The Morning Banana diet was formulated by Japanese pharmacist, Sumiko Watanabe, who devised it to help her overweight partner Hitoshi lose weight. Sumiko had training in yoga, Chinese herbal medicine and various other alternative health systems. Her diet plan, based on eating bananas for breakfast, gained fans after Hitoshi posted his before and after pictures on a weight-loss forum which was part of a large social networking site. It subsequently exploded in popularity when an opera singer announced on national television that she had lost 15 lbs. in six weeks after following the diet.
Rules
There are few rules to adhere to on the Morning Banana diet. You should eat bananas for breakfast, and drink room-temperature water. You can eat as many bananas as you wish, providing they are eaten raw and have not been previously frozen. Eating an additional breakfast item is permitted, but you are advised to wait at least 15 minutes. Your lunch and dinner can consist of any food, but dessert is forbidden. You should stop eating when you feel 80 percent satiated. During mid-afternoon you may eat a snack, which can be a sweet food if you desire. However, foods rich in trans or saturated fats such as donuts or pastries should be avoided. The last rule of the diet is that you should be in bed by midnight, and your last food should be taken at least 4 hours before you go to bed. Room-temperature water should be frequently consumed throughout the day, and other drinks, including alcohol, may be taken occasionally.
Exercise
The Morning Banana Diet official website states that only light exercise that won't make you breathless or give you stress is recommended. Knee damage may occur in very overweight people if the exercises performed are too strenuous, according to the Asabanana website.
Stress-free
The Morning Banana diet has the advantage over other stricter diet plans in that it is virtually stress-free. You do not have to change your eating habits drastically, and there are no strict routines to manage. No food or drink is entirely forbidden. According to Edward T. Creagan, M.D., of MayoClinic.com, when you are feeling stressed it is harder to keep up with healthy eating. A person who is relaxed about his diet is more likely to be able to follow the plan for longer periods.
Bananas and Water
Eating fruit for breakfast every day will increase dietary fiber intake, which aids weight loss as fiber-rich foods take longer to digest which keeps you feeling full. High-fiber foods can also help to regulate bowel movements. Drinking plenty of water when on a weight=loss diet helps the body to flush out the waste by-products of fat breakdown. Water can also help to combat hunger and suppress the appetite.
Retiring Early
Going to bed at a reasonable time has many benefits, including an increase in energy which will motivate you to be more active, and expend more calories. By not eating for several hours before you retire, you are allowing your body enough time to totally digest the last meal. Food that is not completely digested can cause stomach bloating.
Expert Insight
Doug DiPasquale is a graduate of the Institute of the Holistic Nutrition, and writes nutrition based articles for Canada's that'sfit.ca website. DiPasquale states that while eating bananas for breakfast is not nutritionally unacceptable, he considers the diet to be lacking in other areas as it does not approach the problem of being overweight holistically. The Morning Banana diet also omits to tackle any issues of why a person may have become overweight.
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