Bananas?

[Jennifer Smith]

Can someone please clarify the deals with bananas during weight loss? Is this due to high sugar or something else? Are they significantly worse that other fruits?

[Spencer James]

Where do bananas sit in the context of the rest of your diet? The answer will probably be different depending on whether you are eating a typical American diet vs super strict paleo vs Zone vs whatever else.

[Jennifer Smith]

Originally Posted by Spencer James

Where do bananas sit in the context of the rest of your diet? The answer will probably be different depending on whether you are eating a typical American diet vs super strict paleo vs Zone vs whatever else.

Not super strict Paleo or zone or anything. However, I don't do any grains or wheat products, very minimal dairy (occasional greek yogurt). I'm only talking 2-3 bananas a week, was just curious if say an apple is a better choice?

[Katherine Derbyshire]

If three bananas a week is the worst thing wrong with your diet, you're doing fine.

Some people suggest limiting fruit in general and high GI fruit in particular due to the sugar. Personally, I doubt that anyone has ever gotten fat by eating too much fruit. But if they have, they were eating a lot more than three bananas a week.

Katherine

[Kevin Shaughnessy]

I think 2-3 bananas a week vs apples or berries is only really a concern if your trying to go from 8% body fat to 5%. If thats not you then its probably irrelevant. Total calorie intake is much more important.

[Robert Newman]

From fitday.com

Bananas 7" -7 7/8"

Vitamin A 2%
Calcium 1%
Thiamin 2%
Niacin 4%
Vitamin B6 22%
Phosphorus 3%
Selenium 2%
Vitamin C 17%
Iron 2%
Vitamin E 1%
Riboflavin 5%
Manganese 16%
Copper 5%
Magnesium 8%
Zinc 1%

Eat more of them if you are trying to be healthy. Eat less of them if you want ridiculously low and unhealthy BF. You should feel free to eat them in unlimited quantities, just as you would strawberries or blueberries. They also have the advantage of being cheap (even organic is $0.88/lb here), nutritious, and calorie dense (as far as fruits go).

[Darryl Shaw]

Originally Posted by Jennifer Smith

Can someone please clarify the deals with bananas during weight loss? Is this due to high sugar or something else? Are they significantly worse that other fruits?

Energy balance not specific foods or nutrients determines whether you gain or lose weight.

As for bananas, they're good for you like all fruit and vegetables so you should feel free to eat them ad libitum.

whfoods.com - bananas. (wfs)

[Matthew Williams]

Originally Posted by Katherine Derbyshire

I doubt that anyone has ever gotten fat by eating too much fruit. But if they have, they were eating a lot more than three bananas a week.

Katherine

I once saw a programme over here in the UK about a man who ate 25 satsumas a day. His reason behind this; "eating fruit is healthy, so how could it do me any harm"

Lets just say he was rather large

[Danielle Nicole]

Originally Posted by Jennifer Smith

Can someone please clarify the deals with bananas during weight loss? Is this due to high sugar or something else? Are they significantly worse that other fruits?

Bananas aren't a bad fruit, I actually try to eat one a day! They are very good for runners too!!

[Juan Romero Jr]

This is good advice, I was trying to avoid bananas, but I have a helluva time fighting sugar cravings since I've started to cut sugar cold turkey. Things like breads, cookies, crackers, candy, etc, I've been trying to avoid, but struggle. Sometimes they get so bad, I get headaches. So I was thinking of packing extra almonds and a banana or two so I'm not reaching for junk food to satisfy a craving. That's gotta be better than any candy bar or processed junk.