Sugar in Fruit

BevP123
BevP123 Posts: 58 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi All,

With so much info on this site I am getting myself very confused.

I'm following the goals set by MFP and have lost a stone but, whilst trying to eat fruit and veg more often (and sometimes failing), I am finding that I am going over my daily sugars quite drastically and am always in the red. I can't help but feel this is slowing me down.

I know it is about choices and if I want to eat fruit I can choose fruit with less sugar but fruit is supposed to be good for you and when you see the amount of sugar in something simple like an apple it makes me wonder if I should be eating a chocolate biscuit instead (said tongue in cheek as I know that's not a sensible thing to do!).

I would welcome any feedback or advice on sugars, fruit and weight loss in general.

Thanks in advance.

Bev

Replies

  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    How many people do you know that got fat eating fruit?

    It has certain functions that prevent weight gain if you eat too much of it :wink:
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    Assuming you're using some common sense with food selection and assuming you do not have diabetes, I wouldn't be too concerned about going over MFP's daily sugar limit given the rest of your diet is in check, so to speak.
  • lipglossjunky73
    lipglossjunky73 Posts: 497 Member
    How many people do you know that got fat eating fruit?

    It has certain functions that prevent weight gain if you eat too much of it :wink:

    I agree. I don't freak out over the sugar numbers!
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
    Eating a portion of it...good! There are vitamins and things in those

    Eating all fruit all day...bad. protein is important in your diet and so are other things

    As for weight loss, if by the end of the day you eat less then your tdee, you are going to lose, even if by the end of the day you ate all twinkies (a prof has done a study on this and ended up losing something like 27 lbs)
  • BevP123
    BevP123 Posts: 58 Member
    Thanks all, I'm guessing concentrate on the calories and make sure what I eat is balanced then? x
  • palmerig88
    palmerig88 Posts: 623 Member
    I eat 2-3 servings of fruit per day and I think it has helped no harm done
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    How many people do you know that got fat eating fruit?

    It has certain functions that prevent weight gain if you eat too much of it :wink:
    Please explain.

    Fruit contains sugar and like any other sugar your body will process it the same. I assure you, that you can get fat by eating fruit. Fruit has calories just like any other food.
  • rusialeelee
    rusialeelee Posts: 143
    i got fat eating fruits before bed for a good 5 years...... :(
    I'm trying to eat more veggies than fruit ..and eating NOTHING at night.
  • F__7
    F__7 Posts: 371 Member
    sugar is sugar.. in my opinion... so make no mistake... it is what it is.. now.. is it better to take it from a fruit than other processed sources or so... very possibly... but in the end... is sugar.. so just make your best judgement...

    Me personally I would not put a lot of weight on sugar from a fruit when I am realy hungy or dont have other choices at hand....

    But at least, it is good to be aware that moderation has to be there too...
  • dvisser1
    dvisser1 Posts: 788 Member
    How many people do you know that got fat eating fruit?

    It has certain functions that prevent weight gain if you eat too much of it :wink:
    Please explain.

    Fruit contains sugar and like any other sugar your body will process it the same. I assure you, that you can get fat by eating fruit. Fruit has calories just like any other food.

    I assumed he was referring to the high fiber content in most fruits that will help you feel full and help clear your intestines. As for the sugars...MFP sets your targets really low. Unless you have medical blood sugar issues (diabetic or hypoglycemic) I'm not sure why to be concerned about it if you eat a balanced diet. Calories are what is going to determine weight loss success.
  • wtlos4me
    wtlos4me Posts: 39 Member
    Sugar in fruit is only an issue if you are diabetic, or prediabetic (insulin resistant). I have found that limiting my fruit consumption to my morning meal and early afternoon snack to be beneficial since it gives my body time to burn off the carbohydrates while I am the most active during the day. Also, I have found it helps to have a little bit of protein with the fruit to help keep a nutritional balance, and eliminate spikes in blood sugar which can create cravings. I have discovered that I have the best weight loss results when I don't eat high glycemic carbs or fruit after 2 p.m. Maybe that might be helpful to you too. Good luck!
  • GrandmaCarole
    GrandmaCarole Posts: 35 Member
    Fruit has fiber in it to slow down the absorption of the sugar. The portions are what you need to watch. 1 "school boy" delicious apple is one serving. One half a banana is one serving. I am going by the diabetic exchange lists. I try to aim for high fiber fresh or frozen fruit. Blackberries, Raspberries and Blueberries are all great, as are small apples and oranges. Stay away from dried fruit because most add sugar. The safesst one is dried apricots. Fresh pineapple is great. Just measure a cup of chunks and put the rest in the fridge for another time. Limit yourself to 3 servings of fruit a day, depending on your calorie limit.
    Also, stick to whole grains, low fat and lean protein. The protein and fiber are what fill you up and hold you over. 4 or more small meals a day are best to keep from storing calories as fat..
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    How many people do you know that got fat eating fruit?

    It has certain functions that prevent weight gain if you eat too much of it :wink:
    Please explain.

    Fruit contains sugar and like any other sugar your body will process it the same. I assure you, that you can get fat by eating fruit. Fruit has calories just like any other food.

    I assumed he was referring to the high fiber content in most fruits that will help you feel full and help clear your intestines. As for the sugars...MFP sets your targets really low. Unless you have medical blood sugar issues (diabetic or hypoglycemic) I'm not sure why to be concerned about it if you eat a balanced diet. Calories are what is going to determine weight loss success.
    No need for me to explain further. As above.
  • PrincessNikkiBoo
    PrincessNikkiBoo Posts: 330 Member
    bump
  • Dragonwolf
    Dragonwolf Posts: 5,600 Member
    How many people do you know that got fat eating fruit?

    It has certain functions that prevent weight gain if you eat too much of it :wink:
    Please explain.

    Fruit contains sugar and like any other sugar your body will process it the same. I assure you, that you can get fat by eating fruit. Fruit has calories just like any other food.

    Actually, the "sugar is sugar" thing isn't really true (particularly in your usage of the phrase). Fructose, the primary sugar in fruit, is not the same as glucose, the sugar that causes an insulin reaction in humans. When people hear "sugar," they usually think of the granulated "table" or "white" sugar, known as sucrose, which is a disaccharide consisting of both glucose and fructose (it's also processed, so any amount of fiber the sugar's source had is long gone, making the body process it faster). Glucose goes into the bloodstream (because our bodies can use it directly), while fructose goes to the liver to be processed into a form that the body can use. (Then, there's also galactos, which combines with glucose to form lactose, the sugar in milk.)

    To the OP - If the vast majority or all of your sugar intake is from fruits and you're still under your calorie goals and losing weight like you expect to, then I wouldn't worry about it too much. For the most part, the other nutrients in fruits far outweigh the concern over the sugar content.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.

Categories