Fresh fruit: Good for weight loss?

chocolatnoir

Have you been able to lose weight by eating a lot of fruits?

I thought I was being healthy by eating a lot of fruit today but when I saw that I was over my recommended sugar by almost 20 grams at only 2 pm I was alarmed- I'd say 95% of that sugar came from fruit/fresh veggies. Fat, sodium, carbs are very low today so far.

So......should I consume less fruit? I hear so much conflicting information about sugar from fruits....not sure what to think!

BrentGetsFit

The way I understand it, the sugars you get from fresh fruit are better than processed sugars because they take longer to break down in your system so you don't get spikes and all that. I don't think the MFP calculator takes the difference into account. As long as it's not all you're eating I don't think you can really go wrong with fresh fruit. Enjoy

SHBoss1673

Fruit is ok, but not large amounts. Like any food high in carbs, if you eat to much your body will store it. Some fruits are better than others as well. Make sure you do your research into the Glycemic index.

Best bet is to eat 2 servings of fruit a day at most, and more like 6 to 10 servings of veggies. Veggies generally give you similar nutrients to fruit but without all the added sugars and carbohydrates. Like fruits though, not all veggies are created the same. Make sure you mix up the veggies as well (coloring is an important aspect to both fruits and veggies, different colors mean different vitamins and minerals).

MammaEllis

The way I see it, if sweet fresh fruit is keeping you from eating "bad" sugars, why not? And honestly, the sugar in fruit is easily processed by your body. The vitamins and minerals along with the fiber is a huge plus for healthy eating! Just my opinion


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SHBoss1673

The way I understand it, the sugars you get from fresh fruit are better than processed sugars because they take longer to break down in your system so you don't get spikes and all that. I don't think the MFP calculator takes the difference into account. As long as it's not all you're eating I don't think you can really go wrong with fresh fruit. Enjoy

while very true. Fruit sugar (fructose and sucrose) will still lead to fat storage if you overdo it. Fructose uses a different digestion pathway than sucrose, it's slightly longer, and if the fruit you eat is in solid form (I.E. not juice), the fiber and celluose will slow down digestion as well, this is good (what he wrote about Glycemic index). But that doesn't mean you can gorge on fruit. It's better than cake, but not as good as some fresh broccoli, weight loss wise.

ladyhawk00

Part of it depends on what kind of fruits/veggies you're eating. Some have a lot of sugar, but not much else (grapes, corn or juice). Better ones are grapefruit, blueberries, broccoli, spinach, etc. However, in general, the carbs in fresh fruits/veggies are still much better than the carbs in a donut.

Just remember, it's all about balance. Yes, eat fresh fruits/veggies. But also eat lean protein, good fats and whole grains.

smuehlbauer

I have a couple pieces of fruit a day.
Usually an apple for breakfast and a clementine or some fruit salad from the salad bar.
I will eat more veggies than fruit because of the sugar.
I tend to hold more belly fat the more sugar I eat.
I don't think that it has held me back from losing weight over all.
Steph

hpsnickers1

Fruit is ok, but not large amounts. Like any food high in carbs, if you eat to much your body will store it. Some fruits are better than others as well. Make sure you do your research into the Glycemic index.

Best bet is to eat 2 servings of fruit a day at most, and more like 6 to 10 servings of veggies. Veggies generally give you similar nutrients to fruit but without all the added sugars and carbohydrates. Like fruits though, not all veggies are created the same. Make sure you mix up the veggies as well (coloring is an important aspect to both fruits and veggies, different colors mean different vitamins and minerals).

I agree. I create my own food with fruit and minus out the sugar since it is counted under carbs. I do this with milk, veggies, anything that has no 'added' sugar. This way I can keep an eye on my added sugar. I do count honey and my raw maple syrup as added sugar.
Berries seem to be the lowest in sugar. I did learn yesterday that my wonderful juicy Bartlett pear had twice as much sugar as my fuji apple. I think I'll stick with apples.

edorice

I eat three servings of fruit a day. Fruit is natural sugar, it doesn't count. If you're concerned about the glycemic index you can find a list of fruits that are low on the glycemic index.

SHBoss1673

I eat three servings of fruit a day. Fruit is natural sugar, it doesn't count. If you're concerned about the glycemic index you can find a list of fruits that are low on the glycemic index.

I wouldn't say it doesn't count. It's still sugar. eat enough fruit and you most certainly can gain weight. It's not as bad as processed sugars, but still you should be aware of fruit the same as any other complex carbohydrate or starch.

edorice

I eat three servings of fruit a day. Fruit is natural sugar, it doesn't count. If you're concerned about the glycemic index you can find a list of fruits that are low on the glycemic index.

I wouldn't say it doesn't count. It's still sugar. eat enough fruit and you most certainly can gain weight. It's not as bad as processed sugars, but still you should be aware of fruit the same as any other complex carbohydrate or starch.

Right, people that are tracking sugar are getting freaked out by the sugar in their fruit. They always see it in the red and it just doesn't count the same. Also, I should mention that my diet is 1,700+ calories a day. Someone on 1,500 calories would do well with eating less than three servings.

chocolatnoir

Thanks, all. I guess moderation is key

What is strange is that consuming all that fruit sugar left me craving chocolate this afternoon- I'm talking addiction crave/obsessively wanting it. I haven't felt like that in a really long time. I guess when my body gets a lot of sugar it wants more. Or maybe it was a coincidence.