The Japanese are very into health, so much so that when they realize there's a superfood, they go on buying binges. This year, the banana was hyped as a miracle fruit, and as a result, super markets were entirely sold out of the starchy yellow produce in September.
While many people in the West are avoiding bananas because of their high sugar content and attribution to weight gain, the Japanese have gone wild for the "Morning Banana Diet" which lets you eat unlimited quantities of bananas. The cook-free diet is described in a book by Mr. and Mrs. Hamachi which has sold over 400,000 copies just in Japan.
As a result, banana sales went up 70% in some supermarkets, prices rose by 12%, and the amount of bananas being imported rose by 25%.
The Morning Banana Diet is more than a fad, because apparently it works, the average person losing 16.5 lbs (no mention of the length of time the diet was followed.)
Some other Japanese fad diets have included the Fermented soy, cocoa in 2007; Cabbage, banana vinegar in 2006; Dried skimmed milk in 2005; Soy milk in 2004; Nigari (magnesium chloride)in 2003, the Carrot juice diet in 2002, and the black vinegar diet in 2000.
Check out some innovations for banana lovers below.
Produce Shortages Due To Fad Diets
Japan 'Morning Banana Diet'
Trend Themes
1. Increased Demand for Bananas - The popularity of the Morning Banana Diet in Japan has led to a sharp increase in demand for bananas, presenting opportunities for banana producers and suppliers to meet this growing market demand.
2. Alternative Fad Diets - As fad diets continue to gain popularity, there is an opportunity for the development and promotion of alternative fad diets that cater to different dietary preferences and health goals.
3. Influence of Japanese Health Trends - The Japanese enthusiasm for health trends highlights the influence of cultural preferences on consumer behavior, indicating potential opportunities for businesses to tap into these trends and cater to specific cultural markets.
Industry Implications
1. Agriculture - The increased demand for bananas driven by the Morning Banana Diet presents opportunities for the agricultural industry to expand banana cultivation and production to meet the growing market demand.
2. Nutrition and Wellness - The popularity of the Morning Banana Diet and other fad diets in Japan underscores the importance of nutrition and wellness, presenting opportunities for businesses in the nutrition and wellness industry to develop innovative products and services that align with these trends.
3. Publishing - The success of the Morning Banana Diet book and its significant sales in Japan indicates potential opportunities for the publishing industry to capitalize on the popularity of fad diets by producing and promoting books that cater to the demand for diet and health-related content.