Bananas - Luxury or Necessity?

Currently close to $15/kilo, I considered cutting bananas out of the budget, but first, I decided to do a little research to help me decide if they are a luxury or a necessity.
After reading that bananas are a fruit, but really a berry, but technically a herb, and related to orchids, I came across endless information on just how rich in nutrients these suckers are and how many benefits they can have on your health and wellness.
Bananas are high in Potassium which is imperative to heart function as well as muscle contraction (both skeletal and smooth muscle, so aside from assisting with your squats, they are assisting with your digestion). Potassium also plays a significant role in prevention of high blood pressure, even if you are not watching your sodium intake. One study has shown that the risk of stroke can be reduced by up to 40% if you include bananas as part of your regular diet.
Bananas contain B vitamins including far higher levels of B6 than most other fruits. The benefits of B vitamins range from aiding energy levels by helping the body use it's fuel sources, keeping depression at bay, regulating blood glucose levels, and along with potassium and magnesium, they can help the body recover from nicotine withdrawal if you are quitting smoking.
They contain the aminoacid Tryptophan, which helps the body produce serotonin which is a natural 'feel good' chemical.
Research printed in the International Journal of Cancer has shown that women eating bananas 4-6 times per week can reduce their risk of cancer of the kidney by 50% compared to those who do not eat them.
And, they're high in fibre, which of course keeps you 'regular' but also helps you feel more satisfied when you eat them, so even though they are higher in calories than other fruits, you are likely to eat less.

Aside from anything else, they are just so convenient, and frankly, my fruit bowl doesn't look right without them, so I have decided they are a necessity and I'm sure I can find a few other luxury items that I can cut out of my weekly grocery shop so I can keep bananas in!

Let your Inspiration be your Motivation

We're forever talking about 'Motivation' - "I need to get motivated", "I can't get motivated", "I'm feeling really motivated" and so on. But what lies behind said 'Motivation'? What is it that drives us to feel motivated or what is missing when we're not motivated?
Could it be 'Inspiration'? Inspiration is the key to your motivation! We all have things we know we 'should' do, and everyone is hard on themselves when motivation or will power is lacking. Inspiration is a somewhat romantic notion that puts a smile on your face, gives you a warm fuzzy feeling, or puts that fire in your belly that flows on to give you the motivation to do what you need to do.
So for me, the order is this: INSPIRATION the bigger picture - why you want what you want. GOALS (lets not forget about the nuts and bolts that join the other two together) the milestones you need to reach, big or small, to get you to the bigger picture. MOTIVATION the desire to complete the task at hand.
So find your inspiration and you'll find your motivation. Whether you're inspired to win a competition; feel super fit and healthy; look great, set an example for your children; start your own business; do something special for charity, remind yourself of your inspiration daily - stick it on the fridge, set a reminder on your phone, put a photo on your desk - whatever you need. It's the key to getting you motivated and feeling good about yourself!