Are Bananas the solution to Sleep Apnoea?
April 12, 2009 by Liz Lewis
Filed under Cute Rx, Health, Morning News, Nutrition
Remember the saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away.’ Well, those with sleep apnoea might want to add an banana to that as well.
Someone with obstructive sleep apnoea experiences recurrent choking when their throat closes during sleep, making it a potentially life-threatening disorder. Because of this, many people who suffer from this disorder end up wearing uncomfortable and cumbersome CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) apparatus during the night.
Now some researchers in Australia have found that having a banana smoothie nightcap might just help keep the throat open and therefore reduce this risk of choking.
The study, conducted by a New South Wales University, has come out with preliminary results that indicate that phospholipids (fatty acids) in bananas stay active in the mouth for six hours after ingestion. Already a known fact that phospholipids in other sources work to keep the throat open, this new study has huge implications for those with sleep apnoea.
Not sure what the dentists will make of it as the banana smoothie should be taken after you’ve brushed your teeth for full effect.
But I guess if you’re weighing up good teeth vs breathing, the breathing will win every time.
It’s still early days on for this study and the result are only preliminary so don’t be thinking of throwing away the CPAP machine yet.
(image from sxc.hu)
