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Health Benefits of bananas (a guide)

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Health Benefits of bananas

Soft and satisfying, practical to take away and eat on the go, present all year round on the stalls of our markets, the banana is a fruit that is unanimous! But is it as nutritionally good as it is for our taste buds? Zoom in on the health benefits of bananas.

Its name comes from the Portuguese banana itself borrowed from the Arabic “banana” meaning “finger”. For the record, the banana would have been the first fruit cultivated by men, and its culture dates back some 12 thousand years!

When we speak of banana without specifying the variety, it is the so-called “dessert” sweet banana that is eaten raw and sweet. There is a second type of bananas known as “vegetable bananas” generally eaten cooked and salted, which belong to the plantain species.

The health benefits of bananas

Bananas contain a lot of nutrients:

Bananas are very nutrient-dense fruit, which means they provide a lot of nutrients in a low volume. Dried bananas are richer in nutrients than fruit bananas, but they are also higher in calories.

The banana fits perfectly within the framework of a slimming diet because it is rich in fibres, minerals, resistant starch: it is therefore very satiating and allows not to crack on calorie bombs.

•It is in particular very well provided with antioxidants, which would make it effective in the prevention of cancers, in particular colorectal cancer.

•It has anti-acid and anti-ulcer effects, which protect the stomach lining from inflammation and which would help prevent ulcers.

•The sugars in bananas are largely resistant starch, which behaves like a “slow” carbohydrate, improving the sensitivity of cells to insulin and tending to regulate blood sugar. This fruit is therefore indicated in people suffering from type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes.

•It is very rich in potassium, a mineral known to prevent and fight against hypertension and limit the risk of cardiovascular disease.

•It is well supplied with beta-carotene (a precursor of vitamin A), contributes to healthy skin, the growth of bones and teeth, and protects against infections.

•It is rich in magnesium, so it is a very good natural “anti-stress”.

•During sport
Very digestible, rich in carbohydrates and minerals, bananas are the favourite fruit of athletes!

Good to know: the riper the banana, the higher its glycemic index, the less ripe it is, the lower it is. It is therefore wise to prefer a ripe banana before the effort for the boost effect, then a less ripe banana after the effort, for recovery and to recharge its glycogen stocks.

Bananas are also very well supplied with potassium, a mineral essential for muscle recovery, and with magnesium, which is very effective in limiting cramps.

During pregnancy

Pregnant women have increased caloric and nutritional needs, especially from the second trimester. But she frequently suffers from digestive disorders (nausea, bloating) linked to hormones as well as the place the baby takes in her womb, compressing the stomach and intestines.

Bananas, very digestible and rich in carbohydrates, fibres and minerals will therefore provide them with the energy and nutrients necessary to meet their needs and those of the baby. It is therefore a real ally of pregnancy!

When you want to lose weight

Rich in carbohydrates and calories, is banana to be excluded during a diet? No, the banana is certainly a sweet fruit, but it has a large number of nutritional advantages that make it valuable as part of a slimming diet.

Rich in fibres, minerals and resistant starch, bananas effectively satisfy small hunger pangs and not crack on a chocolate bar 4 times more caloric.

The banana also contains tryptophan, an amino acid precursor serotonin, the hormone of the well-being. Perfect for fighting frustrations during a diet!

Are bananas high in calories?

Sweet bananas are among the sweetest fruits, and therefore the highest in calories. A medium-sized banana weighs around 120g and provides about a hundred calories, the average caloric value of the banana being 90 calories per 100g.

Health benefits of dried bananas

Dried banana is a banana from which water has been extracted, making it both richer in nutrients but also calories.

Dried bananas are therefore about three times richer in nutrients, minerals and vitamins than fresh bananas, which makes them extraordinarily interesting from a dietary point of view.

Be careful, however, its caloric value also triples and reaches 250 calories per 100 g, which makes it very energetic.

Dried bananas are therefore a perfect takeaway snack for hiking, fitness walking or before a run because it provides energy and essential minerals and vitamins to the body during physical exercise.

Health benefits of banana juice

Given its low water content, it is not possible to make pure banana juice using an extractor, the product obtained being more like mash.

Banana-based juices are usually made with one or more other fruits that are richer in water, such as orange or apple.

In general and whatever the fruit, it is better to eat it whole and fresh rather than to drink it in the form of juice, where it will tend to lose some of its nutritional qualities (fibre, certain vitamins sensitive to oxidation) Besides, the glycemic index of fruit juice is always higher than that of whole fruit and drinking fruit juice is much less satiating than munching on fruit.

Health benefits of banana chips

Banana chips are made from sliced, fried and salted plantains. I insist: crisps, whether potatocarrotbeet or plantain banana are always fatty foods, very salty and nutritionally denatured insists the specialist, they are very caloric and do not present any particular dietary interests.

On the other hand, it is possible to cook them in the oven rather than in a deep fryer, which greatly limits the intake of extra fat and calories.

What are the side effects of bananas?

Without being able to speak of disadvantage, the banana is indeed richer in calories than the average fruit, it is, therefore, to be consumed in moderation for anyone who is watching their weight.

We will therefore take care to alternate it with other less sweet fruits, such as apple, pear, berries (blackberries, blueberries, blackcurrants…), melon, watermelon or even citrus fruits.

Tips

I recommend eating the fruit whole and fresh, rather than drinking it in the form of juice, which loses some of its nutritional qualities (fibre, certain vitamins sensitive to oxidation), which has a higher glycemic index and which is less filling than the whole fruit.

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9 Benefits of strawberries and side effects

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7 Benefits of Epazote and side effects

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Discover the 7 shocking health benefits of Epazote and side effects.

Epazote, also known as paico or acahualillo, is a widely used medicinal plant, as its essential oils contain vermifuge, antibiotic, digestive properties, and strengthen the immune system.

This plant, whose scientific name is Chenopodium Ambrosioides, grows spontaneously in lands that surround the houses, it has elongated leaves of different sizes and dark green, its flowers are small and whitish.

 

Epazote can be bought in certain markets or health food stores, in its natural form, in dehydrated leaves, or essential oil.

Because it is considered a plant with a degree of toxicity, it should preferably be used under the guidance of a health professional, in addition to the use of tea from its leaves instead of essential oil, since it contains a higher concentration of potentially toxic substances.

Health Benefits of Epazote

Although epazote is a plant that is widely used in traditional medicine, it has few studies that confirm its properties in the body.

Despite this, several investigations have been carried out with this plant in animals, concluding that it has effects such as:

1. Eliminate intestinal parasites

This is one of the most popular uses of epazote and, according to some human studies, the use of this plant has a strong action against different intestinal parasites, such as worms and tapeworms.

This action seems to be related to the main active substance in epazote, ascaridol, which is similar in efficacy to some antiparasitic drugs, such as Albendazole.

2. Benefits of epazote for immune system

According to research carried out in animals, the use of epazote extract seems to be able to regulate the production of some cells important for the body’s defense, such as macrophages and lymphocytes, strengthening the immune system.

The mixture of epazote leaves with milk is popularly used to help in the treatment of respiratory diseases, such as bronchitis and tuberculosis, due to the union of the strengthening effects of the immune system and expectorants that these substances possess.

3. Benefits of epazote for inflammation

Another common use of epazote is in the relief of inflammation, mainly joint problems, such as osteoarthritis. Additionally, the plant also helps relieve pain from inflammation.

This analgesic action was observed in the use of the alcoholic extract of the plant, which seems to act on the NMDA receptors.

4. Benefits of epazote for digestion

Although there are no studies that prove the action of this plant on poor digestion, this is one of the popular uses in which it is used the most.

According to its use, epazote tea can be taken after large meals, to improve digestion, as it could be able to increase gastric juice production.

5. Benefits of epazote for  blood pressure

In Morocco, epazote is frequently used to help treat high blood pressure and, according to studies in mice, this property is due to the stimulation of type 2 muscarinic receptors in the heart that slightly decrease the heart rate. , in addition to relaxing the heart muscle.

6. Combat bacterial, viral, and fungal infections

Both the use of epazote extract and essential oil has shown a powerful antimicrobial action that is capable of eliminating various types of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

7. Avoid osteoporosis

In some investigations carried out in laboratory mice, the use of the hydroalcoholic extract of epazote was able to prevent the loss of bone density and can be applied to prevent the onset of osteoporosis, especially in women who are close to entering menopause.

Is epazote used to treat coronavirus?

study carried out in 2020 by the Oswaldo Cruz Institute, confirmed the hypothesis that the flavonoids present in epazote may be able to prevent the replication of the new coronavirus, accelerating the recovery and cure of COVID-19.

However, the study was conducted on a computer model and has not been tested in a laboratory, nor living organisms.

For this reason, the dose necessary for treatment is not known, nor are the possible side effects.

For this reason, no health organ recommends the use of epazote as a treatment for COVID-19 until new studies are carried out.

How to use epazote

The most common way to take advantage of the properties of this plant is by infusing its leaves, preparing a tea:

Epazote tea: place a cup of the fresh plant with the seeds in boiling water and let it rest for 10 minutes. Afterward, strain and drink a cup up to 3 times a day.

In addition to infusion, another popular way to use epazote is an essential oil, however, its use must be guided by a naturopath, psychotherapist, or a health professional with experience in the use of medicinal plants.

How to Make epazote tea

Ingredients
8 large stems and leaves of fresh epazote
2 quarts boiling water

Procedure

  • Add epazote to boiling water and let simmer for 2 minutes.
  • ove from heat and let steep for another 3 minutes.
  • Strain and serve.
Side effects of epazote

Side effects of epazote include irritation of the skin and mucous membranes, headache, vomiting, nausea, palpitations, damage to the liver or kidneys, visual disturbances, and seizures, in case of doses higher than recommended or for a time. longer than 3 days in a row.

Is epazote abortifacient?

In high doses, the properties of epazote can act by altering the contractility of the body’s muscles; For this reason, it can have an abortive effect in certain people, not advising its use in pregnant women.

Contraindications

Epazote is contraindicated in pregnant women and children under 2 years of age.

This medicinal herb can be toxic, requiring a medical indication to establish the recommended dose

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Contraindications and side effects of Trazodone

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Discover the Contraindications and side effects of Trazodone.

Trazodone is used in a wide variety of disorders, although it is an antidepressant.

Being depression one of the most prevalent mental disorders worldwide and one of the major causes of disability, its treatment is a matter that the scientific community has taken into account for many years.

The suffering it generates requires sometimes immediate attention since it is one of the disorders with the highest risk of suicide and that generates the most pain both for the person and for those around him.

The treatment of depression is carried out from different areas, one of them being psychopharmacology.

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One of the drugs used in the treatment of depression is trazodone, which we are going to talk about in this article.

Trazodone: what type of substance is it?

Trazodone is a psychotropic drug classified within antidepressants, substances that generate a neurochemical change at the brain level, causing alterations in the levels of certain neurotransmitters, specifically serotonin.

Among antidepressants, it is part and is the main representative of the group of serotonin-2A antagonists and reuptake inhibitors or SARIs, a type of atypical antidepressant.

This drug was designed in Italy in 1966 under the assumption that depression could be based on the existence of low thresholds regarding the perception of pain and suffering, being the product of the lack of integration of aversive experiences.

Trazodone has proven to be an efficient and effective drug in the treatment of depression, reducing passivity and inactivity, as well as the discomfort and suffering associated with said ailment, and facilitating an increase in mood.

However, in addition to this, it also has an anxiolytic and tranquilizing action.

This substance is considered a second-generation antidepressant, along with specific serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), with which it shares part of its mechanism of action, and different dual antidepressants.

Trazodone is sometimes considered to be dual as it has two different effects, although they focus on the same neurotransmission system, compared to the rest, and in addition to an antidepressant effect, it also has calming effects.

How does it work? Mechanism of action of the drug

As we have indicated previously, trazodone is classified as SARI, having a somewhat special mechanism of action among the rest of antidepressants.

Trazodone acts at the serotonergic system level (like most antidepressants) in two specific ways.

In the first place, this substance produces a blockage of brain serotonin reuptake, in such a way that said neurotransmitter remains in the synaptic space for a longer time.

This supposes that it has an agonist effect on the synthesis and maintenance of serotonin at the brain level, it increases its levels (which are decreased during the depression and this is something that correlates with the decrease in the mood).

The aforementioned mechanism of action is the one used by SSRIs, which is why these and trazodone are related and sometimes the latter is included among the first.

However, trazodone has a second effect that differentiates it from other drugs, and that seems contrary to the previous mechanism of action.

And it is also that it acts as an antagonist of serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, preventing or hindering these receptors from being activated.

This second aspect is what makes trazodone have a slightly different profile and effects than other antidepressants.

Regarding its interaction with other neurotransmitter systems, it does not present great anticholinergic effects, something that has made this drug a better option than tricyclics (although the doses must also be regulated) in patients with cerebrovascular and cardiac pathology and dementias.

However, it must be taken into account that it can generate arrhythmias.

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It also has a minor effect on the adrenergic (blocking some receptors) and histaminergic systems, something that can lead to the generation of side effects.

Main indications

The main indication for trazodone is obviously, as an antidepressant that it is, major depression. Its effectiveness is also high in those depressions that appear together with anxiety symptoms.

Its clinical utility has also been observed in other disorders in which there are components of anxiety or that are based on it, such as generalized anxiety disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or bulimia.

In addition to this, it has also been observed to be useful for the treatment of substance addictions, being a good alternative for patients with withdrawal syndrome to benzodiazepines, and in the treatment of alcoholism (including the presence of delirium tremens).

Another of its indications is insomnia, which is effectively reduced by increasing sleep time without greatly affecting the deep sleep phase.

Although in general, most antidepressants can have the presence of erectile dysfunction or ejaculation problems as a side effect, this effect does not usually occur in trazodone, which seems to generate an increase in libido and is even used as a treatment indicated in erectile dysfunction.

Finally, trazodone has been applied (largely for its relaxing properties) in some cases of schizophrenia, motor problems such as Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, the presence of manic episodes in bipolar disorder, and the behavioral disorders of Alzheimer’s. although a greater amount of study is required regarding the latter.

On a medical level, it has also been used as a sedative in HIV-infected patients and diabetic neuropathies, as well as in other disorders that cause pain such as fibromyalgia. It has a very slight effect at the level of muscle relaxant.

Side effects and contraindications

Trazodone is a very useful drug that has been used in multiple pathologies and disorders, both mental and medical.

However, it can have undesirable consequences in the form of side effects and is even contraindicated in some situations and pathologies.

Secondary symptoms, sedation, and fatigue, the presence of headaches, nausea, and vomiting, gastric disturbances (diarrhea or constipation), appetite disturbances, sweating, tremors (which may lead to seizures in some cases), are common. ringing, numbness, and vision problems.

In some cases, it can also cause chest and muscle pain, altered consciousness, breathing problems, and arrhythmias. Like other antidepressants, trazodone can also contribute to the genesis of suicidal ideation in the first moments of use.

Although, unlike other antidepressants, it does not seem to generate contributes to improving cases of erectile dysfunction or ejaculatory problems, the use of trazodone has been observed and associated with the appearance of priapism, erections that do not disappear on their own. alone and that cause pain to those who suffer from them (which may require urgent and even surgical treatment).

Although it is sometimes used in dementias and has a lower risk than tricyclics of generating heart problems, it requires a high degree of caution in its use and dosage carefully prescribed by the doctor, since it can generate arrhythmias.

It is contraindicated in patients who have just suffered a heart attack, as well as in those with liver or kidney disease.

Caution should be exercised in subjects with bipolarity because if the medication is not regulated, the consumption of trazodone can cause a shift from depressive to manic phase.

It is also contraindicated in people who have suffered from priapism or have Peyronie’s disease.

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Finally, it must be taken into account that trazodone can be excreted in breast milk and transmitted through the placenta so that pregnant and lactating women have contraindicated its use.

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