The Humble Banana

A professor CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression 'going bananas' is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:
Never put your banana in the refrigerator!
This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.
Bananas contain three natural sugars -sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fibre. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to your 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.
BRAIN POWER: Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
CONSTIPATION: High in fiber bananas can help restore normal bowel action, without resorting to laxatives.
HANGOVERS: Try a banana milkshake, sweetened by 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.
MORNING SICKNESS: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
NERVES: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
OVERWEIGHT: Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort foods like chocolate and crisps. The report concluded that, to avoid these cravings we should snack on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep blood sugar levels steady.
SMOKING: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

FINAL TIP: Want a quick shine on your shoes? Take the inside of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe.....polish with a dry cloth. Amazing fruit!

Zen Wisdom

ZEN is a school of Mahayana Buddhism, translated from the Chinese word Chan. Chan is itself derived from the Sanskrit Dhyana, which means meditation. The teachings of Zen are sometimes referred to as simply 'path of enlightenment.' In order to set Journal readers off on their way down the path of enlightenment, here are my 'ZEN TEN' pearls of wisdom:

ZEN TEN

01 Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me for the path is narrow. In fact, just piss off and leave me alone.

02 Sex is like air. It is not important unless you aren't getting any.

03 No one is listening until you fart.

04 Always remember you're unique. Like everyone else.

05 Never test the water with both feet.

06 If you think nobody cares whether your alive or dead, try missing a couple of mortgage payments.

07 Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

08 If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

09 Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

10 If you lend someone £20 and never see that person again, it was probably well worth it.

Sign Of The Times

Manure.....An Interesting Fact

In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by ship, and it was also before commercial fertilizer's were invented, so shipments of manure were common.
It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less than when wet. But once water (at sea) hit it, it not only became heated, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a bi-product is methane gas.
As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles, you can see what could, and did, happen. Methane began to build up below decks and the first time someone came below with a lantern......BOOOOM!
Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined just what was happening. After that, the bundles of manure were always stamped with the term 'Ship High In Transport' on them, which meant for the sailors to stow it high enough off the lower decks so that any water coming into the hold would not touch the volatile cargo and start the production of methane.
This evolved the term 'S.H.I.T' (Ship High In Transport), which came down through the centuries and is in use to this very day.
You probably didn't know the true history of this word. Neither did I..... I had always thought it was a golf term!

Maxine's World

Today's Smile - Grandma And Grandpa

Grandma and Grandpa were visiting their kids overnight.
When Grandpa found a bottle of Viagra in his son's medicine cabinet, he asked about using one of the pills.
The son said, "I don't think you should take one dad; they're very strong and very expensive."
"How much?" asked Grandpa.
"£10 a pill," answered the son.
"I don't care," said Grandpa. "I'd still like to try one, and before we leave in the morning, I'll put the money under the pillow."
Later the next morning, the son found £110 under the pillow. He called Grandpa and said, "I told you each pill was £10, not £110."
"I know," said Grandpa. "The hundred is from your Grandma!"

Brainteaser - Thursday's Answer

Yesterday's brainteaser asked you to find a 9 letter word that when one letter was taken away still left another word, the process continuing until you were left with just one letter, which was also a word. The answer is revealed below:

The 9 letter word is

STARTLING

STARTING

STARING

STRING

STING

SING

SIN

IN

I

An almost impossible, but very interesting, brainteaser!