People going bananas over new diet in Japan

A new fad diet in Japan has been clearing supermarket shelves of bananas, because the new fad diet is eating a banana for breakfast while sipping warm water. Named the "Morning Banana Diet," the new fad has increased banana sales by 40 percent.

While it may not seem like much, there are other rules to the diet. Broken down it's quite simple:

Breakfast: Raw Banana with warm water.

Lunch: Whatever a "normal" lunch is for you.

Dinner: Same as lunch.

An afternoon snack is allowed, but no deserts, dairy or alcohol. No eating after 8 p.m. and exercise if the mood strikes.

While this all sounds great, what's so special about this diet? I don't really see much, except a cut in calories with having only a banana and water for breakfast.

Some Facts about Bananas:

Averages about 175 calories per banana.
Has 0.33 grams of fat per 100 grams.
12.33 grams of sugar (the good, natural kind, of course) per 100 grams.
2.6 grams of fiber.
1.09 grams of protein.
It contains vitamin A, most of the B complex vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.

All in all, a great fruit. The fad diet claims that the enzymes and fiber in the banana speed up digestion and your metabolism which will make you loose weight.

What do the experts say?

From the startribune.com, "Bananas pack lots of potassium and fiber and few calories (a medium banana has 100 calories). Most Americans don't eat enough vegetables or fruits, so eating more fruit is a good idea. However, different fruits have different nutrients, so variety is essential. Bananas are high in carbohydrates, and Lehrman said people tend to do better with a high-protein breakfast."

'There is no magic bullet, no magic food or one certain thing that's going to help someone lose weight,' said Brenda Navin, a registered dietitian and personal trainer at Woodwinds Health Campus in Woodbury. Claims that one 'miracle' food holds the answer have led to such fad diets as the cabbage soup diet, grapefruit diet, lemonade diet and even a cookie diet."



The video playing in many of the banana-less supermarkets.