Fruit has a lot of sugar. We know that sugar, in general, is bad for us. But fruit seems pretty healthy? It’s confusing – should we eat fruit?
Fruit contains antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, phytonutrients and fiber. All these things are super good things for you. But what about the sugar? It turns out that studies suggest that how you get your sugar matters. Sugar from fruit turns out not to be harmful. Research suggests that fructose (sugar) from whole foods, such as fruit, actually benefit blood sugar control and metabolism.
Here’s a study that really takes things to extreme: seventeen people ate 20 servings a day of fruit! Despite the extraordinarily high fructose content of this diet (about 200 grams per day, or the amount in 8 cans of soda), the researchers reported no adverse effects (and possible benefit actually) for body weight, blood pressure, insulin, and lipid levels after three to six months. In a related study that also had the subjects eat 20 servings a day of fruit found no adverse effects on weight, blood pressure, or triglycerides and a 38 point drop in bad cholesterol.
In fact, a number of studies have found that fresh fruit consumption is negatively correlated with diabetes even though fruit has high sugar content.
So – when it comes to fruit – eat up.
Thanks John;
Your IFODS are great. I have been buying sliced frozen bananas and mangos from walmart for a couple months. After thawing for a few minutes I can’t get enough of them.. .almost at an addiction level.
I have lost wieght, and noticed I feel better. Thanks for telling me why.
Wow! That is great news, since I love fruit but my doctor told me to cut back on it to lose weight. I told her it satisfied my sweet tooth and that eating fruit kept me from craving sugary treats. She claimed that sugar is sugar, regardless of the source. Now, all I need is a name of the study so I can show it to her. Thanks, John!
That is so awesome for a fruit lover to hear. I regularly eat 5 portions of fruit each day and I was worried about the amount of sugar I was getting.