Morning Banana Diet Review

The Morning Banana Diet was all the rage in Japan in 2008, after Japanese pharmacist Hitoshi Watanabe posted on a social networking site about the diet his wife Sumiko created for him, on which he lost 37 pounds. The story started spreading via the internet, and in no time was featured in magazines (Time) , television reports (ABC) and ultimately the Watanabes even got a book deal. In classic fad diet style its rapidly skyrocketing popularity contributed to a run - literally - on bananas in Japan.

Despite all the hype, there's not much to the Morning Banana Diet. Breakfast is 2 bananas and room temperature water. You're free to eat whatever you like for lunch and dinner, and allowed one afternoon snack, with some restrictions. Those restrictions include no dairy, no alcohol, and no desserts - no big surprises there. You're also instructed to not eat after 8 p.m., and only consume room temperature water as a beverage.

There is no emphasis on exercise - but if you want to, you're advised to take the path of least resistance. Obviously this element of the plan goes a long way towards explaining this diet's popularity....but in any event, the real question is: what's so special about bananas in the morning?

There are a number of theories on the role bananas might play in weight loss. One idea is that there are specific enzymes in bananas which speed up digestion and elimination. Except that's not really true, as the body already has all of the enzymes it needs for digestion in place. There is also speculation on the role of fiber, given that fibrous food passes through the digestive system quickly and is often not completely absorbed, thereby sparing a few calories. Also, research indicates that indigestible fiber can block digestion of some carbs. All true, but bananas, which have some fiber, don't have enough to change your life. Ultimately, experts conclude that while bananas are a wonderfully nutritious, low calorie food and a key element in a healthy diet, they do not boast any miracle weight loss properties.

The bottom line with the Morning Banana Diet is that Hitoshi Watanabe lost 37 pounds without exercising because he was on a low-calorie, deprivation diet plan. No sweets, no dairy, no booze...who wouldn't lose weight if all they were eating were bananas, water and two sensible meals a day?