Goin' Bananas

CEBU, Philippines - The banana is not a fruit. Not really. It’s most unique since it does not come from a tree but from the largest herb plant that is more closely related to lilies and the orchid family. But due to its size, the herb plant is more commonly thought of as a “banana tree.” 

Morning Banana Diet

When the Morning Banana Diet hit the news in Japan last year, it had the whole nation in a frenzy. Prices of banana in the market skyrocketed and there was shortage of supply. 

It started in March with the publication of Morning Banana Diet, which claimed that eating only bananas and room-temperature water for breakfast would jumpstart weight loss, regardless of what was eaten during the rest of the day. Banana was said to aid in digestion and improve metabolism.

The diet was created by Hitoshi and Sumiko Watanabe, and promoted on the social networking site mixi. Hitoshi, who studied preventative medicine in Tokyo and his wife, who is a pharmacist, introduced the diet to the Japanese. 

Former opera singer Kumiko Mori even announced that she lost 15 pounds on the Morning Banana Diet.

Health experts and medical doctors have, however, debunked the myth behind this fab diet. Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, director of nutrition for WebMD and the WebMD Weight Loss Clinic, said that bananas, along with most fruits have long been a part of healthy diets and weight loss plans. But while they are nutritious, they do not have special weight loss properties.

Different versions of the Morning Banana Diet tout varying explanations of exactly how bananas work to promote weight loss. One theory suggests that certain enzymes in bananas speed up digestion and elimination, causing rapid weight loss. However, the human body already contains all the enzymes needed for digestion. It’s true that foods with fiber (and bananas have some) can go through the digestive system more quickly and may not be completely absorbed, thus saving a few calories. But the calorie savings are certainly not enough to revolutionize the weight loss industry.

OK, bananas as fad diet, maybe not. How about it’s health benefits?

Bananas as mood food

In order to have a healthy lifestyle, experts say we must have to meet our daily requirement of five fruits and vegetables. Bananas are a perfect part of our diet and they are the most popular fruit in the Philip-pines. Bananas are available all year and they are a great source of instant energy. Bananas contain no fat, sodium or cholesterol. It is a known fact that a low fat, balanced diet rich in vegetables and fruit may reduce the risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer.

Studies have shown that bananas are rich in vitamin B6 and they are a good source of fiber, vitamin C, magnesium and potassium. Lack of B6 in a diet can cause weakness, insomnia and irritability.

They are also easy to digest. Because of their great taste, they can also serve as a substitute for sweets and satisfy sugar cravings.

Research also shows that serotonin and norepinephrine in bananas may naturally help sufferers overcome depression. They are the good mood food. So instead of reaching for a bar of chocolates, why not try a banana?

Athletes like bananas

Bananas are also good for post-exercise snack. During long exercises our body lose vitamins and minerals and a banana replaces these nutrients as well as energy needed. Have you noticed that athletes like to snack on these yellow fruits? Potassium in bananas is essential for helping muscles to contract properly during exercise and reduces cramping up.

The potassium found in bananas helps to regulate blood pressure and may reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. A medium-sized banana provides 400 mg of potassium -11 percent of daily value- and contains 110 calories and 4 grams of fiber. Bananas also contain plenty of carbohydrates which are the body’s main source of energy.

Bananas as brain food?

It has been established that bananas are good for the heart. But is it good for the brain too? Bananas are rich in vitamin B6 — and very early research suggests that high levels of B6 may protect against Parkinson’s.

Vitamin B6 — along with folate and B12 — helps reduce levels of homocysteine, an amino acid. That’s good for our ticker, because too much homocysteine in the blood appears to increase heart disease risk.

Homocysteine also appears to be toxic to nerve cells, and elevated levels have been linked to Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder that causes muscles to become rigid and shake uncontrollably.

Parkinson’s disease occurs when some of the nerve centers in the brain lose the ability to regulate muscle movements. As a result, a person may have rigid muscles, tremors, and trouble walking and swallowing.

Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common diseases affecting movement in people over age 55. It is chronic, meaning that person will have it the rest of his life. It also is progressive, which means the symptoms grow worse over time. The disease may become disabling after many years.

The study of the effect of bananas in preventing Parkinson’s is in its early stages so it’s not something to go bananas over just yet. Still, it has been proven that bananas are good for our health.

So grab a banana today. You’re life may depend on it.