Who doesn’t love fruit? Sweet, fresh, and full of antioxidants and fiber! Some dietary restrictions or health concerns can make you feel afraid about eating fruit due to its contents of sugar, but the good news is It will all depend on the portion and the glycemic index of the fruit!
I hear these myths quite often during my consultations. And what I always tell them is to pick whatever you hear or read on the internet with a grain of salt. Remember that every person is different, as well as their digestion, and capacity of absorption. This is why it is better to consult a holistic nutritionist before neglecting the pleasure of eating fruit.
Let’s start!
- “Eating fruit at night makes you fat”: It’s all about the portions. It’s better to eat 2 medium portions of fruits (2 cups) than a sugary snack. And remember that if you eat more calories than your body can burn, the surplus will turn into fat. But don’t get obsessed with calorie counting! A holistic nutritionist can guide you through this process 🙂
- “Blended fruit loses nutrients”: the only thing that you are doing here is crushing the fruit into super small pieces. For people who don’t chew properly, this is a great way to absorb all the nutrients efficiently, especially the antioxidants that are on the fruit’s skin (such as blueberries, grapes, apples, etc.). Just remember to salivate your drinks to start carbs digestion with the amylase enzyme (in the saliva). Don’t you love smoothies even more now? LOL
- “Eating any fruit after meals makes you gassy”: if you must choose between a dessert and a piece of fruit, go for the fruit. It’s true that you should eat fruit on an empty stomach to better absorb its properties. Also, fruit gets digested faster than other foods and if you have digestion issues, it can get fermented in the stomach causing gas, especially if combined with protein and fats. But once again, it will depend on each person. There are 2 fruits that contain proteolytic enzymes (that help digest proteins): kiwi and pineapple. So, they can be a great dessert option.
- “Frozen fruit has less vitamins”: usually frozen fruit is picked up at optimal ripeness, where nutrients are more available, and the flavor is more intense. Some vitamins like C and Bs can get reduce by 10% in frozen fruit as compared to fresh fruit. If the fruit is not in season, it’s much better to buy it frozen.
- “Diabetic people should avoid fruits”: low glycemic fruits such as berries, green apple, cherry, grapefruit, pear, peach, and clementine combined with nuts or seeds can cushion the absorption of sugar to maintain sustainable blood sugar and can satisfy that sweet tooth!
Which fruit are you craving right now?
