Fruit....I just don't understand it. Help please!!!

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pinkacidtrip
pinkacidtrip Posts: 9
in Food and Nutrition
I'm curious about fruit? They are high in calories and sugar. Does that count towards anything. Fruit always gets me because it's better than eating a candy bar, but why? It still breaks down into the body in the same way. Is it okay to eat unlimited amounts, or is it? Help! I don't understand what to do with it?!? The say it's good for you but sugar and carbs!?? Ahhh! It's frustrating!
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  • LMRoses
    LMRoses Posts: 148 Member
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    Well I'm no nutritionist, but very roughly - the sugar in fruit is fructose which is kinder to your blood sugar levels and pancreas than refined sugars in chocolate. Gram per gram, fruit has less calories than chocolate/candy. Fruit is full of vitamins and minerals, and fibre, and has a high water content. So yes, fruit still has calories, but they're nutritious calories :)

    Edit: Oh, and I'd imagine lower GI than candy, so you won't feel hungry again as quickly as you would if you ate candy.
  • mistersintexas
    mistersintexas Posts: 2 Member
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    You need to be able to change your mentality. Realize that there are good sugars, good fats, good calories and all that. Fruits are broken down differently in the body, they may look the same with regard to sugar and carbohydrates but the way your body sees it is different. I agree with Acria, there is much more nutrients. It's also an unprocessed source of energy. Yes, too many apples and fruit a day isn't good bc you still need to stick to a certain level of sugars, but it's better for you than a candy bar.
  • TheNoLeafClover
    TheNoLeafClover Posts: 335 Member
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    If you like fruit, eat fruit. If you want a candy bar, have one. Sugar and carbs are not evil. However, nothing can be eaten in unlimited quantities. A calorie is a calorie. While some foods are more nutrient dense than others, all that is required for weight loss is a calorie deficit.
  • KNarrainen
    KNarrainen Posts: 135 Member
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    A calorie is a calorie.

    but think how many calories are in an average choccy bar,roughly 250?

    I'd say that's about 2.5 to 3 pieces of fruit, which would contain far more nutrients, vitamins, water and fibre than any chocolate could.

    fruit and vegetables should be the cornerstone of any diet, with a slight emphasis on veg.
  • BigTireFlipper
    BigTireFlipper Posts: 116 Member
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    If you like fruit, eat fruit. If you want a candy bar, have one. Sugar and carbs are not evil. However, nothing can be eaten in unlimited quantities. A calorie is a calorie. While some foods are more nutrient dense than others, all that is required for weight loss is a calorie deficit.

    I disagree. All calories are not equal. High Fructose Corn Syrup is just calories but should you be eating food that contains it? Based on what some reports say probably not. Highly processed carbohydrates probably don't need to be completely avoided, but you should be paying attention to ensure you are getting more of the good kinds like in whole grains and fruit vs sugar and white bread types. Have a candy bar? Sure, but maybe as a weekly reward instead of a daily one.
  • lizzyclatworthy
    lizzyclatworthy Posts: 296 Member
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    I have the most wonderful mental image of you looking utterly confused at a bowl of fruit.
  • GertrudeHorse
    GertrudeHorse Posts: 646 Member
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    How is fruit "high" in calories? Have you met walnuts before?!
  • alexveksler
    alexveksler Posts: 409 Member
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    I'm curious about fruit? They are high in calories and sugar. Does that count towards anything. Fruit always gets me because it's better than eating a candy bar, but why? It still breaks down into the body in the same way. Is it okay to eat unlimited amounts, or is it? Help! I don't understand what to do with it?!? The say it's good for you but sugar and carbs!?? Ahhh! It's frustrating!

    Good article that can explain your question:
    http://www.livestrong.com/article/546655-does-the-body-process-fruit-sugars-the-same-way-that-it-does-refined-sugar/
  • anon86_x
    anon86_x Posts: 26 Member
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    Sugar in itself is not bad it's refined sugar that's evil. The sugar in fruit is paired with high amounts of fibre which slows down glucose absorption which prevents the rapid blood sugar spike of some other easily digestible 'foods' like candy bars.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,016 Member
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    I have the most wonderful mental image of you looking utterly confused at a bowl of fruit.
    lol
  • TheNoLeafClover
    TheNoLeafClover Posts: 335 Member
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    If you like fruit, eat fruit. If you want a candy bar, have one. Sugar and carbs are not evil. However, nothing can be eaten in unlimited quantities. A calorie is a calorie. While some foods are more nutrient dense than others, all that is required for weight loss is a calorie deficit.

    I disagree. All calories are not equal. High Fructose Corn Syrup is just calories but should you be eating food that contains it? Based on what some reports say probably not. Highly processed carbohydrates probably don't need to be completely avoided, but you should be paying attention to ensure you are getting more of the good kinds like in whole grains and fruit vs sugar and white bread types. Have a candy bar? Sure, but maybe as a weekly reward instead of a daily one.

    Please note where I said "some foods are more nutrient dense than others". I did not suggest she fill her diet with candy bars, merely that the only thing required for weight loss is a calorie deficit. Most people are aware that eating enough nutrient dense food is important for maintaining a healthy body.
  • missashley884
    missashley884 Posts: 188 Member
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    They don't exactly break down the same way! A candy bar is processed, fruit is in it's most natural state. I wouldn't recommend eating unlimited amounts of fruit a day HOWEVER fruit benefits in moderation will always outweigh it's natural sources of sugar and calories!
  • missashley884
    missashley884 Posts: 188 Member
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    If you like fruit, eat fruit. If you want a candy bar, have one. Sugar and carbs are not evil. However, nothing can be eaten in unlimited quantities. A calorie is a calorie. While some foods are more nutrient dense than others, all that is required for weight loss is a calorie deficit.

    I disagree. All calories are not equal. High Fructose Corn Syrup is just calories but should you be eating food that contains it? Based on what some reports say probably not. Highly processed carbohydrates probably don't need to be completely avoided, but you should be paying attention to ensure you are getting more of the good kinds like in whole grains and fruit vs sugar and white bread types. Have a candy bar? Sure, but maybe as a weekly reward instead of a daily one.

    Yes thank u! It's not about a calorie deficit per se, it's a lifestyle! So you're saying if you're diet calls for 1300 cals a day to lose weight you'll eat that in ice cream because calories are calories? No!!
  • kidtechnical2
    kidtechnical2 Posts: 11 Member
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    Fruit has sugar (fructose), it it also has vitamins, minerals, fibre and water, so it's a nutritional food, unlike candy, candy provides empty calories, calories with no benefits. It's recommended we eat 5 portions of 5 different fruit or veg a day, selecting different coloured fruit/veg will provide a broader range of vitamins and minerals. You don't get that from candy, no matter how many or varied the selection ;)
  • TheNoLeafClover
    TheNoLeafClover Posts: 335 Member
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    Sugar in itself is not bad it's refined sugar that's evil. The sugar in fruit is paired with high amounts of fibre which slows down glucose absorption which prevents the rapid blood sugar spike of some other easily digestible 'foods' like candy bars.

    DevilSugar.jpg
  • tennisdude2004
    tennisdude2004 Posts: 5,609 Member
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    Well I'm no nutritionist, but very roughly - the sugar in fruit is fructose which is kinder to your blood sugar levels and pancreas than refined sugars in chocolate. Gram per gram, fruit has less calories than chocolate/candy. Fruit is full of vitamins and minerals, and fibre, and has a high water content. So yes, fruit still has calories, but they're nutritious calories :)

    Edit: Oh, and I'd imagine lower GI than candy, so you won't feel hungry again as quickly as you would if you ate candy.

    ^^^^^^^ this
  • tennisdude2004
    tennisdude2004 Posts: 5,609 Member
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    A calorie is a calorie.


    Please not this again, my head can't stand the face palming!!!!
  • Felipe20
    Felipe20 Posts: 5 Member
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    You need to be able to change your mentality. Realize that there are good sugars, good fats, good calories and all that. Fruits are broken down differently in the body, they may look the same with regard to sugar and carbohydrates but the way your body sees it is different. I agree with Acria, there is much more nutrients. It's also an unprocessed source of energy. Yes, too many apples and fruit a day isn't good bc you still need to stick to a certain level of sugars, but it's better for you than a candy bar.


    Exactly what she said. Figure out your daily Protein, Carbs and fats (healthy) ... too much fruit IS bad for you.
  • lisaabenjamin
    lisaabenjamin Posts: 665 Member
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    If you like fruit, eat fruit. If you want a candy bar, have one. Sugar and carbs are not evil. However, nothing can be eaten in unlimited quantities. A calorie is a calorie. While some foods are more nutrient dense than others, all that is required for weight loss is a calorie deficit.

    I disagree. All calories are not equal. High Fructose Corn Syrup is just calories but should you be eating food that contains it? Based on what some reports say probably not. Highly processed carbohydrates probably don't need to be completely avoided, but you should be paying attention to ensure you are getting more of the good kinds like in whole grains and fruit vs sugar and white bread types. Have a candy bar? Sure, but maybe as a weekly reward instead of a daily one.

    Yes thank u! It's not about a calorie deficit per se, it's a lifestyle! So you're saying if you're diet calls for 1300 cals a day to lose weight you'll eat that in ice cream because calories are calories? No!!

    Ha! Edited because I didn't actually write anything before I posted...!

    You're kind of arguing but making the same point. You CAN lose weight just by eating at a calorie deficit - so if you wanted to eat five or six 250 cal chocolate bars a day and nothing else, you could - and you would lose weight. But you'd also be severely deficient in nutrients and very unhealthy! You would also be starving hungry all the time!

    A calorie IS a calorie - there are not "good calories" and "bad calories" because a calorie is a fixed unit of energy, like a gram is a fixed unit of mass, or a second is a fixed unit of time. The calories in a bar of chocolate all pretty much come from sugar and fat - the key is to choose foods that allow you to stay within your calorie goal AND give you a balanced diet of all the different nutrients your body needs.

    Easier said than done sometimes...!
  • supermysza
    supermysza Posts: 167 Member
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    I count fruit kinda like a sweet replacement. I still get the sweetness but it's a fraction of the calories (banana = 100kcal, chocolate bar = around 250kcal) and it's more filling. Plus they give you vitamins you would never get from normal sweets.

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