Fruit - to eat or not to eat?

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Replies

  • beckyinma
    beckyinma Posts: 1,433 Member
    FRUIT EVERY DAY at least two servings for me! :)

    Green grapes, apples, watermelon, strawberries, bananas are my standard go-to fruits..
  • tamsinwhitfield
    tamsinwhitfield Posts: 135 Member
    As soon as any "diet plan" starts trying to impose limits on things that are obviously dense in nutrients and water while simultaneously being low in calories (i.e. fruits and vegetables), I usually ignore them completely. Fruit is healthy and delicious and great. Unless you're eating, like, your own body weight in fruit every day, I really don't think there's a problem.

    (I've eaten an apple, a melon and grape salad, half a cup of raspberries and two satsumas today, and it's not even 1PM. Hurray for vitamins.)
  • Most fruit have a lot of health benefits, and I think if you like them, of course you should keep some in your diet. I try to limit it to one or two a day, because yes there is a fair amount of sugar...so living on 4-5 a day may not be great! Before I payed attention to sugar amounts, I used to eat tons of fruit....I find for myself, moderation is key! Hope that helps! :)
  • jmedavis1
    jmedavis1 Posts: 13
    It won't make you fat, of course, but the natural sugars are something to watch if you're trying to lose weight. Eat your fruit, 2-3 servings per day, just have them early in the day (like before 1 p.m.) so you have the chance to burn that sugar. Also try to stick to more fibrous fruits (apples, berries) that keep you full and are lower in sugar.
  • Juliebean_1027
    Juliebean_1027 Posts: 713 Member
    I try to eat at least 2 servings of fruit each day. The natural sugar in it usually tends to quell the craving that I have for chocolate and other processed sugary crap.
  • cloud2011
    cloud2011 Posts: 898 Member
    I have to work to include fruit in my diet, so I drink smoothies. I prefer vegetables. That said, I didn't gain weight eating fruits or veggies!

    I think it may make a difference if you're eating a LOT of fruit and you're trying to lose the last few pounds. But some fruits, like watermelon have a diuretic effect...helping you lose water.
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
    , I wouldn't worry about sugars/carbs from natural fruit sources.

    your body doesnt know that the sugar is from fruit. Your body just knows it has to deal with the sugar.

    You dont have to worry about anything, but you cant just ignore the carbs and sugar in fruit because its from fruit.

    fruit is good for you but the idea that sugar is "ok" if its from fruit, isnt true. you can over do anything.
  • lisabruce12
    lisabruce12 Posts: 77 Member
    I say if you like fruit...eat it!
  • Steph13RN
    Steph13RN Posts: 92 Member
    This may be a stupid question, but why are so many people avoiding bananas frequently?? IS there something I'm missing?? I love bananas!!
  • BuckeyeLife
    BuckeyeLife Posts: 313 Member
    , I wouldn't worry about sugars/carbs from natural fruit sources.

    your body doesnt know that the sugar is from fruit. Your body just knows it has to deal with the sugar.

    You dont have to worry about anything, but you cant just ignore the carbs and sugar in fruit because its from fruit.

    fruit is good for you but the idea that sugar is "ok" if its from fruit, isnt true. you can over do anything.
    '

    I wasn't saying that at all. This OP is talking about 2-3 servings a day. Not stuffing their face full of fruits. And I didn't feel that it was worth worrying about. I was only referring to natural sources(versus added) because the natural sources usually come with other things that help your body, fiber would be the first thing off the top of my head. Vitamins also wouldn't hurt. Natural sugar sources usually include other useful things and that is why I don't really think people should worry about it. Now if someone is overindulging and binging, this is an entirely different issue.
  • BuckeyeLife
    BuckeyeLife Posts: 313 Member
    This may be a stupid question, but why are so many people avoiding bananas frequently?? IS there something I'm missing?? I love bananas!!

    I'd guess high sugar/carb and it is high in fructose. I personally don't care and eat a banana a day when I am active. (So, basically, daily)
  • iLoveMyPitbull1225
    iLoveMyPitbull1225 Posts: 1,690 Member
    I think people are too paranoid....about everything

    OMG...IS WATER BAD?!

    IS FRUIT BAD?!

    being crazy is bad.

    but really, fruit is natural, so are vegetables, so is water, my diet consists of mostly these things, and if people think that these things are not good for you I think they are a little nuts. I see this kind of BS on here all the time. Seriously, are poeple ever going to be happy? If processed food is bad for you, and so are fruits and veg, WTF? what are you supposed to eat? I just don't get the reasoning or logic.
  • meridian35
    meridian35 Posts: 19 Member
    As In am on Induction of atkins I am not allowed fruit because of the fructose in it. I do miss it but eat tons of low carb veg so still getting my five a day but without the sugars. Am looking forward to OWL when I can introduce a tiny bit of melon or berries
  • TinnedTuna
    TinnedTuna Posts: 208 Member
    I do eat fruit everyday and i'm loosing ok.
    I eat different types of fruits but usually i would eat something like

    1 Banana
    1 Apple
    1 Melon
    2 kiwi
    1 Orange
    1 Plumb

    I find it good for keeping me full, i like the fruits, they stop me eating worse things and they keep you regular
  • sdoldsMD2013
    sdoldsMD2013 Posts: 128
    It is recommended to eat 4-5 servings of fruit per day. Fruit is healthy, filling, and good for you. Eat your fresh fruit and veggies and forget the hype! :-)
  • muffinskya
    muffinskya Posts: 9 Member
    It's better than a candy bar right? Don't worry about!!
  • RawrWolfie
    RawrWolfie Posts: 64 Member
    once in awhile won't hurt, but moderation is key. Just like soda and bacon, moderation is the key.
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
    It is recommended to eat 4-5 servings of fruit per day. Fruit is healthy, filling, and good for you. Eat your fresh fruit and veggies and forget the hype! :-)

    who the heck says eat that much? imo, that is WAY too much unless you are like a hard charging mail carrier all day and not even then really. your body doesnt need that much sugar everyday. no way.
    (well...unless the serings are like really really small)
  • mrh0rnet
    mrh0rnet Posts: 26
    The carbs keep me away for the most part. Like I had bought a pineapple not too long ago and chopped it up. Weighed it up and 1/2 a cup of it was nearly 20 carbs. Considering I have my carbs set around 110 for the day that would've been just too much of a chunk gone.
  • carld256
    carld256 Posts: 855 Member
    It is recommended to eat 4-5 servings of fruit per day. Fruit is healthy, filling, and good for you. Eat your fresh fruit and veggies and forget the hype! :-)

    who the heck says eat that much? imo, that is WAY too much unless you are like a hard charging mail carrier all day and not even then really. your body doesnt need that much sugar everyday. no way.
    (well...unless the serings are like really really small)

    I do. Fruit is good for you.
  • RawrWolfie
    RawrWolfie Posts: 64 Member
    as long as you stay away from fruit like bananas you should be fine.
  • carriempls
    carriempls Posts: 326 Member
    once in awhile won't hurt, but moderation is key. Just like soda and bacon, moderation is the key.

    Are you really comparing fruit to soda and bacon?

    Fruit is wonderful for you! I go for at least 2 servings a day, during the summer I often get more. If you're tracking your calories and keeping it as part of a balanced diet there's positively no reason to worry about your fruit intake.
  • Rilke
    Rilke Posts: 1,201 Member
    once in awhile won't hurt, but moderation is key. Just like soda and bacon, moderation is the key.

    The fact that you are comparing fruit to soda shows that you have no idea what you're talking about.

    OP: Eat fruit, in its fresh, raw state, preferably in season. Eat lots of it if you want. It's good for you.
  • Tenoreo90
    Tenoreo90 Posts: 329 Member
    I think you are the only one who can say if fruit is hindering your own weight loss.

    My opinion on fruit in general is that it is a great snack and a great part of a varied diet.
    Like anything else, living entirely on fruit wouldn't be a good thing.... but you aren't doing that so unless you have a specific medical reason to avoid it - no problem!

    So true. Some people gain weight with fruit, myself on the other hand...I lived in Brasil for a few months when I was younger, intially lost a lot of weight because I was eating a lot of fruit. I think it has to do with the water density of the fruit. But then again, I wasn't eating much of my usual junk foods either.
  • Tenoreo90
    Tenoreo90 Posts: 329 Member
    as long as you stay away from fruit like bananas you should be fine.

    ...what? Sure, don't eat too many bananas, but they aren't bad for you in the least! Goodness, people...
  • ahamm002
    ahamm002 Posts: 1,690 Member
    I don't know anyone who got fat from eating fruit.
    Can we stop saying this? I don't know anyone who got fat from eating any one single food. This is meaningless.

    I wouldn't be so sure of that. There are certainly people who gain weight from abusing one category of food (chips, french fries, ice-cream, etc).

    Epidemiology links fruit intake with increased lifespan, and fruit isn't that high in calories. So avoiding it is pointless. The only reason to avoid fruit would be if you're having trouble hitting your goal for protein macro's, or if you're a professional body building going from 6% to 3% body fat (and then might limit yourself to only one piece of fruit per day or something).
  • babycook
    babycook Posts: 172 Member
    I eat berries in my smoothies. I have limited my fruit because of the sugar since December. And I have lost a whopping 7 lbs maybe. I don't think it will make a difference if your healthy. But I have metabolic syndrome so I need to limit my sugars and carbs. If you enjoy fruit eat it. It's full of vitamins and nutrients and your suppose to eat a variety of fruits and veggies.
  • RawrWolfie
    RawrWolfie Posts: 64 Member
    Well fruit contains a lot of sugar so I think a little moderation and sometimes as a quick sugar fix substitute is a great idea. But all sugar is technically natural, aliens didn't drop it off.
  • TONYAGOOCH
    TONYAGOOCH Posts: 470 Member
    2 pieces of fruit a day is actually about right. Healthy Eating Guidelines say you need 5 servings of fruit/veggies a day. 2 fruits and 3 veggies is perfect. I think the only way fruit will hinder your weight loss is if you eat it in excess. Obviously if you are diabetic you need to watch you intake as well but on the norm 2 pieces is very good for you. The best ones you can eat are berries and fiberous fruits. Bananas are good in moderation cuz they have lots of potassium but are probably one of the highest in sugar. Eat your fruit and enjoy it. It's good for you.
  • TONYAGOOCH
    TONYAGOOCH Posts: 470 Member
    It is recommended to eat 4-5 servings of fruit per day. Fruit is healthy, filling, and good for you. Eat your fresh fruit and veggies and forget the hype! :-)

    who the heck says eat that much? imo, that is WAY too much unless you are like a hard charging mail carrier all day and not even then really. your body doesnt need that much sugar everyday. no way.
    (well...unless the serings are like really really small)

    I do. Fruit is good for you.

    The recommendation is 4-5 servings of fruit AND vegetables. A combination. Not just of fruit. 5 servings of fruit a day is a little much. Yes it is good for you but so is a lot of foods. Too much of anything is not.