FRUIT

IS FRUIT BAD FOR ME?

Short answer is no! It continually baffles me when people are discouraged to eat fruit, usually due to its sugar content.   

Unlike ‘free’ or extrinsic sugars which are added to many foods, whole fruits (much like vegetables) contain natural or intrinsic sugars that reside in the fruit’s cell membrane. The fibre content in fruit allows these sugars to be digested much slower than their extrinsic counterparts and thus take longer to enter the blood stream, ensuring that sugar spikes aren’t as drastic and blood glucose levels remain more consistent.  

More importantly, whole fruits are an excellent source of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants which support several essential body systems/functions. Including a variety of colourful fruits in your diet will ensure your body is well stocked with vital micronutrients such as potassium and Vitamin C to maintain vitality and well-being.

Like anything in our diet, enjoy your favourite fruits in moderation and be mindful that juicing can remove much of the all-important fibre which helps slow down the sugar release. Aim to have at least 2 serves of fruit (1 serve=1 cup of whole fruit) and 5-8 serves of vegetables (1 serve = ½ cup cooked vegetables or 1 cup of raw leafy greens) per day whilst ensuring you are getting plenty of fibre through wholegrains and legumes to help keep your sugar levels nice and steady throughout the day.  

Jules xo