Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose - combined with fibre. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit for the world's top athletes. A banana can help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it an ideal constituent of our daily diet.

Anaemia: Bananas can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and so help in cases of anaemia.

Blood Pressure: A banana is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect food to beat blood pressure. So much so, that the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's efficacy in reducing the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain power: Research conducted in Britain has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fibre, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem of constipation without the help of laxatives.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken among 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.

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: Have all your efforts to keep mosquitoes at bay been in vain? If you end up being by bitten by these pests try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

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.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalise 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 re-balanced 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%.

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-chronic ulcer cases. It also neutralises over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

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.