When I first reviewed the Ultra Lite diet with my Doctor (medical supervision is required) he went over the short list of approved foods. All the foods I’m allowed to eat are regular foods that I can pick up at my local grocery store - I don’t have to go all the way to the not-so-local health food store. What surprised me the most was the incredibly short list of acceptable fruits. The only fruits I can eat are cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew melon and strawberries - and very limited quantities of these fruits. What my Doctor did make clear is that apples, oranges and especially bananas are NOT on the list. Clearly this is due to the high number of carbohydrates or sugars in the banana.
I started doing some research about the beloved banana to see if I could find any information that would support the claim that the are not healthy. It was very difficult - everywhere I looked held the banana in high regards, stating all the benefits of the banana including it as an excellent source of potassium and fiber.
I remembered that the origination of this particular health plan - Ultra Lite was in New Zealand. I found an article that has shed some light on the poor banana and other fruits now banned from my life - An Apple a day… is that bad for you?
Honestly, I don’t anticipate bananas and other fruits always being forbidden fruit - I suspect the first stage of this diet is about seriously limiting sugars; detoxifying my body; and teaching me a new way to eat and think about food.
Posted on April 12th, 2008 by lizzie
Filed under: Weight Loss Ramblings, Daily Grind, Diet Program Review
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Just a heads up.. title is missing the word “know” maybe… Just wanted you to catch it
I think any fruit is good for you in moderation. Hey, it’s fruit! … Although too much bananas can get you plugged up
Gaining weight is more than just eating. Digestion, and the fact of whether or not you’re loving what you eat, makes a big difference. If you stuff your face with food you don’t like, you’ll likely not be able to digest it. Bananas, and fruits after lunch or dinner, improve your digestion a lot, and that means more of the food stays in your body.
Thanks for the information!
I did miss the “know” in the title - good catch and thnx!!
Thank you for inform me that bananas and other fruits always being forbidden fruit .
Thanks for sharing. Maybe you’re not allowed to eat because it contains high sugar. But bananas are advisable for people that have lack of potassium.
Unlike other fruit, bananas are high in sucrose (table sugar). The riper the banana, the more sucrose and the less fructose.
Yes, you are right Dave. bananas are high in sucrose. Some fruits are not good for our weight, that’s for sure. For weight loss, I think apple is the best natural fruit. It can suppress our appetite. Personally I never ate any bananas anymore since a few months ago and I always eat apples.
WHAT??? there is life without banana’s ?
I can’t live without eating my banana’s
But thats just me talking, you should listen to your diet plans and follow it 
I love bananas. I have one or two a day, and think they are great.
Maybe that’s why I’m having some issues then.
My wife gets upset cause I eat so many! lOL!
Bananas aren’t my favorite. I can have one every now and then but if they’re bad for you then I won’t feel bad about not having them.
It was hard for me to believe at first too, but you are right. It turns out that most fruits contain so much sugar you are better off eating chicken! Maybe not the deep fried, or fried
one, but still I was shocked.
My initial plans of going on an all fruit diet (tasty and healthy? you bet! only not good for losing weight) died….
As far as dieting advice goes, I think simply cutting out a large portion of meat and junk food is the best advice I have heard, and it’s effective. When you get into diets that have stringent guidelines for what healthy foods you can have, then they are harder to follow and stay dedicated too. I am a big fan of the Mediterranean diet, which lets me eat all the hummus and vegetables I want and enjoy two small portions of red meat a week, not to mention a salad with vinegarette dressing at every meal. I can see the rationale in limiting fruits with excessive amounts of sugar, but banannas are still good for you, and a rewarding natual treat!
I guess we all have to leave bananas for the marathon runners! Not me, I love bananas, as well as many other fruits. However, never go against your doctors recommendations. I can understand reducing the sugars, but I’d rather cut out my kids candy than limit my favorite fruits!
Bananas do have some good vitamins and minerals, however, they are very starchy and sugars (loaded with carbs) so it appears the deficits outweigh the benefits with your particular diet. Sorry.
Thanks for the list. I was really shocked by the news of apples, oranges and bananas were not in your list. I like bananas and oranges a lot. As a result, I am going to search for detail of your post. By the way thanks for sharing
B…. Bu…. But….. I love bananas! Apples too. Both were main stays of my diet, and I still eat them now that I’ve surpassed my goal. I’m starting to take all of these professionals ‘advice’ with a grain of salt.
goodness! i love banannas. i cant go on…..
Yeah, I don’t know what I would do if I could not eat bananas. That has to be rough.
Probably my favorite banana snack is peanut butter and banana sandwich. I hope they are allowed in later stages of the diet.
This is funny because mys sister is a dr. and we just had this conversation about potassium and bananas this weekend. She said you would have to eat like16 pounds a day to get enought potassium to make a difference. I was surprised.
Bananas aren’t all Bad, I love them. I guess the only reason you can’t eat them is due to their suggar content but even then they are still good, high carbs though.
Aww that makes me sad and I love bananas so much. I’m depressed now…….
mma clothing
I don’t think the banana is bad, although I don’t know the details of your particular diet…Usually it’s what comes with a banana…ice cream, sweet cereal, etc.
I see how the sugar and the carbs can be a problem though. One thing I’ve learned is that I just need to eat less calories than I consume…easier said than done!
I love bananas. I make smoothies out of them all the time. Wow. : /
I tell my clients all the time choose another fruit, there is too much sugar in bananas
If you eat “green” bananas they contain more fiber - that is broken down more slowly. “Yellow/brown” bananas contains more sugar. If you need energy FAST you eat a yellow banana. If you eat a green banana you won’t boost your blood sugar levels and gives you a more “lasting” energy source.
Just a tip
The only fruit I ate in prison were bananas and I gained at least 10 pounds in six months!
I still hold that pretty much anything is good for you in moderation. In varying levels, of course.
Sure bananas are bad for you, if you eat several a day along with 3 other kinds of fruit. But I imagine if a banana is part of a very limited sugar intake, it’s still good.
It’s not that banana’s are ‘bad’ for you, it’s just that they’re not good for losing weight as they do contain a lot of simple sugars. Cut them out when you’re on a weight loss diet, but once you move onto a maintenance diet I don’t see a problem with eating them (particularly after a workout).
Banana’s contain more fat and it helps in increasing weight. The yellow banana’s give lot of energy and have less fat, but green banana’s give less energy and have more fat. Its better not to eat banana’s if the weight has to be reduced.
too bad… I really enjoy a good banana.
-James
www.thepoliticus.org
Hi, I stopped by to verify your “dofollow” to add to my list. I won’t comment on bananas because I get them fresh off the trees here in the Philippines.
i would beg to differ though. if bananas are taken in morderate amounts they can end up as a wholesome diet. apples are a good teeth cleansers. i have apples sorely for cleaning my teeth.
I don’t buy any of this: every year some doctor comes out and says “You know that thing humans have been eating since the dawn of civilization? Yeah, its bad for you?” One year eggs are bad; the next they are good. Same thing with Milk, and Bread. Ultimately life is to short to eat what someone else tells you to. Eat what you want.
Hey i could never give up bananas. I just love them too much. My girls love them too so they will never be banished from my house.
Well then, no more bananas for me.
I didnt know that about bananas. But I know I never liked them. They taste great, but my stomach cant handle them. I eat only ONE, and I cant eat for a long time then while he is working and working and working on it.
Getting all the right information for losing unessesary fat is key to designing a good eating plan. Losing fat is very scientic and is directly related to our specific body types and metabolism. I have spent alot of time just getting my body on the best eating plan that suits me and works well. Thanks.
I think the idea that bananas, oranges, and apples are bad for you is kind of crazy. I guess they are like most things - and should be eaten in moderation. Maybe they aren’t as low calorie as berries… So I can that in a sense. I don’t know. Sometimes I feel we are all over thinking these things.
I’m not that affected when I read about this post..Yes, I eat banana but It’s not my favorite. Actually, I can live without it. ^_^
Your honesty is refreshing.
Thank you for the data about bananas.
I don’t eat them very often anyways, but you’ve given me more to think about when I pick my fruit for the day.
ALL diets require more than just eating the right food, or taking the right pill.
When weight loss is concerned, I think we have to be careful about the food we eat. Some people may think that vegetables and fruits are alright. But it is certain that some kind of vegetables and fruits should be banned in a diet. And this is especially true if the fruit contain too much sugar.
I’m at the point where I don’t think I can trust anyone anymore of what foods are good or bad for me
now where is that bag of Doritos……
i don’t think that Banana is harmful for any condition related to health. I discuss with many they said banana is a healthier food.
I love bananas — that’s one of my favorite fruits!
I’ve heard that bananas should be very good against cancer and i’ve never heard that bananas could be bad for anything..?
One day I ate about 20 bananas! That was my first day in Latin America. In Europe, where I come from, they are more expensive.
I’m also an apple lover. During the season I eat over 5 a day
i think banana is very delicious and vitamin food. everyone should eat that fruit.
Thanks for your information but I love banana.so I cant leave it for this reason.
Does someone know how many sugar one banana is ?
Ah thats no good, bananas are the only fruit which i ENJOY!
Hi,
Two bananas for a hungry stomach will supplement you life as it is simple carbohydrates. Somewhere I read bananas are good to control hypertension, but no idea or I didnt remember properly. Banana is not good for bronchitis.
Any fruit for that matter in moderate quantities is good for health.
GC - Wikipedia says that 100g of Banana has 12.23g of sugars. I’d guess that’s without the skin.
I have a dislike of diets don’t promote a wide variety of foods and leave some ‘cheat’ room. The problems I’ve had and I’ve seen others have is that cutting out one type of food entirely, sugars, fats, carbs, whatever, will make many people feel ill and make the diet much harder to stick with in the long run.
I’d hate to go entirely without bananas but I can do without Alcapurria (fried plantains and beef) if I have to.
Well - they sure taste good anyway. But, I think Bananas are good. Good nutrition in them.
I’m not a huge Banana fan, but I couldn’t give them up, even if dieting. I don’t like the strict carb intake that expands into fruits. No cokes, chips, white bread…. all fine, but I
I would not worry about apples and oranges too much. They are MUCH better than a bag of M&M’s for sure. Just keep portions small. Exercise is key.
Wow…I had no idea. I guess I have to rethink the banana thing because I usually eat a couple a day!
Sigh! Something else to watch out for… But my mother is positive that I need to eat more fruits like bananas — dare I break the news to her?
That’s hard to believe it, i still think that banana is not so “BAD” as per mentioned. I do eat banana oftenly and my body is great
to bad .. bananas are my fave ..
Amazing! I had no idea.
As far as I’m concerned, sugar is the *devil*. I stopped eating any sugar and most carbs and lost 200 pounds like it had never belonged there. Losing weight is simple and easy now that I know the secret: sugar is the devil.
One of the things that most people don’t realize is that any starch that you eat, is really just sugar. All carbohydrates break down into plain old sugar. One thing you may want to ask your doctor about is the Carb Blockers that are available now–they won’t do anything for sugar, but they stop your body from breaking down complex carbs into sugar, which may help out somewhat. Good luck dieting! It’s all worth it I promise!
NO way are Banana’s bad. I’m amazed.
I just wanted to say I love the theme of your blog! (not just the wordpress theme…I mean the whole “fat lady singz” concept”) I think its a really cool & funny idea. lol.
I think you’ll do great. =D
- Kaile
Oh!! But I love bananas! No way!
They are NOT bad for you, there are more healthy fruit though, they make a great early morning snack, before breakfast to get your metabolism going
I think you doctor is banana’s after prescribing you that diet.
bananas contain many calories. However, they are an excellent source of potassium! Who ever drinks alot of coffee should consider eating at least one banana a day!
For body builders, banana is a must because it contains high level of carbs. I have written an article at http://fitness-tipofheday.com to show that how important banana is.
This is the best news that I’ve had all day! I hate bananas and I approve of all negative news on the fruit
Keep it coming.
Banana’s , Banana’s, Banana’s are the best! A big creamy middle in a big yellow vest.
Can I have a nana , can i have a nana, la , la , la
This is interesting, and I do believe that bananas have a lot of sugar — but I have a hard time thinking that any fruit is really bad for you. I think moderation is key.
I very much agree with you that bananas have high source of glucose and are very much harmful for use. If it is the matter of weight loss it is much understood that we need to aviod bananas and also have a healthy diet to keep ourselves fit.
Oh no, I eat at least 3 of them everyday…
Wow…I had no idea. I thought that fruit was healthy for you, even when trying to lose weight. This is good to know, I’d love to find more info on the diet you’re talking about.
I knew that bananas are helpful for our health.From today I know that its contain high number of carbohydrates or sugars.
Wow… I love bananas. I’m having a tough time losing some weight. I’ve been eating a banana with my low calorie cereal every morning. I thought it was a good thing. I’m going to have to cut them out all together. Thanks for the info.
All things in moderation, I guess - I’m sure bananas will be back on the menu soon
Eat another fruit if you can , bananas are good if you want to gain weight .
Lol man i eat a lot of bananas …i don’t think it’s BAD…well i will try to avoid them from now on
geez, i just had two bananas today
Bananas are so delicious as the base for a nice creamy smoothie, but it’s true they are awfully high in sugar and starch. The key I think is just to choose your treats wisely, and think about whether the sugar is worth it.
Really? all the while i though banana is one of the best and i like it a lot
wow! who knew! i sure didn’t! thanks for the heads up!
Oopsie, what is this now? I love bananas, they are my favorite fruit. Hm, I dont think I will stop eating them actually.
I didnt know that bananas was bad,and I dont still believe it..otherwise I will keep this a simple yellow fruit.
Thanks,
this is a great post
-John
I’m not sure if I agree with that but I hope it works for you. I know that I personally changed my diet so I ate more fruits and vegetables and I’ve lost five pounds and already I feel a lot healthier.
i agree that bananas should be taken out of one’s diet if he or she is strictly monitoring sugar and caloric intake. when i went on a no carb diet, bananas and all other fruits were erased from my diet for two weeks. and i lost 8 lbs!
but on other days, bananas are really good, even for depression and PMS. for a healthy diet, a banana a day is recommended
Good thing I don’t eat banana’s! I do like them in smoothies though.
Who knew banana’s helped you gain weight! I sure didn’t!
I’m just going to eat whats in front of me. Its worked for me so far!
I better cut back on my banana consumption. I probably eat 4 a day.
I think bananas are great but after reading this I’ll less eating it.
I already hearted that That bananas are bad but I also hearted that bananas are helpful for our health.
Bananas have a tremendous heath benefit!
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, irritability and insomnia. The potassium found in bananas helps to
I have to disagree. Bananas are a great benefit and they out weigh any risk.
Bananas help reduce high blood pressure and risk of stroke.
I belong to a running group and they advocate bananas before and after a run to help reduce leg cramps. A banana provides 400 mg of potassium, 110 calories and 4 grams of fiber.
Research also shows that serotonin and norepinephrine in bananas may naturally help sufferers overcome depression
Thanks for wonderful information of weight loss.
A friend advised me since the last few weeks to have banana and milk for breakfast, and I start heeding her advise replacing my regular morning meals.
There are many kind of bananas though, that one is probably better than the other.
Banana is good for health. It contains full of carbohydrates.
Thanks for sharing the info and links. Though it is very disappointing for banana lovers, but its better to eat banana by keeping in mind its high number of carbohydrates or sugars.
I don’t agree with no apples. Apples can be a good filler before a meal. Apples are full flavanoids, fiber and other good things.
True most fruits have alot of sugar but everything in moderation is ok.
I love bananas. I couldn’t go without eating them they are just so good. I will eat em up.
Wow it seems they want to add a new food or drink to the “bad for you” list each day! I guess just about any food can be harmful these days…
I love bananas and could never imagine them being bad for my health. Still, I think the secret to medical advice is following what fits for you. There’s really no way to apply such advice to everyone universally. Regardless, I love my banana in the morning.
Do you know I don’t believe it….? I will never believe that.
Crap, I’m screwed, I eat so many bananas.
Nice little post,
What I specifically love about it is the simplicity of writing …. as far as my opinion is concerned … I guess Apple and Banana both are good fruits which will not increase your fats substaintially …. as far as apple is concerned I am 100 % sure . however, banana carries carbohyderates .. so it could add in a bit ….
Anyways I am compelled to read more ….
Mark
Editor
http://www.212articles.com
I’ve never heard that.
Thumb Up For Banana!
I dont care about suger!
I cant resist Banana Split!
I don’t think bananas are bad, but people can surely do bad things with them, haha.
Bananas are bad in mario games when donky kong throws them at you, he does that in mario kart, what a great game!
I like all type of food but bananas have some problem.I think this problem depends on eating habit.
I love bananas, surely can’t resist them
I never would think bananas are bad for you. They have good things to them too. I always stick to a strict diet and bananas are usually the best for my diet and weight loss plans.
What happens when you eat too many bananas? Do you go bananas? Tee hee.
I thing if you don’t eat too much of everything, there shouldn’t be any problem!
I think the biggest thing is glycemic spike. If you were to east small portions or eat them slowly it shouldn’t be as much of an issue of your body absorbing them into fat. Most things are okay in moderation, doctors agree with that…
I didn’t know bananas were that bad! I always thought hat because they are rich in potassium, they’re good for health. Well thats what most people say anyway. Thanks for the heads up!
Hm, they may be bad for some people. But I read that it depends on your genes. Some people need vitamins that are in bananas. At least that is what research says.
I´ll be a renegade with your doctor… but don´t take those fruits away from me!!!
Apple is too expensive thta´s for sure (geek joke)
Aww
I like bananas. They make me feel full faster. Well, have to cross them off my list now if I want to diet
well, the reason why your doctor said it was bad is because banana’s are rich in carbohydrates. a good source of energy. this translate to a BAD source of diet when trying to lose weight! It’s best eaten before you sport or and other high energy activity.
I thought that fruits are good for us. I like bananas, didn’t think I can stop eating that..
Wow, and when my gf was on a diet, i kept telling her to eat bananas because it had lots of “good stuff” in them and they were low in calories. I hope she doesn’t read this post…lol
Banana is not good for those who is under diet.In increases carbohydrate instead.
Whaaa….I’m surprised. Really?
I know bananas are bas but I cant avoid it.
Wow! Really really? But everything is bad if you take everything too much =) If you start banning every single food then you’re only left with nothing. Haha. I hate bananas anyway =P
I dont imagine life without bananas. After all it is carbs that can be easily be burnt by good physical activities… i heard it has some control over hypertension.
thanks
[…] Now, here’s somebody who is just plain wrong, wrong, wrong! Over at Fat Lady Singz she says Did you Know Bananas are BAD!!! Bananas are the best fruit ever! If you eat them with vanilla wafers or peanut butter that may be a bit much but by themselves they’re deeee-liiii-cious and good for you too!!!! YUM!!!!! […]
lol
i knew that long time ago
somehow thanks for the information
I like grapes and banana. The first one requires no pealing or cutting and the second one pealing is very easy….you see I am very lazy.
Quiting on banana is not an option for me. I have loved banana since I was a small kid but I can cut down on other sugary food.
I do knew that banana is bad to our diet programs. If its not because my doctor, I thought banana are good for us. I do love it though. It could replenish strength in a short period of time.
I take 4 bananas every day and I love them. I never had any problem with this habit of banana eating until now, and I am maintaining a good health and weight. I love bananas and that is the only reason I have them. Is it really bad to eat bananas…i am thinking now.
There are a very lot opinions on bananas and other very sweet fruits, and both of them contains truth.But I have to tell you that I lost 15 kilograms (I think it is about 22 lbs) since January, and I did not avoid bananas during the last months at all!
As with almost everything in life, moderation is the key. I have always heard that bananas were good for regulating blood pressure, as well as being a good source of potassium. As you stated, maybe it’s only for the “first stage”, and you’ll be able to scale into having those fruits again a little later. Either way, I still consider the banana to be innocent.
How could that be….? I can’t believe it. Is that really true or you are making any jokes.
I had half a bannana with porrdige daily during my weight loss period. I’m over 70lbs lighter for it.
And this whole time I thought they were good for you. I won’t give up banana bread though!
Thanks a lot for your valuable information as i was a great lover of bananas and if I see bananas used to never leave them now i understood what would happen if we have them more. So, from now onwards let me control in having it and maintain a proper diet.
Fruits can never be bad for the health ( except when you are allergic to it.) In this case, what you suspect might be right since you are under a diet program your intake of glucose might be restricted in this case.
yeah i never would of thought bannanas might ever be restricted although they do contain a lot of natural sugars.
so what if they got sugar in them… not like natural sugars are bad for you - only in excess. and that goes for anything. anying in excess is bad. so i disagree with you saying bananas are ‘bad’. maybe if u are trying to everything possible to lose every ounce, then maybe bananas are bad for your ’special’ diet. (not trying to be offensive, just stating my opinion =p)
-Shelly
Some times banana is bad for your health but some times its good for your health.
Bananas. Who would have thought?
Goodness! i love bananas!
No more bananas for me…and for my monkey.
Wow, guess the monkey is not going to eat.
I eat banana because when i am on diet I think fruit is good in diet. but i don’t know reality. Thanks for this information.
For a healthy life u must lead a controlled system prescribed by doctor.Actually i did not know that bananas contain high amount of carbohydrate or sugar , if it is, so have to leave banana for ur own good.
It is very interesting to know that banana can do any harm to human body.Excessive eating anything is bad but totally forbidden this fruit which is ur favorite is sad. But you have to obey doctor’s advice .
Yeah, pottassium is good but sugar isn´t.
But you can always get potassium from other food.
Some interesting tidbits here. I didn’t know that such information about bananas.
Such information. I never liked bananas unless being forced to take one by my mum. =P
i personally think that moderate consumption is still no harm to our health. I love banana, even snack or ais cream, i will choose banana flavour.
in old my mother gave banana for breakfast it has got very carbohydrates
But i love bananas! I never go camping without them!
pleae dont destroy my love for bananas
Bananas are nice.
Well i do agree that excessive of anything is bad too.
Example like vitamins, small amount is good for your health, but overdose, makes it bad for your body.
Truly, i am shocked to know that because i always thought that bananas have no bad effects or any other effects on wight loss procedure.
Nice bogs. thaxs for information !!
ya me too i always thought that bananas have no bad effects or any other effects on wight loss procedure.
Bananas are one of my favorite fruit
I thought Banana’s were loaded with potassium! I love banana’s I’d hate to give them up.
Bananas is best used for carbo loading, especially after a hard workout of excerise, bananas helps to ease the pain effect of the vigorously workout you had.
When you are starting out to lose weight you want to minimize the intake of sugars and carbs. I for one did the South Beach diet for a while where I had eliminated all the carbs and just ate proteins. It helped me lose like 7 pounds in a few weeks.
In my opinion these fruits are somewhere useful and somewhere harmful.
bananas are high in carbohydrates they may increase your weight so if you are fat
stop eating them
So has anyone other than the poster given this a try, if so what was your result ?
I am not affected with Bananas being bad for the body, mainly because I don’t like eating Bananas. I just don’t like the taste.
I’ve always known that bananas are high in potassium and my doctor recommended that I take no more than 1 per day as too much can alter your normal potassium levels in your body and potentially mess with your circulatory system. Haven’t read anywhere about any other drawbacks to bananas. Interesting find.
I like bananas, but I was always under the impression that they bind you up, so I try not to eat a lot of them.
I love berries!
Ugh. I desperately want to limit sugars. But doing so, requires a complete life change. A complete new grocery list, a completely different and extended budget to spend while grocery shopping. And what do you do when you go out to eat!? Anxiety is setting is just thinking about it!! help.
When my wife was on a diet, i kept telling her to eat lots of bananas because it had tons of vital nutrients and vitamins in them and they were low in calories. And the fact that they were so cheap was an added bonus. I hope she doesn’t read this post because she would blame me for not losing weight fast enough.
Bananas are definitely good for health, and I love the fruit! So you shouldn’t shun that fruit after all, just eat moderately and it should be fine. =)