No monkey business here -- bananas are the real thing. Like corn, eggs, salmon, and spinach they are great source of vitamin B6, a little something known to treat the colon well.

A healthy colon is just one reason to load up on bananas, says RealAge. Here's another: Bananas help ward off Parkinson's disease and depression too.

Eating Well experts suggest you dress up your bananas like this: Add some protein to your yellow fruit with mini-rice cake stacks, or add chocolate for a quick and easy dessert (it's OK, chocolate isn't so bad in moderation), and whip up some spicy banana ketchup for your burgers.

Got any banana fixes you'd like to share?

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I've written before about how Madonna seems to be a healthy celebrity because she is very active and supposedly eats well. But the pop superstar recently freaked out fellow passengers on a trans-Atlantic flight with her seemingly un-healthy behaviour -- not only did she not eat a single thing on the 7-hour flight, but she injected herself with vitamins in her arms. It's believed that she injected vitamins B6 and B12 to boost her energy.

Nutritionists in Britain have criticized her behaviour, saying, "Vitamin injections are an extreme and dangerous fad which has come from the US - it is not very popular over here yet and hopefully will not take off."

I for one don't understand why she can't just swallow her vitamins like everyone else. I also don't understand why she wouldn't go to the bathroom to give herself an injection -- I'm not an etiquette expert but that seems to be fairly bad form. And seven hours without eating? That's a bit extreme. What do you think?

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Ah the hangover. Nature and your body's way of telling you you've gone way overboard. Unfortunately for some of us, it's a lesson we just can't seem to learn. I spent 8 hours driving home from a long weekend getaway yesterday and every one of my friends and I were feeling pretty rough in the car. I'm not naming names, but some had to pull over for a speedy emergency roadside pit-stop (I will say that it wasn't me!).

If you've known the pain of too much drinking and want help for similar situations in the future, or are currently suffering and need aid now, take a look at this article on natural remedies for the dreaded hangover. Sleep and gentle exercise are two easy suggestions, but if that won't cut it the piece also suggests trying B vitamins (B6 and B12) as they help flush out your overworked liver. For a few more ideas, you can see the article here. Of course, the best plan is moderation (but we all know that sometimes even the best of intentions can be ruined by a party that turns into a runaway).

Have you got any great hangover cures that you swear by?

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How much do you know about B vitamins? Most people know that they're important, and maybe that they can help boost your mood, but they do so much more than that. B vitamins have been linked with lower blood pressure, weight loss, reduced migraines, and prevention of birth defects (to name just a few). Basically, B vitamins are necessary for life.

Take this quiz to see what you know about B vitamins, and what you don't. I learned a lot actually. Experts recommend getting the majority of your B's through a healthy diet, but supplements can also be effective as long as you take a B complex and not just individual B vitamin supplements (unless of course your doctor says differently).

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