Bananas are tasty, cheap and a great energy-boosting health food. No wonder they used to be the preferred fruit to accompany breakfast cereals!

They contain three natural sugars — sucrose, fructose and glucos, and these sugars, combined with the fiber found in bananas, make them the ideal energy food.

Bananas should not be kept in the refrigerator because they will turn black from the inside out. Instead, to hasten the ripening of green bananas, place them in sunlight.

Bananas are a versatile food, and research now shows that they can help to relieve many common ailments. These include:

1 Depression: 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.

2 Pre-menstrual Syndrome (PMS): They are great for women with PMS because they contain Vitamin B6, which regulates blood glucose levels that can affect your moods.

3 Hangovers and heartburn: Bananas have been known to relieve hangovers and heartburn. They also relieve constipation and morning sickness and help to calm your nerves.

4 Anemia and high blood pressure: High in iron, bananas will help if you are anemic. As for high blood pressure, this unique fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect way to beat blood pressure. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recognized this and allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

5 Brain power: Students in a British high school who ate bananas at breakfast, break and lunch, found that they performed better in exams. Apparently the potassium levels in the fruit increases mental alertness.

6 Nicotine withdrawal: Thinking of quitting smoking? No worries, bananas can help. The B6 and B12 vitamins they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium, will help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

7 Stress and strokes: Potassium is absolutely vital to the body. It normalizes the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates the 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. Bananas are also believed to aid in the prevention of strokes and, according to 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 percent.

Interestingly, when compared to an apple, a banana has "four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the Vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. Highly rich in potassium, bananas are clearly great value for money.

Isn't it time you joined the ranks of healthy eaters who believe that a banana a day can keep the doctor away?