It is no wonder fruit is called nature’s candy. It is sweet, juicy, a great afternoon snack and even a wonderful dessert to help curb the sugar cravings. If you are trying to lose weight though, fruit has been given a bad reputation so we are here to lay out some of the facts for you to decide if you should keep fruit in your diet or not.
All fruit should not be created equal…
When it comes to different fruit, they each yield different amounts of sugar. Berries are low in sugar, and rich in antioxidants. Different berries like raspberries and blackberries make great snacks at various times in the day. Bananas tend to register higher in carbohydrates, with approximately 20g per banana. Bananas are best consumed around a workout so the carbohydrates utilized the best by the body. Watermelon and pineapple digest quickly and spike your blood sugar leaving you still hungry soon after.
Fruit isn’t fattening, per se…
At the end of the day, calories are calories and they enter your body through different sources. If you burn fewer calories, then you are taking in then scientifically speaking you will gain weight. Fruit has a lot more to offer the body than plenty of other options though – fruit is rich in fiber, antioxidants, and nutrients.
Say no to fruit juice…
This is the one fruit source you should really stay away from if you are trying to lose weight. When a fruit is juiced, it loses all of its fiber. Therefore the impact on your blood sugar level significantly changes and for the worse. Plus, just one cup of fruit juice can yield up to 30g of sugar and most of us when we are drinking something tasty and refreshing aren’t measuring out for ourselves just one cup.
All in all…
The choice is really up to you. You know your body best and your goals best. Eat fruit or don’t eat fruit. If you aren’t going to eat fruit then still make sure you are getting in your vitamins and minerals that your body needs and wants. And if you are eating fruit, then limit yourself to 2-3 servings per day.
