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What is the Morning Banana Diet?

Licia Morrow
Licia Morrow

Also called the Asa Banana Diet, the Morning Banana Diet was started by Hitoshi Watanabe, a Tokyo-based student of preventative medicine, and his wife Sumiko, who works as a pharmacist. Sumiko Watanabe created the diet for her husband after he gained weight as a college graduate who put in late nights at work and didn’t have time for exercise. The diet was first introduced on a Japanese social networking site called Mixi, and the movement gained momentum through television, newspaper and magazine articles, blogs, and a book written by the Watanabes.

Kumiko Mori, a former opera singer, publicly discussed her own weight loss, starting the spread of the diet fad. After gaining in popularity through multimedia, many Japanese citizens credited the morning banana diet with aiding in their weight loss. The diet became so widespread in Japan in 2008 that many food stores found it difficult to keep bananas in their inventories. Some reports claim that banana manufacturers were forced to increase their imports to Japan by almost 25% to keep up with increasing consumer demand.

The banana diet prescribes eating one banana for breakfast.
The banana diet prescribes eating one banana for breakfast.

The procedure for following the diet is simple. Participants must eat one or more bananas for breakfast, with a glass of lukewarm water. The remaining rules of the morning banana diet are few. Dieters, while allowed to eat anything they like for lunch and dinner, must also eat their evening meal by 8:00 p.m., and go to bed before midnight. Exercise is not a requirement, although low-stress forms of movement are allowed. The morning banana diet has a few restrictions, including ice cream and dairy products. Sweet treats and alcohol are allowed, but must be kept to a minimum.

The morning banana diet found many followers in Japan.
The morning banana diet found many followers in Japan.

There are many conflicting theories on how the morning banana diet was so efficient at helping people to shed pounds. Some assert that bananas promote weight loss through the addition of enzymes which speed up digestion and elimination. Others argue that fast weight loss is possible with the morning banana diet because it increases the feeling of fullness and fat burning through the introduction of resistant starch. While many nutritionists agree that bananas are a healthy breakfast choice, few concur that they have magical properties that aid in weight loss. Many argue that the reduction of calories from eating fruit for breakfast, and the reduction of sugar, dairy, and alcohol all play a part in this diet’s success. Others, claiming that lack of sleep is often a component of obesity, state that the full night of sleep the diet requires may be a larger part of the diet’s success.

Discussion Comments

John57

Some studies have shown that people who eat breakfast will usually consume fewer calories throughout the day. When you have a good breakfast you will usually avoid junk food in the morning and not be so tempted to snack from the vending machine.

Dieting is never an easy thing, but this diet doesn't sound like you are depriving yourself of food. As long as you make good choices with the food you eat and don't go to bed on a full stomach, you should have a chance at losing some weight. I have heard you are to quit eating at least four hours before going to bed.

golf07

I can see where eating one or more bananas in the morning with a glass of water would give you a full feeling. Bananas are very filling to eat, but I can't imagine how this could help you lose weight. I have read that it is good to drink a glass a water 30 minutes before each meal so you feel somewhat full before you eat your meal and won't eat as much.

I try to eat a banana every day for lunch, but sounds like it is the wrong diet plan, because I have not lost any weight yet. Maybe I will try it in the morning with some water and see what happens.

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    • The banana diet prescribes eating one banana for breakfast.
      The banana diet prescribes eating one banana for breakfast.
    • The morning banana diet found many followers in Japan.
      By: Pontus Edenberg
      The morning banana diet found many followers in Japan.
    • In the Morning Banana diet, dairy should be avoided.
      By: lidante
      In the Morning Banana diet, dairy should be avoided.
    • While many nutritionists agree that bananas are a healthy breakfast choice, few concur that they have magical properties that aid in weight loss.
      By: Elenathewise
      While many nutritionists agree that bananas are a healthy breakfast choice, few concur that they have magical properties that aid in weight loss.
    • Bananas are a healthy breakfast food, but they don't have magical powers that aid in weight loss.
      By: Alliance
      Bananas are a healthy breakfast food, but they don't have magical powers that aid in weight loss.