I'VE GONE BANANAS !

One large 9 inch banana has about 140 calories, 602mg of potassium, four grams of protein, two grams of fiber, two mgs of sodium, and 36 grams of carbs. For those on diets, or those who are diabetic, one half a banana is recommended for a serving, or a small banana. They are full of vitamins and elements that our bodies need, making them a near perfect food. The cute tiny baby bananas are sweetest of the banana family, and the plantain, when cooked is even healthier for you. That's minus oil in cooking if that's what you use.

They should be stored at room temperature and are said to ripen faster if put in direct sunlight. They are great just peeled and eaten, or sliced for salads or cereal.

A banana-honey milkshake is said to be the perfect cure for hangovers, while the banana alone helps with anemia and blood pressure. It even helps with depression and pms.

My favorite ways to eat bananas are of course the banana split and frozen bananas. To make a great frozen banana combine 32 ounces of semisweet chocolate melted with four tbsp. unsalted butter. Cut the end off a banana insert a popsicle stick and freeze. After an hour roll the frozen banana in the chocolate mixture and then in a chopped nut or granola mix. MMMmmmmmmmm! Talk about a perfect snack!