Fruit: Yes or No?

MoveTheMountain

So....I'm currently trying my hand at cutting body fat by eating clean and weight training. One thing that continues to trouble me is whether or not I'm allowed to eat fruit. Some websites and my trainer say no. Other websites and others say yes. For instance, right now I'm enjoying a small bowl of freshly cut strawberries. I think some people would have a conniption if they found out I was eating strawberries while trying to cut. Any people who have gone through a cut shed some light on this issue?

Fruit is awesome for you: high in nutrients, potentially anti-oxidants, etc. The downside is the sugar, so you have to monitor and manage your intake. I have half a cup of frozen blueberries every morning in my post workout shake - it's awesome.

I don't reccomend snacking on fruit throughout the day... not sure that's going to help you. And yeah, someone mentioned staying away from fruit juice - definitely, unless it's post workout and you need the carbs. Fruit juice is pretty much just liquid sugar.

MoveTheMountain

Folks, white table sugar is "natural" sugar, too; it comes from sugar cane or sugar beets. Its chemical makeup is not changed during processing. Sugar is sugar. The bad thing about refined sugar, or processed foods containing sugar, is the AMOUNT of sugar we can too easily take in. The sugar in fruit is no healthier than the sugar in a twinkie; fruit just has a lot less of it. I'm a Type II diabetic and I have to limit my fruit intake, just as I do any other food containing sugar. Remember, too, that your individual metabolism is not the same as anyone else's. I've known people who do quite well eating plenty of fruit; I've also known people who ate plenty of fruit and couldn't lose an ounce until they reduced their fruit intake. Whatever works for YOU.

Great answer.

Here here...

raystark

They say its because they have sugars. Albeit, natural sugars, but to a lot of people any sugar is BAD.

From the viewpoint of an insulin dependent type 2 diabetic like myself, yep.

For other folk, not so much maybe.

Erykah3584

I say YES to fruits! Theyre delicious and nutritious!!

PaleoPath4Lyfe

Folks, white table sugar is "natural" sugar, too; it comes from sugar cane or sugar beets. Its chemical makeup is not changed during processing. Sugar is sugar. The bad thing about refined sugar, or processed foods containing sugar, is the AMOUNT of sugar we can too easily take in. The sugar in fruit is no healthier than the sugar in a twinkie; fruit just has a lot less of it. I'm a Type II diabetic and I have to limit my fruit intake, just as I do any other food containing sugar. Remember, too, that your individual metabolism is not the same as anyone else's. I've known people who do quite well eating plenty of fruit; I've also known people who ate plenty of fruit and couldn't lose an ounce until they reduced their fruit intake. Whatever works for YOU.

Exactly!

Those that have fruit as a staple and eat multiple servings will know when their triglycerides are sky high.

PaleoPath4Lyfe

I know, all those super fat people eating apples and pears.

I love fruit, I don't count the fructose sugar in it. Its not like eating a pack of Twinkies.

If you eat enough fruit it can be just as bad as eating a pack of Twinkies.


Something for everyone to consider.....................

When I first went on Atkins and got to Phase 2 where you start adding in higher carb vegetables and fruit I went and got blood work done at my Dr's office..............

I was eating A LOT of FRUIT and VEGETABLES.................my Triglycerides were sky high. The Dr sent me to a dietician and I was limited on the amount of fruit I was allowed to eat (replaced the fruit with lower carb vegetables).

i was limited to eating no more than 3 servings of fruiter PER WEEK.

You all need to understand that it is not merely about the "calories, no fat".....................sugar (AND YES THAT INCLUDES FRUIT) will raise your triglycerides - which leads to inflammation that causes heart disease.

You were eating a lot of fruit and veg whilst on the Atkins??

Yes, you start out eating protein and vegetables and then keep adding more vegetables, then fruits, then nuts, starchier foods, dairy and then grains - In that order.

I followed the book phase 1 - phase 4 added in the foods in the order the book says and reversed Diabetes.

PaleoPath4Lyfe

I know, all those super fat people eating apples and pears.

I love fruit, I don't count the fructose sugar in it. Its not like eating a pack of Twinkies.

If you eat enough fruit it can be just as bad as eating a pack of Twinkies.


Something for everyone to consider.....................

When I first went on Atkins and got to Phase 2 where you start adding in higher carb vegetables and fruit I went and got blood work done at my Dr's office..............

I was eating A LOT of FRUIT and VEGETABLES.................my Triglycerides were sky high. The Dr sent me to a dietician and I was limited on the amount of fruit I was allowed to eat (replaced the fruit with lower carb vegetables).

i was limited to eating no more than 3 servings of fruiter PER WEEK.

You all need to understand that it is not merely about the "calories, no fat".....................sugar (AND YES THAT INCLUDES FRUIT) will raise your triglycerides - which leads to inflammation that causes heart disease.

It's not true that eating enough fruit can be as bad as eating a pack of Twinkies. Yes if you ate enough fruit you might get as much sugar as that, but fruit also comes with a lot of fiber, vitamins, and water, which the Twinkies will not give you. I honestly don't know how you can even consider comparing the two.

Some people's bodies may be more sensitive to the amount of sugar in fruit than others, and may therefore have to limit the quantities, but most people will be able to eat as much fruit as they want as part of a healthy diet.

The fiber and water in fruit will fill you up quickly so it's not easy to eat more of it than you should (unlike junk food).

Sorry but sugar = sugar............no matter the source it comes from. And too much sugar is not healthy, even if it is from fruit.

When the Dr tells you that you have high triglycerides and you look baffled.............look back on these comments made by several other people backing up what I am saying.

blonde71

I recently dropped 2% in body fat over the course of eight weeks and yes, I did eat fruit. I just limited my portions, that's all. I will say that I definitely focused more on vegetables though.

dalgal26

For me,,,,the answer is only watermelon. Fruit in general keeps me hungry all day....but, being a southern girl, I have to have my watermelon....and only at night.

But, I know that fruit is a must have in alot of people's diet plan....so, find what works for you.

Wishing you luck in your continued journey of a healthier lifestyle. :flowerforyou:

PaleoPath4Lyfe

I like to think of fruit as "natures candy." as a treat every now and then.

Yes, that is the way it was intended to be.

fatgirlslove

Fruit...YES!

runnerchick69

Anyone that says no fruit is just silly I've lost and kept 100 pounds off fo a few years now and I never cut fruit from my diet. Not when I was losing weight and not now, nor would I. I eat way more than two servings a day but I do count the calories because it is food. Right now in Michigan we have an abundance of fresh fruit and I'm going to eat every day and as much as I want because it is good for me!

PaleoPath4Lyfe

One lifestyle change suggestion i read from a DR suggested eating your frits before 2pm so your body has time to burn off the carbs before you go to be

Who was that......Dr Oz? :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: (I guess your body stops burning calories while you're asleep)

When I first went on Atkins and got to Phase 2 where you start adding in higher carb vegetables and fruit I went and got blood work done at my Dr's office..............

I was eating A LOT of FRUIT and VEGETABLES.................my Triglycerides were sky high.......

While the link between dietary fat and blood lipid levels is tenuous do you really think eating fruits & veg could be the cause of problem? I have yet to read any credible information regarding lowering serum lipid levels that advocated cutting back on fruits & vegetables.

Yes, it was the fruit and higher carb vegetables.

I cut out fruit except for a couple times a week and triglycerides came into normal levels within 12 weeks.

This was at the advisement of my Metabolic Endocrinologist who is also a registered dietician

toriaenator

fruit has fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. by no means should you deprive yourself of them (or anything for that matter!)

runnerchick69

I like to think of fruit as "natures candy." as a treat every now and then.

Yes, that is the way it was intended to be.

I eat three, four or even five servings of fruit a day. It isn't just an every now and again treat, it is a part of my regular everyday diet and my track record with weight loss and maintaining that loss shows it works

Montanarush

strawberries, fresh without sugar, chocolate and other things that people dip them in, are low on the glycemic index. I'm on a low carb diet and I occasionally eat them. They are rich in Vit. C and lycopene. Other berries are good, too- such as blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and plums are good too. I only eat them early in the day though.

J_SHOE21

Indulge in fruit. Most are fiber loaded as long as you eat them with the skin. Yea you can get them in a pill form but its not the same. Thats what I was told by nutritionist last year when I was 200 lbs. They contain calories but at the same time they are more filling and help satisfy your sweet tooth. Fresh pineapples for dessert kills any kind of sweet tooth craving I have.

antsw123

Fruit is good for you and weightloss is about calories in vs calories out but do bear in mind your overall health

Sugar is not just sugar. One of the worst sugars is Frustose.

Fructose—including that from fruit—is also very detrimental, health-wise, to anyone who struggles with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol; all of which typically go hand in hand with overweight…

Whole fruits, even though they contain fructose, are not nearly as problematic as fructose from added sugars. One of the reasons for this is believed to be because whole fruits contain high amounts of natural antioxidants, as well as other synergistic compounds that may help counter the detrimental effects of fructose.

But very large portions of fruit daily cannot be recommended for most overweight people.

Also the liver has to process fructose and goes into a frenzy whenever it gets a rush of it. Liver experts have said that people with a high fructose diet have been seen to have had the same damage as alcoholics.

So with everything else a balanced diet will always be best.

For anyone interested the fruits with the hishest and lowest frustose percentages are listed below:

Over 7g per serving
Figs, Apricots, Mango, Grapes, Raisins, Pears, Watermelon, Persimmon, Apple, Date, Blueberry Banana

Under 4g per serving
Limes, Lemons, Cranberries, Passionfruit, Prune, Apricot, Guava, Date, Cantaloupe, Raspberries, Clementine, Kiwi fruit, Blackberries, Star fruit, Cherries, Strawberries.

Hope this helps.

Ants

susankeiko

Eat the Fruit! It keeps me regulated!

ChaseAlder

I've been eating lots of fruit every day... I think it works

PaleoPath4Lyfe

I like to think of fruit as "natures candy." as a treat every now and then.

Yes, that is the way it was intended to be.

I eat three, four or even five servings of fruit a day. It isn't just an every now and again treat, it is a part of my regular everyday diet and my track record with weight loss and maintaining that loss shows it works

Losing and weight and maintaining that weight loss doesn't EQUAL good health.

Have you had your triglycerides checked? That is a huge precursor to heart disease. Sugar (even from fruit) causes triglycerides to raise.

My metabolic endocrinologist has told me and many others to eat fruit as a dessert, which is a treat.

The focus should be on eating vegetables.

PaleoPath4Lyfe

I've been eating lots of fruit every day... I think it works

Again, losing weight doesn't mean the inside of your body is at its healthiest.

jlmoses91

Look at this website, I try to stay within the low sugar fruits! http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/whattoeat/a/whatfruit.htm

suziecue66

The OP is asking about ditching fruit whilst cutting. isn't this normal in the body building, fitness field?

runnerchick69

===Losing and weight and maintaining that weight loss doesn't EQUAL good health.
Have you had your triglycerides checked? That is a huge precursor to heart disease. Sugar (even from fruit) causes triglycerides to raise.

My metabolic endocrinologist has told me and many others to eat fruit as a dessert, which is a treat.

The focus should be on eating vegetables.===




Actually from my experience and from those around me who have lost weight and kept it off it does. The people I know, myself included, would not be able to maintain this kind of weight loss without eating healthy and being healthy. I have a full check up every year with my physical and that includes blood work to check everything and the past few years my doctor says I am one of his healthiest patients I would never stop eating fruit because it has tons of health benefits. Certainly people can eat fewer servings if they choose but I choose to eat a few servings every day. Fruit is my go to food when I'm craving a slice of cake or a cookie because it is natural and healthy. You just can't go wrong with less processed foods and more whole foods and that includes fruit.

runnerchick69

I've been eating lots of fruit every day... I think it works

It does and congrats on 35 pounds

KatieMae75

I took a Strength Training and Health course over the summer. I remember key foods mentioned throughout the books being fruits, veggies, and whole grains. I just skimmed through one of my books from the class and found the below quote in the nutrition section about the guideline changes in '05.

Basic Weight Training for Men and Women, 7th edition, Thomas Fahey:

"In 2005 the US Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services issued the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The guidelines, which were developed by panels composed of leading researchers in nutrition, biochemistry, medicine, and exercise physiology, recommend substantial changes in the American diet. People should eat 100 percent more fruit, 50 percent more vegetables (particularly dark green and orange), 75 percent more low- or nonfat dairy foods, 25 percent less meat, 10 percent fewer enriched-grain products but more whole-grain foods, 10 percent fewer oils, 60 percent fewer high-sugar foods, and 50 percent fewer solid fats."

Now I know the guidelines are catch all and won't suit everyone, but the statement about fruit is what really caught my eye. Also, the part about meat. I'm very sad about the meat. I love a good steak.

HealthierAndFitterMe

i eat about 2-3 cups of fruit a day . they say that's the normal taking in . & it's really good clean eating as long as your not adding sugars to it . fruit has lots of fiber in it , which helps with your metabolism . so , yes you should be eating fruit . don't completely cut them out . it's WAY better than eating ice cream , or candy .

aproc

It all depends on your goals. Personally I think fruit is perfectly fine and I still eat it when I like. Unless your getting close to competition and you need to be really cut and strict with your diet, I don't think fruits should be completely cut out. But everybody's body works differently. As long as your losing bodyfat and are happy with your results thus far then stick with what your doing.

runnerchick69

I took a Strength Training and Health course over the summer. I remember key foods mentioned throughout the books being fruits, veggies, and whole grains. I just skimmed through one of my books from the class and found the below quote in the nutrition section about the guideline changes in '05.

Basic Weight Training for Men and Women, 7th edition, Thomas Fahey:

"In 2005 the US Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services issued the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The guidelines, which were developed by panels composed of leading researchers in nutrition, biochemistry, medicine, and exercise physiology, recommend substantial changes in the American diet. People should eat 100 percent more fruit, 50 percent more vegetables (particularly dark green and orange), 75 percent more low- or nonfat dairy foods, 25 percent less meat, 10 percent fewer enriched-grain products but more whole-grain foods, 10 percent fewer oils, 60 percent fewer high-sugar foods, and 50 percent fewer solid fats."

Now I know the guidelines are catch all and won't suit everyone, but the statement about fruit is what really caught my eye. Also, the part about meat. I'm very sad about the meat. I love a good steak.

Oh meat...how I love thee We have cut back quite a bit on the amount of meat we eat and we try to have a meatless dinner a couple times a week but on a warm summer night there is nothing like taking a big T-bone off the grill One thing my old supervisor told me is color. She is 60 plus years old but doesn't look it because she has taken such great care of herself as far as what she eats and regular exercise. So when I look at my plate my first question is does it have enough color and if not then lets throw some spinach and red peppers on there