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Original poster

Is it possible to eat TOO MANY bananas?

27 replies

hillbilly · 05/03/2009 17:20

My ds who is 16 months can eat about 3 a day and he actually asks for them. Can too many bananas be a bad thing?

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Acinonyx · 05/03/2009 17:37

Just watch in case he gets a bit constipated - bananas, although a fruit, can be binding. I had to ration dd's love of bananas for this reason.

ICANDOTHAT · 05/03/2009 17:56

Just keep an eye on him just incase his arms grow longer and he gets hairy ....
Similar to my two boys - loved them and it didn't do them any harm.

ilovespinach · 05/03/2009 19:17

ds1 has been known to eat many many more than 3 in a day fussy little thing

Hasn't done him any harm and I haven't noticed any constipation....

It could be worse

TheNatty · 05/03/2009 19:19

i was told not to give my DS to many as you can actually suffer potassium poisioning

was a health visitor who said it tho..

drjane · 05/03/2009 20:15

Apparently it's under-ripe bananas that cause constipation...ripe bananas are actually quite rich in fibre...

georgimama · 05/03/2009 20:17

Ds also has a banana fixation - has 2 baby ones per day.

I do worry about the potassium issue. I think it is true, but I don't know how many would be needed to give you potassium poisoning - more than 2 per day I would imagine.

It certainly doesn't constipate DS.

MinnieMummy · 05/03/2009 20:21

Yes - not to be all scary-mary, but my grandmother actually died from potassium poisoning from eating too many bananas. Really. But she did only eat bananas and biscuits. And she was really very overweight. And old.

That all sounds like a terrible bad-taste joke, but alas tis true. Unfortunately I don't know how many she had, but it must have been a lot.

Joe1977 · 05/03/2009 20:22

Bananas do have a high potassium content, have just asked my husband (he's a GP) and he says that a healthy adult should be able to safely process the potassium in 3 bananas, but that a young child probably shouldn't be eating that number of bananas every day.

TheNatty · 05/03/2009 20:38

so my HV isnt a nutter then

death by bananas.. scary prospect!

(no offence minnie )

shonaspurtle · 05/03/2009 20:40

Ds went through a banana-loving stage. It didn't cause any problems.

He's less fussed about them now but still probably has about 1 a day.

MinnieMummy · 05/03/2009 21:00

None taken - it was a long time ago and I was quite young and didn't know her very well! Hope I didn't scare anyone too much though...

pickupthismess · 05/03/2009 23:03

Now I'm worried. My 3 yr old is banana mad. Joe1977, can you ask DH -how many bananas should they eat then?

Joe1977 · 06/03/2009 10:42

Sorry, have only just logged on again. DH in work at moment but will ask him when he gets home, he didn't mention any long term health implications when we were chatting about it last night. I've got a 3yr old and a 9 month old, they both eat a banana each daily, and occasionally will have 2 a day (if I haven't been to tesco and it's all I've got in the fruit bowl!) I guess it's the same as with other food, everything in moderation.

MrsMattie · 06/03/2009 10:43

DS has 2 most days, sometimes 3.

Joe1977 · 06/03/2009 10:58

PS Have a look at the Food Standards Agency website www.eatwell.gov.ukand do a search on the site for potassium. It's EMV of potassium suggests that infants may be vulnerable to excess potassium intake as their kidneys are immature. No mention made of documented cases where children have come to harm, although there is data relating to the eldery. Therefore, there is a potential risk, but no one has had any reported problems.

Original poster
hillbilly · 06/03/2009 13:07

Hi everyone. Sorry have only just gone back online since posting this yesterday.

Thanks all, in particular Joe1977. I almost thought I would be laughed at but now I'm a bit concerned. I will try to steer him away from them and onto something else. Even today after coming home from nursery (where he had just had lunch - including banana) he was going mental for "nana" and he has just had one before his nap!

OP posts:
Original poster
hillbilly · 06/03/2009 13:10

lol ICANDOTHAT

OP posts:
LadyOfWaffle · 06/03/2009 13:12

DS has been known to eat up to 5...! I will definatly cut back on the bananas.

pickupthismess · 06/03/2009 13:46

Thanks Joe, I await with bated breath! I tried to stop DS having his second banana at lunch time and he has a fit.

blametheparents · 06/03/2009 13:53

Apparantly kiwis contain as much potassium as bananas. Never realised a child could eat too many.

georgimama · 06/03/2009 13:56

Whilst I don't want to wish a problem on any one, I am so glad there are so many other toddlers as fixated with bananas as DS!

wasabipeanut · 06/03/2009 14:00

I limit it to one a day - my ds would live on them if he were allowed. The potassium issue aside I wouldn't let him have loads of any one food - I try and keep some variety in there.

Mean mummy you see.

wideratthehips · 06/03/2009 14:13

bananas give ds2 the fizzing whizbees and i have to hide them. i gave in once and he had three in a day and i paid for it. i try to limit it to one a day only because they seem to go straight through him.

Joe1977 · 06/03/2009 18:31

Have checked with DH, he says same as I did earlier today, everything in moderation and best to eat a variety of fruit and veg. Would be better for child if they had 3 different types of fruit or veg than 3 bananas.

duchesse · 06/03/2009 18:34

My mother knows a woman who was prescribed 9 bananas a day by her family GP because of low potassium levels, so I'm guessing that 9 a day would be too many for a healthy adult. Obviously the "dose" would be lower for a child.