The Banana Diet and Weight Loss

Bananas have been known to be a good source of potassium, Vitamin B6, magnesium, and fiber. It has been known to regulate blood pressure and since it has Vitamin B6, it helps to lessen insomnia. Bananas can also help in muscle contraction, reducing the risk of getting cramps while playing sports. Aside from all these health benefits, bananas are recently beginning to be in demand because of the Banana Diet that first became popular in Japan. The Banana Diet claims to promote effective weight loss.

The Banana Diet supposedly induces weight loss only if you follow some specific rules such as:

• Do not eat too many bananas. It is alright to eat more than one piece of banana, especially if you are eating the small and sweet variety that usually comes from the Philippines. Just don’t eat to the point of wanting to throw up or when you feel so full that it’s uncomfortable.
• Bananas must be raw and unfrozen.
• Do not drink any other type of beverage other than water.
• Drink only water that is at room temperature. Do not drink water that is either cold or hot.
• Eat lunch and dinner like you normally do, but eat dinner early. Ideally, you must eat dinner at around 6PM.
• Do not stuff yourself when eating. When you feel you are full and at a point where you feel comfortable while satiated, stop eating.
• Eat an early afternoon snack if you want to. Do not deprive yourself of the occasional piece of chocolate or “sinful” dessert.
• Do not force yourself to exercise. If you want to do it, consider a lighter form of exercise.
• Go to bed early.

The theory behind this very popular weight loss method is based on several points:

• The enzymes in bananas and water results to better bowel movement.
• There are enzymes inside bananas that aid in digestion, putting less stress on the digestive system, and thus speeding up the process of digestion. This allows the body to a metabolism more suited to weight loss. It is important to note, however, that the said enzymes are only present if the bananas are eaten raw.
• Eating bananas that are full of fiber will fill up your stomach and satiate part of your appetite. Even if you can, theoretically, eat anything you want during lunch and dinner, you wouldn’t want to eat too much because you’re already feeling a bit full from the bananas.
• Indulging in one or two small snacks during the day and not tiring yourself out by rigorous exercising will lower your stress levels. High stress levels will cause you to eat too much or overcompensate for depriving yourself of the occasional treat.
• Eating dinner earlier will be better for the digestion and since your stomach is not full when you go to sleep, you’ll feel more rested in the morning.

In every new weight loss program that you try, what is important is that you make an informed decision about it. Before you jump fully into something or denounce something as merely a fad, take a careful look. The same applies for all-natural diet pills like Proactol that acts as an appetite inhibitor. Natural is, more often than not, better.