Trying to balance my counts

jess2023mac
jess2023mac Posts: 41 Member
edited September 10 in Food and Nutrition
I'm eating healthy things like cantalope and apples. But then my carb and sugar counts are way over the suggested amounts. I know it's natural sugars as opposed to sugar sugars but how can I enjoy fruit in my diet without watching those numbers always go over? And how important are those numbers really when my diet is healthy?

Replies

  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,198 Member
    Being over on sugar and carbs is not necessarily a problem.

    Being consistently way under on protein and fats can be a problem.

    Protein and fats are essential nutrients: Our body can't manufacture them out of anything else, but we need them for best health. Carbs and sugar aren't essential nutrients in that sense.

    Our diet is healthy when it's calorie appropriate and balanced: Enough protein, enough fats, . . . and yes, lots of varied, colorful veggies and fruits contribute fiber and essential or beneficial micronutrients.

    Calories are what determine fat gain/loss directly. Balanced nutrition is important for health, and can indirectly affect body weight through energy level and appetite.

    It's not necessary to be exactly exact on nutrients every day or meal, though: Pretty good on average over a few days is fine.

    Best wishes!
  • queenlat78
    queenlat78 Posts: 1 Member
    Berries are great low carb fruits!
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,216 Member
    edited September 12
    Context and dosage is important. I wouldn't presume eating fruit makes a diet healthy by default. The #1 health issue facing most western societies and especially America is blood sugar control and fruit is sugar after all. It may have other benefits but it's a tree and forest situation. When someone says it's all about calories, it isn't, it's about the food you eat and how those foods get metabolized and utilized by the body. Numbers? counting calories is a fairly good method for weight loss if your body doesn't recognize and indicate to you that you've had enough to eat. Personally I don't eat fruit other than berries and most of them are blueberries and they basically have no effect on my blood glucose levels. imo.
  • no1racefan2
    no1racefan2 Posts: 90 Member
    As long as you don't have a medical reason to limit those sugars, I think you just have to decide what's important to you in terms of sugar intake. For me, I try to limit added sugar but I allow myself to eat as much fruit as I want--I'm talking unprocessed fruit, not fruit drinks, yogurt, etc. with a bunch of extra sugar. I don't worry about naturally occurring sugar in fruit at all. I avoid artificial sweeteners at all costs.
  • xrj22
    xrj22 Posts: 217 Member
    Think about portion size. Sometime people think that fruits a free all-you-can-eat foods because they are natural and healthy. Eat in smaller portions, and prepare them by cutting up, ead with fork. Add spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves, garnish with mint), which will make them seem more like a meal and make a small portion more satisfying.
  • cyncm
    cyncm Posts: 36 Member
    Do a Google search for low glycemic fruit and eat from that list for most of your fruit.

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