Q: Can I really eat as much fruit as I want and still lose weight??
A: Unfortunately, NO. Fruit is a healthy choice and loaded with vitamins and antioxidants; however, fruit still contains calories and carbohydrates. These are two things that can stop your weight-loss progress in its tracks if left unchecked. One of the reasons that fruit is so controversial is because it can be a double-edged sword. While fruit is a very nutritious food that should be included in a balanced diet, there may come a time when you will need to reduce fruit from your diet due to its sugar content.
Why You Should Keep Fruit in Your Diet
The carbohydrates in fruit do not have a huge impact on your blood sugar levels, as most fruits have a low glycemic load. Fruits can also supply an insane amount of fiber to your diet, which will make you feel fuller for longer. For example, just one cup of raspberries contains 8 grams of fiber.
Fruits like blueberries are also a good source of antioxidants, which can help with so much!
Fruit has multiple benefits that warrant it being a staple in your diet but like everything else in life, to much of a good thing is still to much.
Why Fruit Might Hinder Weight Loss
Why fruit should not be given the ‘eat as much as you want’ label: When you’re trying to lose weight calories matter. One banana contains 100 calories and 27 grams of carbohydrates. One apple can contain as much as 115 calories and 30 grams of carbohydrates. 2 apples a day and 1 banana and you have ingested 330 calories for most peoples that’s 15-20% of the total calories they need for weight loss purposes.
How to enjoy fruit and still maintain a healthy weight:
1. Focus on berries, fibrous, and small fruits. Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, kiwis, clementines, plums, peaches, and small apples are the kinds of fruits you should reach for first.
2. Enjoy fruits in moderation but focus on eating more vegetables. Fruits are good, but vegetables, especially green leafy or fibrous vegetables, should be a focus on your plan.
