Does Fruit Make You Fat?

Here's our Reader Q&A on fruit!

First question:

Does Fruit Make You Fat?

I've been married to my husband for years now, and I have never seen him eat so much fruit before.

He's always been a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy, but now he's eating a piece of fruit with breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

He says he's trying to eat healthier, but I'm starting to get worried that all this fruit could make him fat?

I read an article somewhere that said sugar is bad for you, and fruit has sugar in it, so it will make you fat.

I asked him if he thought the fruit could make him fat, but he said no.

He said he's just been really hungry lately due to his workouts and the fruit is satisfying his cravings without resorting to eating fatty desserts.

I wasn't convinced, but I didn't want to argue with him about it.

I trust your advice, so can fruit make you fat or not?

Answer:

Can the sugar in fruit make you fat?

Fruit will not make you fat unless you eat a lot of it- enough that you surpass your calorie allotment.

And that depends on the rest of your diet.

What makes you fat is eating more calories than you burn off, over time.

One thing to take note of is that different fruits contain varying amounts of sugar.

There are some fruits you'll want to keep as an occasional treat as they're higher in calories.

There are also plenty of fruits you can eat more of because they're higher in fiber, and lower in calories.

Is dried fruit high in calories?

10 high-sugar fruits to eat in moderation

Here are ten fruits that you'll want to keep to a minimum if you're on a diet:

Bananas
Mangoes
Papayas
Pineapples
Apricots
Cherries
Dates
Figs
Pomegranate
Oranges

10 low-sugar fruits

Here are ten fruits that are low in sugar, so you can indulge a bit on your diet:

Apples
Blackberries
Blueberries
Cranberries
Grapefruit
Canteloupe
Raspberries
Strawberries
Lemons
Kiwi

Next question…

I was reading an article about fructose the other day and I became really interested in it.

I had no idea that there were different types of sugar! I always just thought that sugar was sugar.

But apparently, fructose is a type of sugar that naturally occurs in most fruits and vegetables.

Who would have guessed?

Anyway, after reading about fructose, I decided to do a little more research on it.

And let me tell you, it's not exactly the healthiest thing in the world.

In fact, too much fructose can actually be bad for you!

Do you think I should I stop eating fruit altogether to avoid problems?

Answer:

Should you avoid eating fruit because of fructose?

People love to demonize fructose, but the truth is that it's not all bad.

In fact, fructose is found naturally in fruits and vegetables, and it's actually minimal in most fruits.

The benefits of eating fruit outweigh any potential negatives from fructose.

Fruit is high in fiber and antioxidants, both of which are essential for good health.

So, if you're looking to cut down on sugar, stay away from processed foods and beverages that contain high-fructose corn syrup.

This manufactured ingredient (high-fructose corn syrup) is much more likely to cause negative health effects than the natural fructose found in fruit.

Different types of sugar and fructose

Although it has the same chemical structure as other types of sugar, fructose is metabolized differently by the body.

It is also the main type of sugar found in honey.

Fructose is a simple sugar, which means that it is made up of just one type of molecule.

It is different from table sugar (sucrose), which is a complex sugar made up of fructose and glucose molecules.

In small amounts, fructose can be a healthy part of a balanced diet.

However, food manufacturers often extract fructose to make high-fructose corn syrup and use it to sweeten processed foods.

This can lead to a build-up of fructose in the body, which can have harmful effects on health.

Consuming too much fructose can cause weight gain, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease.

Therefore, it is important to be aware of the fructose content of processed foods and to limit intake accordingly.

By making smart choices about what we eat, we can help to protect our health and our waistline!

Next question…

I used to think that fruit juice was a healthy choice.

I would buy apple, orange, and grapefruit juice by the gallon.

But then I read an article that said that whole fruit is better for you than fruit juice.

The article said that when you eat whole fruit, your body has to work to digest all the fiber in the fruit.

This means that your body burns more calories digesting the fruit than if you ate a glass of fruit juice.

The article also said that whole fruit contains more vitamins and minerals than fruit juice.

I decided to do some research on my own and found out that the article was right!

Whole fruit is better for you than fruit juice. Now I make sure to eat at least one piece of fruit each day.

Eating whole fruit vs. fruit juice

I'm glad you decided to do your research. Think how many calories you've saved!

Yes, fruit juice is often seen as a healthy alternative to sugary drinks like soda, but in reality, it can be just as damaging to your health.

A 12-ounce serving of apple juice contains 180 calories, 43.5 grams of carbohydrates, and 42 grams of sugar—nearly as much sugar as you’d get from five Fudgsicles.

Even 100% fruit juice is high in sugar and calories, and it lacks the fiber that helps to slow down the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream.

As a result, fruit juice can cause spikes in blood sugar levels, leading to energy crashes and cravings for more sugary foods.

So next time you’re reaching for a drink, ditch the fruit juice in favor of whole, fresh fruit.