6 Reasons You Shouldn’t Fear Fruit

Posted byLisa at Micro of the MacroPosted inHealth & Well-BeingTags:, , , , , , ,

I’ve been eating and drinking a lot more fruit lately.  In the past, my smoothies have been at least half veggies and half fruit, but as I learn more about the benefits of fruit, I’ve become more generous with it in my morning concoctions.

Morning smoothie with banana, coconut butter, lemon, ginger, & turmeric

Because almost everyone I know is fruit-averse due to its sugar content, I’d like to share some of the things I’ve learned recently.  Most of this info can be found in Dr. Michael Greger’s book How Not to Age, as well as on his nutritionfacts.org website, which offers seemingly endless information on nutrition research, both past and present.

  1. Natural sugar is totally different than added sugar in any food.  When eating whole fruit, the fiber found in it blunts the insulin response.  It is the various forms of added sugar in processed foods, most of which have little or no fiber, that are problematic.
  2. As our climate gets hotter, it’s more important than ever to stay cognizant of hydration levels, and juicy fruits can help with that.  Oranges, lemons, limes, melons, grapes, peaches, plums, and the like are great sources of minerals as well as structured water that is preferred by our cells.
  3. Our bodies respond well to the healthy fats found in fruits like avocados, olives, pomegranates and passion fruit.  They are anti-inflammatory and prepackaged with a rich matrix of phytochemicals, Dr. Greger points out, so their effects are positive, unlike other fats that can contribute to oxidative stress.
  4. Fruits are alkalizing, so they contribute to a healthy blood pH.  This creates a more nourishing environment for our cells, giving us less chance of chronic disease, including cancer and osteoporosis.
  5. An Australian study, which was repeated in the UK, found that eating more fruits (and vegetables) increases psychological wellbeing & motivation, and reduces the risk of anxiety and clinical depression in just 2 weeks.  
  6. Eating more fruit can result in a longer life.  A simple apple a day can add 4 years to your life, and daily berries can add 7 years, decreasing all-cause mortality.

So you can see that not only should fruits not be feared, but they should be embraced for the life-supporting jewels that they are.  I encourage you to check out the book and website mentioned above to learn more.

Sweetest Blessings,

Lisa

The content of this article is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified health care professional before acting on any information presented herein. Any statements about the possible health benefits of any subject discussed have not been evaluated by medical professionals or the Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or illness.

41 thoughts on “6 Reasons You Shouldn’t Fear Fruit”

  4. Great info! I totally agree with all the benefits of fruits. Complex carbs are processed in our bodies so differently than processed carbs. Thus, not all sugars are created equal … imho 🙂 Sorry I missed the meet up. Hopefully, I can make it to the next one. My Thursdays are free in September. Yay!

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  6. Definitely a big fan of fruit vs those @##@$%@@$ vegetables ha. I probably do not get the amount that my body craves, but at least I’ll throw it a banana, orange, grapes (cotton candy ones are my fav) etc. especially in the throws of training (not that green thingy in your picture though). Now you have me craving a smoothie!

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  7. Wonderful post Lisa! And all so true. I’ve been eating and drinking a lot more fruits lately too, especially first thing in the morning. In fact, my day often starts with a banana smoothie. Mine has kiwi fruit in it which is a really nice combination with banana and honey. I like your list of ingredients too, will have to give it a try!

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    1. Hi, Miriam, your kiwi/banana smoothie sounds delish! One of my faves is a green tea lime pie smoothie bowl by Angela Liddon of Oh She Glows. It has banana, spinach, lime juice & zest, and avocado among its yummy ingredients. And matcha green tea, of course! Hope you’re enjoying another week in paradise! ☀️

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