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Fruit in diet?

LightSeeker

Bluelighter
Joined
Dec 8, 2002
Messages
140
Location
NYC
I've been noticing that people in the forum and the information available differ on fruit. In a diet for weight-loss, do you suggest that fruit be eliminated? Well, fruit like bananas are understandable- very high in calories and fat, but there are fruits without fat and I feel like eating fruit may be healthier in the long run for their vitamin content. What do you guys think?

I do understand that for a serious weight loss diet, if fatty fruits are a part of the diet, they can be cut out.
 
The only fruit that contains fat (in any signicant amount) is avocado.

I think you are thinking of carbohydrates. Some fruits are higher in carbs than others, because of the natural sugars they contain. Bananas obviously are one of those. High-sugar apples such as Pink Lady are another, and grapes. Too many carbs and your body will convert them to fat.

I think fruit is a healthy addition to the diet. But if you're wanting to lose weight, stick to fruits with a high water content, thus less carbs and calories. These include:

* Watermelon
* Strawberries
* Rockmelon
* Citrus fruits
* Green apples
* Stone fruits - nectaries, peaches.

Be careful of fruit smoothies and fruit juices, which can pack the energy of 10 fruits into a very small drink. It's very easy to drink more than you would normally eat. The same goes for dried fruit, simply because it's smaller and easy to snack on, you can overdo it.

A small serving of fresh fruit - even sugary fruit - is still better than packaged snacks. What I do is have 1/2 a piece of fruit with a small handful of almonds... that way you counterbalance the carbs with a bit of protein, and you are still getting nutrients.
 
actually... i've been told numerous times that the best fruits to eat are BERRIES. not apples, oranges, bananas, peaches, etc.

they have the lowest sugar and carb count according to south beach and atkins diets. they are introduced in the second stage of the "diet" along with less-fatty nuts (almonds, like you pointed out, or walnuts, pecans, etc...)

of course, i have no qualms with fruit--- in fact, they say an apple will wake you up better than coffee will in the morning!
 
There's nothing wrong with eating fruit like bananas and apples during a fat loss phase of a diet. Fruit is the perfect in between meal snack, also you can be pretty sure most other types of snack will be worse.

For a serious diet, one should be more concerned with counting overall calorie levels (whilst making sure your expending more then you're eating), and having a sensible break down of these calories into a split of carbs, protein and fat (e.g. 60%, 20%, 20%). For example, between January and March this year I lost 16 pounds, by sticking to a 1600 calorie/day diet (roughly 250g carbs, 85g protein, and 35g fat) and that included 2 large bananas and an apple a day. Fruit is the least of ones worries when dieting, IMO.
 
pomegranates (sp) are amazing, too! but they arent in season right now so dont worry about it. they are like, ALL water... and chock full of antioxidants.

btw, SLM, i also have to add: raspberries and blackberries and black raspberries are good, too. not just strawberries and blueberries! so many antioxidants in them, as well.
 
Apparently if you eat fruit with some fiber, apparently the insulin spike resulting from the sugar is less severe and more drawn out. So, like apples, the skin is very fiburous (sp?). In any case, for a sweet tooth craving an apple and some peanut butter is way better than a bunch of other crap..
 
f d, Some people may be turned off for short or long periods of time by a certain fruit or vegetable because the examples they consumed were either not ripe, or poorly grown.Nothing quite like organic home-grown, straight fresh off the fruit plant and into your mouth.

Because fruit contains fructose, which is a simpler sugar than sucrose, it does have a less tetrimental eeffect on the pancreas and insulin situations. Vitamins from fruit are a very good way of receiving vitamins because they are in live or vital state.
 
LightSeeker said:
I've been noticing that people in the forum and the information available differ on fruit. In a diet for weight-loss, do you suggest that fruit be eliminated? Well, fruit like bananas are understandable- very high in calories and fat, but there are fruits without fat and I feel like eating fruit may be healthier in the long run for their vitamin content. What do you guys think?

I do understand that for a serious weight loss diet, if fatty fruits are a part of the diet, they can be cut out.

Banana's are not high in calories or fat. They contain carbohydrates and with all the bad publicity on carbahydrates, that is why you may make that association.
 
I suggest you eat alot of fruit. The bottom line about weight loss is that you have to work out, alot and keep at it. Fruits have alot of health benefits. Blueberries are one of the best. Its one of the best foods to feed your body. Go into any organic foods store and they will tell you the same. Bananas are great for the muscles. Rich in potassium. Another food that aids in weight loss but is not fruit, is cottage cheese. It has a natural enzyne that speeds up the metabolism. =D
 
faithfully dangerous said:
pomegranates (sp) are amazing, too! but they arent in season right now so dont worry about it. they are like, ALL water... and chock full of antioxidants.

btw, SLM, i also have to add: raspberries and blackberries and black raspberries are good, too. not just strawberries and blueberries! so many antioxidants in them, as well.
you can find the pomergranates juice now. I drink it all the time!!!! I'm hearing pomegranates are good for the heart!!!
 
For weight loss, it may not be suggested you eat a boat load of fruit! Remember that the sugar in fruit is still sugar, with the same effects! And while fruit drinks might be better than regular soda, check out the calories on the bottle....
 
Ximot said:
for digestibility, fruit is best eaten alone, or at least before other heavier food - not afterwards.

Yea, at least half an hour before or after a meal. This is because fruit is digested quicker than other foods, usually it takes around 30min for a piece of fruit to be fully digested. Therefore if you eat it with other food in a meal it will sit on top of that food in the gut and ferment, leading to gas, bloating ect.
 
These kind of threads make me laugh because come on people. Fruit is good for you. If you are in a position to listen to your body and its is asking for a banana (maybe it needs some potassium?) then for christs sake have a banana.

Learnt to listen to your body and if you have forgotten what it feels like to be hungry (remarkably common), it is time to get that feeling back because then you know that whjat you fancy to eat when you are hungry isgoing to go a long way to what your body needs at that time.

Bullshit? I dont think so.

Lists of 'good' and 'bad' foods - Bullshit? For sure.
 
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