Banana Diet

Introduction: Banana Diet

The Banana Diet is based on the assertion that the banana has properties that help dieters to feel full and lose weight. Bananas are high in fiber, which helps dieters to feel full and may lead them to eat less. Other theories include the ability of bananas to boost metabolism and aid indigestion. The Banana Diet begins with eating one or more raw, uncooked, unfrozen bananas for breakfast with room temperature water. If a dieter is still hungry after about 15-30 minutes, he or she can eat about 200 calories of oatmeal or rice. Dieters can then eat anything they want for lunch and dinner, although the Banana Diet recommends that dieters eat only until they are about 80% full or only until feeling satisfied but before feeling full or stuffed. One sweet snack, such as chocolate or cookies is allowed in the afternoon and a snack of fruit may be eaten after dinner if needed to satisfy hunger. The Banana Diet also includes a rule that dieters have a four hour period between their last meal or snack and bedtime and that they go to bed before midnight. The only fluid recommended is water, and milk and other dairy products are not allowed. Alcohol is also banned.

Bananas are a healthy food and can be a part of a well balanced weight loss program. Because of its natural sweetness, bananas may be able to satisfy a "sweet tooth" and makes a much better choice for breakfast than then such sweets as doughnuts, which are loaded with empty calories, sugar, and saturated fats. However, the Banana Diet does not address the types of foods that can be eaten at lunch and dinner. If a dieter chooses to eat too many foods high in sugar, salt, processed carbohydrates, and/or fats, there is a potential to gain weight. There may also be health risks, such as increasing cholesterol levels, insulin resistance, and blood pressure. A healthy, well-balanced and effective weight loss plan can include bananas while advocating eating a diet that includes balanced nutrition. This includes lean proteins low in saturated fats, low sodium foods, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and healthy fats, such as olive oil and flaxseed oil. The Banana Diet, however, eliminates dairy products, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies and osteoporosis. Good, effective weight loss plans also include a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise. The Banana Diet specifies that dieters can exercise if they want to but that they should not put any pressure on themselves to do so. Credible diets include methods or other strategies to help dieters to stick to their eating plans. The Banana Diet does encourage dieters to keep a diet journal and to network with other dieters via online bogs, forums, or social networking services. The best diet plans also stress the importance of developing healthy, reasonable eating patterns that can be maintained for a lifetime, and that dieters not lose more the one to two pounds per week. Depending on what other food choices a dieter on the Banana Diet makes, there is a potential for a lack of balanced nutrition and adequate calorie intake. Although the Banana Diet recommends that lunch and dinner is sufficient for a dieter to feel 80% full, which may be difficult to gauge and may lead to a diet that is too high or too low in calories. When a diet is too low in calories, rebound weight gain is common. This is due to the fact that severe calorie restriction results in the body going into "starvation" mode, which leads to a lower metabolism, the body's way to try to prevent complete starvation. This often leads to gaining even more weight then was lost after the diet has been discontinued and encourages "yo-yo" dieting patterns that are unhealthy and do not result in effective weight control. Severe calorie and nutrient restriction can also lead to low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), low blood pressure, dizziness, and weakness. They can also led to ketoacidosis, a condition in which severe restriction of calories or carbohydrates leads to dangerously high levels of acids called ketones build up in the blood and can poison the body. Any diet may have the potential to be harmful, so consultation with a health care provider before starting a diet plan and exercise program is recommended.

Banana Diet: Other Names

Other names for this diet (Banana Diet) include:

Morning Banana Diet
Asa Banana Diet

Banana Diet: Similar Diets

Other diets similar to Banana Diet include:

Grapefruit diet

Conditions Associated with Banana Diet

Conditions associated with Banana Diet include:

Foods Excluded Or Restricted From Banana Diet

The following foods may be restricted or excluded from Banana Diet:

Alcohol
Dairy foods

Foods Focused On For Banana Diet

The following foods may be focused on as part of Banana Diet:

Bananas
Room temperature water

Banana Diet: Potential Risks Or Complications

The following are potential risks or complications of the diet (Banana Diet):

Weight gain, depending on food choices made
Rebound weight gain after rapid weight loss
"Yo-yo" dieting patterns, depending on food choices made
Nutritional deficiencies
Osteoporosis
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), depending on food choices made
Increased cholesterol and blood pressure depending on food choices made
Ketoacidosis - a condition in which severe restriction of calories or carbohydrates leads to dangerously high levels of acids called ketones build up in the blood and can poison the body.
Weight loss diets are not recommended for pregnant or nursing women