Clean eating and fruit

[banslug]

Some friends and I got into a friendly argument yesterday about fruit in your diet. I'm all for it! My best friend, however, believes all the sugar (albeit natural sugar) in the fruit is not a good choice.

What are your thoughts?

Gayle

 

[marcy]

True, sugar is not the best for you but fruit has so many other good things like vitamins and fiber that I would not leave it out of my diet.

Marcy

 

[Miss Lee]

Oh, I must have fruit everyday. I usually go with low sugar fruits like berries, cantelope, apples, etc. I love fruits in season and plan to eat plenty of peaches, nectarines, cherries, and mangos this summer. I still indulge in bananas, pineapple, watermelon, etc, on occasion but I do limit my intake of the high sugar fruits.

 

[bceogirl]

I LOVE fruit! Especially the wonderful fresh fruit you can get in the summertime!!
Melons and berries being my very favorite. But I love them all and eat fruits every day.
Yesterday I mixed watermelon , blueberries and strawberries and we ate that along with grilled shrimp and wild rice. FANTASTIC!

Smoothies I make with fresh fruit and soy milk (and sometimes protein powder) are a favorite after workout treat.

I just am of the belief that all the benefits are so great that I really don't worry about the sugar. Maybe I'm in denial!~ }(

 

[trunyon]

I love fruit too! I've been craving..and eating like crazy..grapefruit. For the past couple of months it is my after-workout snack. Don't you just love this time of the year with all the wonderful fruits. I agree, it's so good for you - it would probably be the last thing I would worry about eating.

 

[Fitnessfreak366]

There are so many benefits to eating fruit, you just can't ignore it. Sugar in fruits is different than sugar in candy. It a totally different issue. If you are watching your carb intake, I'd keep the fruit servings to a minimum, if not, I say eat all you want!

 

[lorrayne]

You've already received responses in which I agree 100%. I just wanted to add for your argument that even bodybuilders eat an occasional granny smith apple. So, yes, fruit is a good choice given it's a low glycemic fruit. Even those that are higher (bananas) have wonderful benefits for the body.

 

[SRP]

Don't forget that the body does need SOME sugar to function properly. I'd say fruits are a great way to get it!

 

[fitnessgirl]

Eat your fruit but be cautious of the serving size. Unless you are training for a fitness show or have another reason to cut sugar completely, enjoy a fruit or two a day! If you are training for a important event, know that even SPLENDA can make your blood sugar levels rise & then crash.

 

[kathryn]

If someone is prediabetic or diabetic, they have to be careful with fruit, especially high-glycemic fruits, but for healthy people, I think fruits are essential. Yes, they have sugars, but those sugars are wrapped in a package of fiber and antioxidants and other nutrients that are beneficial, and that also help the body process the sugar.

Our closest genetic relatives (great apes) eat a high-fruit diet, so there's every reason to believe that fruit is one of the foods that we are meant to eat.

I find it ironic that sometimes people will poo-poo fruit because it is high in sugar, and turn around and eat a 'protein bar' that is full of artificial, processed ingredients.

 

[toastythemosty]

I love fruit and since the only sugar I get is from my yogurt (5g), I think I deserve something sweet that is so good for me. I usually eat red grapes, apples and melons. If I eat a banana, it will be in the morning only since that is so high in sugar. I also don't eat any fruit before I go to bed and allow myself about 2 servings of fruit a day...no more.

Charlotte~~

 

[Beavs]

Why is it that people have to take things to extreme? A.) Fruit has and always be good for you B.) Sugar is not the evil enemy poeple make it out to be. Like everything, it must be consumed in moderation. A little common sense goes a long way in my book.

 

[sunnyside]

If it's in season and it tastes good, I'll eat alot of it. You only get in season fruit for a short period of time and I for one, take advantage of that. I eat frozen fruit (berries and bananas) in the morning in smoothies or on oatmeal. I rarely eat canned fruit, maybe pineapple or mandarin oranges once in a while.

I also like the sugar is wrapped in a package of fiber and antioxidents etc. statement.

 

[Beavs]

Which is why they should consult a dietician rather than rely extreme, often ironic, diets.

 

[hippahips]

Let's see... I eat fruit ALL THE TIME. I don't measure my servings but I do make sure to have protein with it. There's a big difference between eating one apple and feasting on an entire crate of apples. There's also a big difference between eating something in its natural state and eating something that's processed and refined. Corn, peas, and carrots have some sugar in them, so if we follow your friend's argument, we shouldn't be eating these vegetables as well?

Pinky

 

[amyg]

I challenge you to eat a full crate of apples. Good luck.

I have had type 1 diabetes for 18 years, and only recently (after reading ETL and attempting to eat vegan) have I added fruit back into my life after a long fear of the rise in blood sugar. I love it!! Fruit juice is what causes the spikes, not fruit so much due to the fiber.

Now I'm thinking about tomorrow's breakfast...all fruit... and I've forgotten my point! :9 :7

 

[JMFRANE]

Another fruit lover here. I have to have it everyday. One of my favorite things to eat is fresh fruit on peanut butter toast. Yum!

Joanne

 

[mlgage]

I can not live without fresh fruit. It is soo good for you. I can't believe anyone would cut it out of their diet. Fruit contains good vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants these are important things your body needs to survive. As for the surgur it's natural sugars, not like table sugar(sucrose) in cookies and candy. You still can eat too much and gain weight, so don't overeat it. But everyone needs the nutrients in fruit.
Melissa

 

[Author]

Fruit is a whole food and besides a natural sugar, it also has fiber, many anti-oxidents and many micro-nutrients (many as yet unnamed) that the body needs, that -- like Kathryn said, unless you are a diabetic or pre-diabetic, one should have some fruit.

I tend toward low blood sugar and so I have to eat some sort of fat when I eat fruit or my blood sugar will tend to go low. Someone mentioned that it was odd that a person might poo-poo fruit, and yet eat a protein bar with hidden sugars. Hear, hear. At least fruit was made by Mother Nature and was intended to be eaten -- I'm not so sure about some of these processed foods...

Have a good one.

 

[nancy324]

In my opinion, fruit has the amount of sugar that we, as humans, are supposed to eat when we have cravings for sweets. I say avoid juice, and avoid dried fruit, but when it comes to eating whole fruits, indulge away! It's difficult to overindulge in fruit because it contains so much water, it fills you up quickly.

Has anyone else been eating red seedless grapes lately? They are awesome at this time of year! :9 :9

-Nancy