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“A Banana a day keeps the Doctor away!”
Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. 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.
Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of 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 potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, 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.
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 crisps. 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 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 over-chronicler 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.
Smoking & Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium (K) and magnesium (Ma) 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.
Strokes: 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%!
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 its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, “A banana a day keeps the doctor away!”
On 25th December 1976, a unique and historic postage stamp was issued to commemorate the Birth Centenary of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan. This remarkable stamp stands out as a significant milestone in Pakistan’s philatelic history, as it was the first postage stamp of the country to be manufactured using a special silk screen process.
A Golden Tribute
The Gold Stamp was created by De Cartar SA, a renowned manufacturer, and is celebrated not just for its aesthetic and commemorative value, but also for its intrinsic worth. Each stamp contains 25 milligrams of 23/24 carat gold, making it a collector’s item of both historical and material value. This distinctive feature underscores the significance of the centenary, honoring the life and legacy of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, whose leadership and vision led to the creation of Pakistan.
Design and Craftsmanship
The use of the special silk screen process allowed for intricate details to be captured in the stamp, reflecting the dignity and stature of Jinnah. The incorporation of gold adds a luxurious and solemn touch, symbolizing the esteem in which Quaid-i-Azam is held in Pakistan. The stamp was part of a series of commemorative efforts in 1976, which included national celebrations, seminars, and tributes dedicated to the memory of Jinnah.
Historical Significance
This gold stamp not only commemorates the 100th birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam but also marks a landmark achievement in Pakistan’s postal history. The combination of advanced manufacturing techniques and the use of precious metal sets it apart as a unique artifact of national pride.
Today, the 1976 Gold Stamp remains a treasured item among philatelists and historians, symbolizing the enduring respect for Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his invaluable contribution to the formation of Pakistan.
GOLD STAMP FOLDER
- ENVELOP GOLD STAMP
- Title: Gold Stamp
- Creator: De Cartar SA
- Date Created: 1976
- Special Features: 25 mg 23/24 carat gold, manufactured using a silk screen process
قائداعظم کا پاکستان
Gold Stamp Commemorating the Birth Centenary of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah (1976)
Nation celebrates birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam
