Did you know that the banana diet originated from the Japanese? Bananas are currently earning popularity in dieting all over the world. Bananas are easily accessible, thus making this diet regimen a quick hit in Asia, and has now spread even in the US.

Research shows that the Japanese, particularly Okinawans, live longer than any other people in the world. There are at least, 457 Okinawan centenarians (people who are or over 100 years old), as compared with 10 centenarians for every 100,000 US people.  The Japanese outlive any other race in the world which is attributed in living better quality lives. This outstanding phenomenon is accounted for by a proper Japanese diet, all based on the fundamental principle of good eating. This diet consists mainly of rice, fresh fruits, fish, and a lot of vegetables. The Japanese also serve a lot of dishes but only in small portions, so they tend to slowly savor each bite, allowing the brain to have enough time to signal the stomach that it has reached its capacity.

The current craze for the banana diet, however, has become more simple and elemental. The Morning Banana Diet was invented by a Japanese pharmacist, Sumiko Watanabe, for her overweight husband, who lost 37 pounds under this diet regimen. This is how the diet became popular not only in Japan, but all over the world.

Bananas were chosen other than any other fruits because of their flexibility. They are effective not only in shedding off those extra pounds, but are also proven effective in weight gaining regimens when coupled with milk. In addition to this, bananas have a few basic nutritional facts that are well underappreciated.

Bananas are rich in potassium. Potassium is important in the regulation of heart function, blood pressure, fluid balance, and also in the synthesis of nucleic acids, and serves to enhance muscle control. Bananas are also a great source of Vitamin C. Eating one banana is alone comprises 1/6 of the total daily value of Vitamin C, which your body needs. Furthermore, a banana contains only 90 calories per 100 g, which reduces a person’s calories intake, substitutes calories with fiber, and helps in weight loss.

The Morning Banana Diet is quite simple to follow. Under this diet regimen, a person only needs to remember 3 things. The first is to eat as many bananas as he likes for breakfast, accompanied by room temperature water; second is to stop eating by 8PM; and third is to be asleep by midnight. Its prime objective is to limit calorie intake, starting with the first meal of the day. Although desserts are a big no throughout the diet, you can eat whatever you want for lunch and dinner, plus, 3 PM snacks are alright.