The Fight Over Fruit: Healthy or Harmful?
By Genevieve Cunningham
Fruit has become quite an interesting topic of conversation in the diet and health industry. At one point in time, the advice was definitely to eat more fruit. It’s natural and sweet and full of nutrients. But over time, fruit has taken a bit of a bad rap. In today’s world, most diet plans advise very little fruit, if any at all. So what gives? Is fruit healthy or not? The answer is … it’s complicated. If you’re trying to live a healthy life with a healthy diet, take a look at this quick guide to eating fruit.
Fruit is Sugar
Fruit is delicious and sweet. But here’s the thing: Fruit is sweet because it’s sugar. It’s natural sugar, but it’s sugar nonetheless. Is this bad? Yes and no. A little bit of sugar isn’t necessarily the end of the world … as long as you don’t have a medical condition that calls for no sugar. But a lot of sugar -- even the natural kind -- can lead to weight gain, spikes in blood sugar, and the typical side effects of a sugar-filled diet.
Fruit is Nutritionally Dense
Even though fruit contains sugar, it also contains numerous vitamins and minerals that are crucial for our overall well-being. Citrus fruit often contains massive amounts of Vitamin C -- which is good for immune system. Berries are full of antioxidants -- which is great for heart health and longevity. Fruit can be good for us … really good! But we have to be aware of what is going into our mouths and what is being absorbed by our bodies.
Moderation is Key
So what’s the deal? Can we eat fruit or not? The answer for most people is that you can eat fruit in moderation. In small doses, fruit can be an excellent choice. In larger amounts, it may be too much sugar. Like most kinds of food, moderation is key. Choose your fruits wisely, add them to your diet sparingly, and enjoy the yummy flavor and healthy benefits, too.
Fruit, like almost any other food, is good when it’s consumed in moderation. And when it’s consumed excessively, it might cause harm. If you love fruit, eat it! But do so sparingly. Eating fruit strategically and in moderation can help you gain all the benefits, leave the potentially negative side effects behind, and stay in better health every day for the rest of your life.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Toledo, Ohio.