Can I eat too many bananas and if so how many is too many?

[bikerjohn]

I'm nearly at the end of week 3 of the 12 week plan and, apart form a couple of glitches, have managed to stick to the plan really easily. However, as my day typically starts at around 5 AM I usually have breakfast that early which usually consists of 2 Shredded wheat or Weetabix with semi-skimmed milk and a banana for slow release energy until lunch time. This is OK but I heard somewhere that bananas can be really difficult to digest and slow weight loss down.

[Penel]

Bananas are really good for you. The fibre in them means they are digested slowly.

This article is a good explanation.

livestrong.com/article/2787...

[bunblebeaz]

I usually have a banana every day and no problems with my digestive system.

I did hear somewhere that you are what you eat, so if you eat too many I suppose you might turn into one?

Seriously, though, bananas contain lots of potassium, which is toxic in high concentrations...this could be what you've seen. But the amount of bananas you'd need to eat to kill yourself through potassium overdose is pretty high, so unless you have a medical condition to do with potassium ingestion a banana a day is fine

[bikerjohn in reply to bunblebeaz]

I thought it sounded a bit odd. I don't have any problems with my digestive system so I'll carry on enjoying them. Thanks for the response.

[Jennypenny272]

I always eat bananas. They are 100kcal each but I find them filling and have them on weetabix for breakfast too

[bikerjohn in reply to Jennypenny272]

That's another good reason to have a banana for breakfast, they're filling. Plus I don't have sugar on my cereal if I have banana. If I'm feeling satisfied I won't get tempted into the 24hr McDonalds on my way to work or the 5am opening McDonalds round the corner from the office - which I did frequently before starting this plan. Thanks again for the reassurance.

[bikerjohn]

That's true. Maybe I'm getting my excuses in early for my weight loss slowing down! Lol

Btw, I do try to get at least 5 portions of fruit and veg a day in and eating less carbs and sugar makes it easy because the fruit and veg fill you up instead of carbs and sugar.

[bikerjohn]

That's a sobering thought. As I've tried to cut out most carbs from my diet especially bread and pasta, would a bowl of fruit be a better option for breakfast? Or do I need the fibre in the wheat? Thinking about it, would porridge be better still?

[Penel in reply to bikerjohn]

If you have the time, a protein breakfast would be the best idea, but porridge is a good second. I eat a plain probiotic yoghurt with fruit and nuts I add myself, I don't think fruit on it's own would be enough.

[bikerjohn in reply to Penel]

Sounds good to me. My problem is that I tend to prepare and eat breakfast in 5 minutes flat before leaving for work. Something I need to work on though, perhaps going to bed an hour earlier the night before.

[Hidden]

I like to have a mixed fruit and oat breakfast: 3tablespoons of oats, 200g low fat yoghurt, 1 banana, lemon juice and grated peel, artificial sweetner to taste. It helps me along

[bikerjohn in reply to Hidden]

That sounds good, is the sweetener necessary though? Is it much better for me than sugar?

[Penel in reply to bikerjohn]

Some people have a problem with artificial sweeteners and the long term effects on health are unknown. If you are having a banana you might not need any other sweetener.

[Penel in reply to bikerjohn]

Some people have a problem with artificial sweeteners and the long term effects on health are unknown. If you are having a banana you might not need any other sweetener.

[bikerjohn in reply to Penel]

Thanks for the info'. No I eat a banana with cereal to replace sugar with the added bonus that it counts towards my 5 a day.

[Hidden]

Hi bikerjohn,

To be honest, I quite often have a couple of bananas in a day. For sure they can be a bit heavy on the digestion - but can't most high-fibre foods? - and I wouldn't recommend them immediately before going to bed!

I can't see any reason why they might slow down your weight loss, except perhaps that they have a few more calories in them when compared to quite a lot of other fruits.

Good luck with your weight loss journey.

[OlsBean]

As it's been said Oats are better than Wheat for allsorts of reason, I have porridge most mornings myself but I also keep a bag of Tesco's Free From Oat Muesli in the cupboard which is handy for mornings where I don't have the time to cook real porridge (not often), this muesli contains no processed sugar or wheat!

Bananas are amazingly nutritional, the only thing to be aware is that they can cause constipation.

[carbjunkie]

I often place oats, fruit juice or yoghurt, chopped nuts and fruit in a covered bowl in the fridge overnight and have it for brekkie next morning. For breakfast on the run, you can't really beat a couple of hard boiled eggs. I always keep a few ready boiled and peeled in the fridge for morning when I running late. Ideal for eating in the car and good source of protein!

[juniper88]

I am on a raw diet and bananas figure heavily in it. But no more than 5 per day. Not that you'd get any side-effects but I just don't feel like eating more than 5.

[elliebath Maintainer]

Try to avoid carbohydrate at every breakfast. Try switching to Eggs. This worked brilliantly for me , kept me satisfied all morning, killed my urge for mid morning biscuits, and 2-3 eggs take no more than 5 minutes to cook. (Or if you're really short of time, hard boil the night before).

The protein will keep you satisied for hours.