Day V of Navratri – Mata Skanda Mata
With a gradual meal of complex carbohydrate on day four, today – day five is time again to rest your gut with some good dose of fructose and vitamins and fiber and yes an energy booster. Maa Skandmata is the mother of Kumar Karthikeya. Banana is offered to the Goddess as Prasadam. Prasadam of Banana will bring in general wellness.
Here’s more on goodness of banana : Beats fatigue, constipation, prevents acidity, instant energy, regulates blood pressures and brings in flawless glow on skin. With an average of 105 calories, banana is an excellent source of instant energy. It is especially great as an after workout food because it instantly replenishes the low levels of glucose in the blood. The probiotic effect of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) present in bananas, helps stimulate the growth of friendly bacteria in the intestine and protect you against gastric disturbances. It is also good for your bone health too. Fermentation of FOS reduces the pH in the gut thereby promoting calcium absorption which in turn builds strong bones. Banana stem helps to eliminate fluids from the body. This diuretic effect is thought to be useful in eliminating kidney stones and also help detoxify the body. The stem is also believed to dissolve stones.
Bananas actually protect you from muscle cramps. Because of its high magnesium and potassium content, bananas are the best way to replenish the minerals in your body. It helps relax the muscles and protects you from any further episodes of leg cramps. Bananas, being very rich in potassium and very low in sodium help manage blood pressure better. It aids in maintaining water balance in the body and detoxify the body to protect you against heart attack and stroke. Bananas are also very effective antacids. It coats the inner lining of the stomach and suppress acid secretion, thereby protecting you from stomach ulcers and acidity. Hence if your food on day four caused any form of acidity banana on day 5 is best antidote. Both the fruit and stem are rich in fiber and pectin which helps assist bowel motility and eases out constipation. If you feel your body dehydrated and depleted of electrolytes. Restore the lost potassium by eating bananas. The feel good factor after is certain, having a banana before bed can help promote sleep. The soothing effect is due to high levels of tryptophan which gets converted to serotonin in the brain. This not only improves your mood but also makes you more alert and improves your concentration levels. Apart from helping you get some much-needed beauty sleep, you can add bananas to your beauty regime too. So eat bananas for glowing skin and instead of making a face pack!