Fruits – should we eat them? And why not?

Introduction

Fruits come in all shapes and sizes and colors. Some are sour, some are sweet and some just smell terribly bad. Now they are full of sugar in the form of fructose but they also contain plenty of other nutrients in them. So today we’ll run through some of the benefits of consuming fruit on a regular basis and whether it should or should not be a part of your regular diet.

 

Fruits – nutrients, fiber, antioxidants, minerals, and other benefits

So fruits contain so many nutrients. Fibre, antioxidants, and minerals are just some of the benefits found in fruit. Of course, each fruit differs from each other but you can find these generally in all of them. Fibers are only in whole fruits. Whole fruits are fruits that have not gone through processing. So canned fruit and preserved fruit are unlikely to contain much if any fiber at all. Fiber is used to help us process food in the colon. It softens stools making it easier to pass through. But in order for it to work adequately, there must be enough water intake otherwise the effects will reverse. Antioxidants are another word for vitamins. There are 13 different types of vitamins out there and depending on the fruit, it’ll contain different vitamins. Vitamins are essential nutrients that cannot be naturally made in the human body. As a result, the only way to get them is through food. Vitamins assist the proper function of the body from the nervous system to the immune system. Depending on the vitamin it can help with different aspects of the body. Often vitamins are the stimulants that the body needs to create a certain chemical in the body like hormones and white blood cells. Fruits also contain plenty of minerals. Minerals are chemical elements that support proper functioning. Just like vitamins, they help the body grow and function properly. Minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc can help with bone growth, nervous system, and immune system respectively. Again the types of mineral present are totally dependent on the fruit.

 

Fruits – for everyone?

Even though fruit is super nutritious, it may not be for everyone. They are very high in sugar and carbohydrates. It is this sugar that makes it extremely delicious and sweet. However, if you are on a ketogenic diet it may not be for you. This is because this diet requires the body to use its energy reserve for the body to lose weight. Carbohydrates are the first source of fuel and once piece of fruit can contain up to 20 grams of carbohydrates. If the body is full of sugars, it will not use the reserve energy first. Secondly, if you are diabetic fruits may not be the best option for you too. Although fruit contains less sugar than soft drinks, lollies, and other sugary sweets, it still contains a decent amount. To get diabetes under control, the best is to have less or completely cut out sugars.

 

Conclusion

Fruits are the perfect snacks! They are relatively low in calories, delicious (well most of them), and extremely nutritious. They are full of fiber, antioxidants, and minerals which are crucial for the body to maintain function. However, if you are diabetic or on a ketogenic diet, I would recommend you to stay away or minimize their consumption.

 

 

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