Fruits. We think we know them. They hang out in smoothies, flirt with yogurt, and somehow end up in places they don’t belong — like pizza (looking at you, pineapple).
But not everything that tastes sweet, goes in pie, or hangs out in the produce aisle is actually a fruit. In fact, one common food has been living a lie right under your fork.
Let’s play a little game called: Fruit or Fraud?
Use your imagination in giving yourself a health gift today. Small health gifts done consistently make a big difference over time.
A healthy breakfast typically consists of a combination of foods that provide essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to start your day with energy and vitality.
Ultimately, the healthiest fruit depends on your specific nutritional needs and preferences. It is always best to consume a variety of fruits to ensure that you are getting a broad range of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Eating a healthy and balanced diet can improve overall health, including sexual health.
Fruit is a great source of fiber, which can help balance blood sugar levels, Isabel Smith, RD, says. After tracking 3,518 Australians over the course of 12 years, researchers found that eating a moderate amount of fruit was linked to a 36 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a June 2021 study in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
The type of sugar in fruits is called fructose, and fructose has shown to have little effect on blood sugar levels when taken in moderation, per June 2009 research in the Journal of Nutrition. And while it won’t cause a huge spike in blood sugar levels because of the fiber, the natural sugars will still give you your sweet fix.
Experts at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health suggest that highly processed sugary foods trigger the brains’ reward center and cause cravings, while the natural sugars in fruit don’t have as much of an effect.
“Consider berries like raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. Those can be an excellent source of nutrients, but can also take care of that sweet craving that you’re having,” Vandana Sheth, RDN, CDE, says.
This type of low-fat eating pattern leaves little room for the saturated fat, added sugars and sodium that inundate the standard American diet. People who eat a Mediterranean-style diet have longer lifespans, report a higher quality of life and are less likely to suffer from chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
There are a lot of misconceptions about the Mediterranean diet – namely that eating mounds of starchy pasta and processed cheese food meets the requirements of a Mediterranean diet plan. While you could eat a small amount of whole-wheat pasta on the Mediterranean eating plan, it would be topped with plenty of fresh vegetables and beans, dressed with olive oil and perhaps sprinkled with a small amount of natural cheese.
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to losing weight. But, according to a new study from researchers at George Washington University, some foods are more closely associated with weight gain than others. And a trio of plant-based foods appears to be tied to weight loss. That means zeroing in on a short list of commonly eaten foods—some to minimize, and others to increase—could play an important role in helping you achieve and maintain better weight management results.
