Should I be worried about sugar present in fruits?

Hi Petrica!

Post-pregnancy I have gained a lot of weight. My pediatrician suggested I avoid sugar. So, I stopped consuming sugar from my regular meals. I skipped sugar from coffee and tea. I stopped having desserts and everything that had sugar in it. But to stay healthy, I made sure that I consume a lot of fruits. So, one fine day, my husband told me that sugar in fruits is dangerous. Is that so? Should I be worried about the sugar present in them?

Abby!

Dear Abby,

              You do not need to worry about the sugar present in fruits. There are so many reasons we should not be worried; about the sugar present in the fruit. Fruits indeed have sugar in them, but they also have some other valuable nutrients like minerals, vitamins, fiber, and various other essentials that are important to our health. Most of the highly processed, sugar-packed foods available to us do not provide us with many nutrients. Also, these “empty-calories”: sugar-laden products should be avoided and not the nutrients-based fruits.

So, is fruit good for you Abby?

Yes. Fruit is healthy in moderation. Even sweet fruits contain a lot of fructose, such as watermelons and grapes. But, a lot of fructose that you get in your diet is not by eating fruits. Also, soda is not good for your health. But do you know that grape juice has more sugar than sodas? Many fruit juices contain vast amounts of sugar that have to be avoided. Fruits are good for your health, but fruit juices are not. Also, sauces and juices contain a large amount of fructose. So, the simplest way to avoid fructose is to read labels and avoid them.

Health risks are from sugars and not from fruits:

 Research has shown that health risks come from sugars, such as unhealthy weight gain, tooth decay, and consuming too many free sugars in the diet. Calories that come from juices containing sugar lead to weight gain over time. So, eating fruits power-packed with lots of nutrients helps provide us with a balanced diet for good health.

The presence of fiber in foods slows down the absorption of sugars into our bloodstream and helps in improving cholesterol levels, and provides a feeling of fullness. Even a cup of orange juice lacks the beneficial effects of the fiber contained in oranges.

Also, when it comes to other sources of sugars, always choose foods that have little or no sugar in the ingredient list. Also, make sure that you drink water instead of sugary beverages when you feel thirsty. I hope, this helps you Abby!

Lots of love,

Petrica!