Is fruit making us fat 1260x542
16 Nov 2011

Is fruit making us fat?

2 mins to read
A recent article published in a popular Australian newspaper mentioned fresh fruit was partially to blame for the extra kilos some of us are carrying. It was listed right alongside a whole host of other sweet foods, such as lollies, yoghurt, dried fruit and fruit juice. The idea of cutting back on fruit goes against main stream thinking in nutrition, and will stir up debate - it got me fired up!


A recent article published in a popular Australian newspaper mentioned fresh fruit was partially to blame for the extra kilos some of us are carrying. It was listed right alongside a whole host of other sweet foods, such as lollies, soft drink, sweet biscuits, yoghurt, dried fruit and fruit juice.

The idea of cutting back on fruit goes against main stream thinking in nutrition, and will stir up debate. Hey, it got me fired up.

And while I agree that it’s important to cut back on your sugar intake if your goal is to reduce body fat, I don’t think fruit is a good place to start. Fruit is loaded with fibre, nutrients and antioxidants, and is a lot better choice than lollies and biscuits. However, when it comes to weight control, there are a few fruit eating conditions that apply.

  • Eat it, don’t drink it - Fruit is sweet, because it’s very high in sugar (fructose). Yet whole fruit comes with fibre, so Mother Nature already provides a solution to the problem. The fibre in whole fruit slows down digestion and fills you up. The juice from fruit contains virtually no fibre, so all you are getting is all the kilojoules without hunger satisfaction. A glass of fruit juice has virtually the same kilojoule content as a glass of regular soft drink, even if it’s freshly squeezed.
  • Don’t eat fruit at the expense of vegetables - When people want to eat healthier, they often load up on fruit. Yet this can take away the focus from water rich vegetables, which are the cornerstone of healthy eating and weight control. The advice to eat 5 – 7 servings of fruit and vegetables a day is misleading. Fruit and vegetables shouldn’t be grouped together, and it’s important to differentiate between the two. Aim for 5 servings of vegetables (focusing on the water-rich varieties rather than the starchy varieties), and have no more than two servings of fruit a day.

How much fruit do you eat? Do you think fruit is responsible for Australia’s expanding waistline?



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