestion problems.
• Alzheimer’s Disease: Brown rice is said to contain high levels of neurotransmitter nutrients that can prevent Alzheimer’s disease to a considerable extent.
• Heart Disease: Rice bran oil is said to have antioxidant properties that promotes cardiovascular strength by reducing cholesterol levels in the body.

Rice, or Oyrza sativa is the cereal that is a staple food to more than half of the world's peoples. But, it also has important medicinal uses, for which the rhizomes, seeds (the grains), and germinated seeds are used. White rice is the grain that is left after the bran and germ have been removed; brown rice retains the bran and germ. Rice is available as a breakfast cereal (the grains are "puffed" during manufacture), and is fermented to produce rice wine, called saki by the Japanese.

It may look very simple, but rice is full of healing and medicinal properties. In fact, in many Asian countries rice is the staple of most people's diets. Rice contains high levels of carbohydrates (87 percent of white, uncooked rice) and is an excellent source of energy. Rice is also very rich in B vitamins (folic acid and pyridoxine), iron, and potassium. Brown rice also contains the B vitamin thiamine, which is present in the bran. White rice has about 1 percent of fat; in brown rice the amount of fat is slightly higher. It contains low amounts of sodium and is also free from cholesterol Rice is also a natural tonic, diuretic, digestive, and can control sweating. Rice also has been known to lower blood pressure and is an anti-inflammatory.

For some people in the world, rice is the only way they survive, not only is their main source of nourishment, but also their income. Americans would be doing themselves a favor by recognizing that rice has many more uses than just being fried up with some shrimp, or rolled in seaweed. Eat rice daily if you suffer from chronic dyspepsia ­excellent for heartburn, particularly when associated with pregnancy. You can use rice bran for the treatment of hyperalcuria. To relieve inflammation of the skin, use rice flour to make a poultice. This can be useful for acne, measles, burns, and hemorrhoids.