Banana diet: pros and cons, rules and options, a healthy way out
Despite the high calorie content, bananas allow you to normalize metabolism and promote weight loss. Fruits do not have a fat-burning effect, and if you do not follow the rules of the diet, they will only accelerate weight gain. At the same time, the disadvantages of the banana method of losing weight are offset by its advantages: the gastrointestinal tract is freed from toxins and excess fluid, a person receives the necessary vitamins and minerals and does not feel severe hunger.
Get fat or lose weight from bananas?
Bananas are classified as high-calorie fruits, because the energy value of 100 g of the product reaches about 96 kcal. They contain a large amount of easily digestible carbohydrates, which are deposited as glycogen in the liver and muscles. Subsequently, the chemical becomes the basis of adipose tissue. At the same time, there are some varieties of bananas that benefit the body:
- they have a fat-burning effect due to the acceleration of intracellular metabolism;
- have a low GI, due to which carbohydrates are absorbed more slowly;
- satisfy hunger for 3-4 hours;
- contribute to the removal of excess fluid;
- tasty foods make it easier to tolerate a low-calorie diet;
- the pectin or soluble fiber contained in bananas has a slight laxative effect, removes feces and toxins from the body;
- provide the body with enough energy.
These varieties include the Basho banana grown in Japan, red and thin-skinned bananas. They help to get rid of excess weight within 1-2 weeks. During this time, the body can lose up to 5 kg.
In addition, bananas have many useful properties:
- due to the high content of potassium, myocardial contractility improves, the level of bad cholesterol decreases;
- organic acids inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms;
- the work of the digestive organs improves: the risk of developing heartburn is reduced, vegetable proteins gently envelop the walls of the stomach, protecting them from the aggressive effects of hydrochloric acid;
- efficiency increases, a person is easier to focus on the tasks;
- blood pressure decreases;
- the water-electrolyte balance is normalized;
- improves tissue regeneration;
- flavonoids stimulate the production of serotonin and dopamine;
- help muscles recover quickly after intense training.
But despite the large number of useful qualities, Bananas can make you fat. Usually a person gains excess weight with the wrong use of tropical fruits. People gain weight if they eat a large amount of bananas daily or choose high-calorie varieties of the product.
The essence of the weight loss diet
The banana diet is a carbohydrate weight loss technique that involves consuming up to 1100-1200 kcal per day. The diet on such a program is not balanced, so its duration should not exceed 7 days. If you plan to follow a strict diet option, you should limit the diet for only 3 days. In this mode per day it is allowed to eat 1 kg of bananas, 750 ml of milk 2.5% fat and non-carbonated mineral water. Milk can be replaced with kefir 1% fat.
Bananas do not have a fat burning effect. Weight loss occurs due to the acceleration of metabolism and the normalization of the digestive process. Fruits contain a large amount of plant fiber. Dietary fibers are not coarse, but soluble - when they enter the gastrointestinal tract, they are transformed into a mucous liquid. It envelops the walls of organs, contributing to the removal of slag masses, and softens fecal masses.
As a result, after eating bananas, a slight laxative effect is felt, due to which the body gets rid of food waste.
Vitamins and minerals in bananas restore water and electrolyte balance. Active substances have an anti-inflammatory effect, so they relieve swelling of the legs and face. Fluid retention in the body disrupts intracellular metabolism. Thanks to the use of bananas, the body gets rid of excess water, due to which the metabolism is normalized. A person feels lightness, there is a desire to move.
Due to the high calorie content on a weekly banana diet, physical activity is necessary.. To compensate for the energy costs of regular exercise, the body will be forced to burn visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue. At the same time, while following a diet, it is necessary to maintain the work of skeletal muscles.
On a low-calorie diet, not only fat is split, but also muscles. Therefore, along with bananas, protein products should be consumed: milk, sour-milk drinks, cottage cheese, lean meat.
Indications and contraindications
Banana diet is suitable for people in the following cases:
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, with the exception of the acute period: peptic ulcer, gastritis, gastroduodenitis, frequent heartburn, reflux disease;
- tendency to develop edema, violation of water and electrolyte balance;
- hypoglycemia - low concentration of sugar in the blood;
- diseases of the liver and gallbladder: cholecystitis, cholangitis;
- violation of the kidneys;
- poor circulation;
- obesity (no more than 50-100 g per day), overweight.
Bananas are allowed to be eaten raw and cooked. Baking fruit is recommended for people over 50 years old, patients with gastritis and ulcers. When ingested, the pulp stimulates the production of protective mucus, which protects the walls of the stomach from the aggressive effects of hydrochloric acid.
At the same time, bananas can harm people with the following problems:
- high blood clotting;
- the period of pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- varicose veins, thrombophlebitis;
- post-stroke and post-infarction period;
- increased gas formation in the intestines;
- severe damage to the gallbladder;
- individual intolerance to the product, hereditary predisposition to the development of allergies;
- diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2;
- kidney and liver failure.
If contraindications are ignored, dyspeptic disorders may develop. Flatulence, bloating, violation of the chair begins. Against the background of severe diseases, there is a sharp deterioration in the general condition of the body. Pregnant women should not go on a banana diet due to the fact that if a carbohydrate diet is observed, intrauterine fetal anomalies may occur.
There is a risk of kernicterus and hemolytic anemia in these infants after birth.
Varieties
For weight loss, you can not choose the first fruit that comes across. It is necessary to buy thin-skinned or Japanese Basho bananas. They contain many trace elements and have a lower calorie content. Due to the content of a large amount of nutrients, they are easier to digest and satisfy hunger for 3-4 hours.
Unripe bananas contain insoluble starch that is not digested in the intestines. Therefore, after their use, the development of flatulence and bloating is possible. Fructose is concentrated in overripe bananas, toxins begin to accumulate.
Before buying fruits, you should inspect their appearance:
- the peel should be thin, yellow;
- ripe fruits are soft to the touch;
- it is recommended to buy fruits of medium size;
- green bananas can be ripened at home.
Thick-skinned bananas are forage fruits that should be eaten only after baking or boiling. Before use, peel and white threads must be removed from the fruit. It is forbidden to eat dried fruits on a diet, because their calorie content per 100 g reaches 365 kcal.
Banana milk
Bananas go well with milk 2.5-3.2% fat. In case of individual intolerance to the drink, it should be replaced with natural yogurt. There are 2 options for following the banana-milk diet.
- Strict. The diet continues for 3-5 days. It is allowed to eat up to 3 medium-sized bananas and 250 ml of skim milk per day. Drink water in unlimited quantities. Dinner should be before 18:00.
- sparing. During the day, 4 bananas and 1 liter of milk are allowed. Products should be divided into 5-6 parts.They can be consumed individually, in the form of a cocktail or ice cream. In between meals, you can drink tea or water. The duration of the diet should not exceed 10 days.
For a day on a sparing program, you can lose up to 700 g of weight, while if you follow a strict diet, you can lose up to 3 kg in 5 days.
Japanese
The Japanese banana diet was developed by nutritionist Hitoshi Watanabe. In his opinion, the combination of banana pulp with warm water speeds up the metabolic rate. If you follow his weight loss program, you can eat any food for lunch and dinner.. At the same time, excess weight continues to go away thanks to a fruit breakfast.
Unripe bananas contain resistant starch, which takes a long time to digest in the stomach. Because of this, a person feels false saturation. Hunger does not occur, but the body spends a large amount of energy on digesting a complex chain of carbohydrates. As a result, you can achieve a fat burning effect. Warm water is needed to improve the digestion of food.
On the Japanese version of the diet, you can lose 5 kg per month. For weight loss, you should choose fresh bananas that have not previously been cooked or frozen. If after half an hour after breakfast a person feels hungry, you can eat another fruit. In this case, the total calorie content of the first meal should not exceed 200 kcal.
With the Hitoshi Watanabe diet, you need to follow a few rules.
- Do not have dinner later than 18:00. If after 30 minutes from the evening meal there is a feeling of hunger, you can eat any fruit of your choice, with the exception of grapes and persimmons.
- You need to fall asleep before midnight. Dinner should be at least 4 hours before going to bed.During the diet, it is recommended to keep a food diary in which you need to note the calorie content of foods, the time of eating and weight changes.
- It is forbidden to overeat. No more than 4 bananas are allowed for breakfast. After eating, there should be a slight feeling of hunger.
- Do not eat overripe fruits. In darkened and soaked fruits, a large amount of sugar is concentrated, which will be deposited in the form of glycogen. You can eat green thin-skinned bananas.
- During the day, you should drink still water and green tea in small sips.
- Desserts can only be eaten in the morning. It is forbidden to drink alcohol, coffee and dairy products.
- Physical activity should be optional.
Hitoshi Watanabe believes that a person should get the maximum amount of energy during breakfast. It is these calories that the body will burn during the working day. Bananas are ideal for replenishing nutrient stores, containing up to 21 g of carbohydrates per 100 g of pulp. The duration of the diet a person must choose on their own. The maximum allowable duration of weight loss is up to 4 months.
Sample menu for the day | Products |
Breakfast | 250 ml warm water, 1-4 bananas. |
Lunch | Oatmeal porridge cooked in water without sugar. For taste, pieces of any fruit are added with the exception of bananas. |
Dinner | Low-fat soup, steamed meat or baked fish. |
afternoon tea | A fruit or a handful of nuts. |
Dinner | Boiled chicken fillet with garnish, vegetable salad seasoned with olive oil. If you feel hungry, you can additionally eat an apple or drink green tea. |
Unloading day features
Unloading is carried out during the day every week. During the day, a person cleanses the body of toxins and toxins, excess fluid is removed, digestion and metabolism are normalized. Thanks to this effect, the body burns unnecessary adipose tissue on its own.
During the day you can eat 500-1000 g of bananas and drink up to 2 liters of water. Eat food should be 4-5 times a day with a break of 2-3 hours. 24 hours before unloading, you should refuse fatty, fried, salty and spicy foods. During dinner on the eve of the fasting day, it is forbidden to overeat.
The next day after unloading, you need to eat only low-fat foods.
Menu for 3 and 7 days
When following a strict diet option for 72 hours, it is necessary to reduce the amount of physical activity so as not to cause stress in the body and metabolic disorders. The daily calorie content of the diet is up to 1000 kcal. Per day, 1-1.3 kg of peeled banana pulp is allowed, which will need to be divided into 4-5 meals. Between meals, you need to keep a gap of 2-3 hours. During the day, you can drink green tea and still water. Thanks to such a weight loss program, up to 2-3 kg of excess weight can be eliminated in 3 days.
Body weight is reduced due to the removal of slag masses, toxins and excess fluid. There is no fat-burning effect in 3 days, because the body is only cleared of food waste. During a period of limited nutrition, the body tries to store as much glycogen as possible. At the same time, thanks to the 3-day unloading, the overall metabolic rate increases, which starts the process of self-regulation of weight.
If you follow a weekly banana diet, you can lose up to 5 kg of body weight. Within 7 days, there is an improvement in well-being, a desire to exercise appears and heaviness in the stomach disappears. Fruits, along with other dietary foods, do not have a negative impact on health, but during weight loss, doctors advise taking additional multivitamin complexes to maintain immunity.
Diet | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner | Dinner |
1 day | 1-2 bananas, green tea. | Banana. | Weak tea, sandwich with vegetables. | 250 ml of kefir, fruit salad with bananas. |
2 day | Unsweetened coffee without milk, any fruit of your choice. | A glass of low-fat milk and a banana. | Green tea, some fruits. | Banana, low fat yogurt. |
3 day | Green tea, 2 fruits. | Banana. | Steamed buckwheat with a thin slice of meat. | 250 g vegetable salad. |
Day 4 | Banana tea. | Boiled chicken egg. | Fresh fruits. | Banana and a glass of fat-free yogurt. |
Day 5 | 2 bananas, coffee without sugar and milk. | A glass of kefir. | Unleavened oatmeal, 150 g of low-fat baked fish. | Banana. |
Day 6 | 2 bananas, weak tea. | Banana, skim milk. | Vegetable salad of leafy greens and tomatoes. | A glass of milk 2.5% fat and kefir. |
Day 7 | 1-2 bananas, coffee or weak tea. | Banana. | Unleavened porridge with pieces of boiled chicken. | Banana and a glass of kefir. |
Diet Recipes
Bananas go well with milk drinks and other fruits. These dishes can replace fresh banana fruits in the diet of a weekly diet. In some cases, fruit can be used up to 3 times a day. At the same time, their total amount should not exceed 600 g per day. If the dosage is exceeded, the process of losing weight stops due to metabolic disorders.
The following types of desserts can be prepared from bananas.
Name | Ingredients | Cooking method |
Blueberry Banana Smoothie |
| Bananas should be cut into large pieces and put in a silicone dish, which then put in the freezer for 2 hours. After the required time has passed, the fruits, along with blueberries, must be mixed in a blender, then add kefir or yogurt and mix again. The prepared mixture is recommended to be eaten immediately. |
banana pancakes |
| Fruit should be ground or ground with a blender and mixed with other ingredients. Pancakes are baked from the resulting mass. Pancakes should be served with yogurt, berry jam or warm honey. |
Fruit salad |
| Fruit must be finely chopped, then add yogurt, honey and mix well. Sprinkle the top of the mixture with cinnamon. |
banana broth |
| Water should be brought to a boil over high heat. During this time, you need to rinse the banana, cut off its tips and divide into several parts without removing the peel. The fruit is placed in a saucepan and boiled for 10 minutes. After that, you need to take out the banana pieces. Cinnamon is added to the resulting broth. Boiled bananas can be eaten or ground in a blender to make a smoothie. |
fruit muffins |
| Fruit pulp, eggs, sweetener and melted butter should be whipped in a blender. Flour, vanillin and baking powder are mixed separately and added in small portions to the banana mixture. The resulting dough must be laid out in a mold or baking sheet, which is pre-lubricated with butter. The cake is baked at +180°C for 40 minutes. |
Baked banana pulp |
| Line a baking sheet with foil and grease with butter. The banana is cut lengthwise into 2 parts and laid out on foil. Sprinkle the fruit with breadcrumbs and cinnamon on top, then bake in the oven at +180°C for 20 minutes. |
Is it possible or not to eat fruit in the evening?
Eating fruits at night is not recommended. Eat bananas at least 4 hours before going to bed. If you use them in the evening, you may experience flatulence, increased gas formation and heaviness in the stomach. Due to the discomfort experienced, a person will not be able to sleep normally, which negatively affects the hormonal background and metabolism. As a result, the process of losing weight will slow down.
Proper transition to a normal diet
To save the result, you need to properly exit the diet. If you abruptly include fatty foods in your diet, the weight can return within a week. An unbalanced diet will disrupt the overall metabolism, which will again accumulate toxins in the intestines.
After a carbohydrate diet it is not recommended to consume pickled and spicy foods, confectionery, fatty foods, fried foods, sweet and carbonated drinks for 5-7 days. The gastrointestinal tract should not suffer from excessive use of junk food - normally, the digestive organs gradually adapt to the digestion of new foods.
In the first 2-3 days, it is allowed to eat lean meats and fish, steamed, or boiled vegetables. In the next 48 hours, raw fruits and cereals should be included in the menu.
At the same time, it is necessary to adhere to the rules of a balanced diet and calculate the required daily calorie content of the diet.
If you plan to continue the process of losing weight, it is recommended to adhere to stricter exit rules:
- within 10-14 days, boiled lean meat, unleavened cereals, vegetables and fruits should be eaten;
- after 2 weeks after the end of the diet, gradually include other foods in the diet;
- replace dinner with 1 banana;
- start exercising;
- reduce portions to 250-300 g;
- do not use a large number of flour and confectionery products;
- take walks for half an hour in the fresh air.
If during the diet there was no dizziness and dyspeptic disorders, you should unload on bananas every week for 24 hours.
Feedback about the results
Both nutritionists and overweight people speak positively about the banana diet. On average, they managed to lose from 3 to 5 kg. The amount of body weight lost depended on the duration of the weight loss program and the amount of physical activity. Due to its high calorie content and high fiber content I was able to satisfy my hunger for 3-4 hours.
At the same time, most users of Internet forums recommend sticking to a weekly diet, which is characterized by a more varied diet.When losing weight within 3 days, the sweet taste of bananas is very boring, which is why a breakdown is possible.
In the next video, banana diet options and menus are waiting for you.