Too much fruit?
Is it possible to eat too much fruit? Most 'food pyramid' type guidelines tend to show 2-4 servings as the recommendation. I probably eat at least double that! I eat about an equal amount of non-starchy veggies, and up to three 'proteiney' things - I just tend not to eat very much in the way of starches/grains. I'd expect the problem, if any, to be blood sugar spikes, but I actually find my energy/blood sugar is more stable with fruit than with the refined carbs that tend to be available to us broke student-types. And I would lean more heavily on veggies, but it's a hell of a lot easier to pinch bananas from the cafeteria than it is to walk out with the salad bar! Am I doing myself any harm by replacing my bread with bananas and my oatmeal with apples?
Here's the main thing: I definitely have problems, as I've mentioned, with anything more than very small amounts of fruit, and I am not alone. Many people have problems with fructose and sorbitol naturally occurring in fruit, as the Whfoods article mentioned, as much as 43% of Caucasians and 55% of non-Caucasians are sorbitol intolerant (sorbitol is in high quantities in stone fruits).
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fructose-intolerance/AN01929
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fructose-intolerance/AN01574
That article reminded me that honey does it to me too.
So for some people, there is definitely such a thing as too much fruit. For me, I learned it the hard way. I tried for 6 months to do a diet concentrating on LOTS of raw fruits and veggies. It was horrible! I suffered every day until I finally discovered fructose and sorbitol malabsorption. I had not just digestive problems but hormonal too (from all the fruit sugars causing estrogen dominance). So, just something to be aware of.
i understand that you have a sensitivity to it, but the OP wasn't saying they thought fruit might be a culprit of some symptom they are having, they were asking if they can eat a lot of fruit and be ok... the answer is yes.
in terms of hormones, honestly, i've never heard that (until that article), but how are they coming up with the "normal" levels, anyway? it sounds like you have previous issues with that, though, so perhaps you are more sensitive.
i think it can be bad to eat a lot of fruit if you are eating a lot of fat, too, it'll screw with your blood sugars a lot.
I know that most people get their Vit D from the sun but I'm allergic to sunlight, so I tend not to go outside often, which sucks.
I don't completely agree that fruitarianism is the best way to live your life. That would be a lot of fruit, and it wouldn't work for everyone. Not to mention your food bill would be like 800 dollars a month or whatever. Personally I'm eating about 80% fruit right now and I feel great, I eat like 4-12 bananas a day (yes i do eat other fruits), and I never would have thought bananas taste so good lol! I say just eat what your body tells you to eat. I know that doesn't help much though
Daaang, having a sun allergy = :( ....but at least in Iowa, it's pretty easy to manage for at least 4 months out of the year. I remember December - March being totally-not-worth-going-outside weather, anyway.
And I agree..... fruititarianism might work wonders for some people, but it simply isn't feasible for others. Especially for those who live in colder climates, most fresh produce can be really expensive out of season...and that's like half the year in Iowa.
but yeah, it's great to hear that You're eating so well!
Hespy has definitely inspired me to eat more fruit daily, and I can do that now that I live in the south. Stuff that isn't grown locally doesn't have to travel very far and is affordable; plus, the family grows a good bit of fruit and preserves plenty for the winter months.
And a note on those articles....
Those are some things to consider, lovinglife, but I wouldn't use them as a blanket statement that "yes, You can eat too much fruit." Of course people with particular sensitivities or allergies can have too much of those things that they're sensitive to...
James, for instance, can't eat any citrus fruits, mango, pineapple, strawberries, peaches, and even some apples. If he does, he suffers a very uncomfortable burning in his mouth and is left with red, sensitive patches all over his tongue. The condition, geographic tongue, affects a fairly small portion of the population, but the acid in many fruits (and other foods) is something they have to avoid unless they want to suffer the icky consequences.
but if Narcissus doesn't have those problems mentioned above/in the articles, then the worst s/he'll get from a high-fruit diet is some loose stools, probably.
Absolutely no such thing, unless your body is telling you differently. Fruits provide almost everything the body needs
For a wonderfully brilliant argument, pick up The 80/10/10 Diet by Dr Douglas Graham: pure genius!
Absolutely no such thing, unless your body is telling you differently. Fruits provide almost everything the body needs
For a wonderfully brilliant argument, pick up The 80/10/10 Diet by Dr Douglas Graham: pure genius!
are you 80/10/10? there are a few on this board! (including me)
I know I ate too much fruit at one time and I developed Candida as a part of it.
I ate too much sugar and abused caffeine and I was not a good vegan (not high nutrition) so I developed yeast problems.
That was many years ago and I am better but I learned my lesson: enjoy fruit but don't over do it. Like now I am keenly aware of how much is "enough" before the sugar is just too much.
And, yes, I agree that fruits are much more healthy than white sugar and processed food...but STILL, I cannot over do it.
Everyone is different.
Oh, one more thing. Fruit is considered very "yin". Too much of it can make you "too yin", perhaps give you loose bowels, cool your digestive fire. This is stuff from Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda...it maybe worth a look. I found it all to be true for me. Made me too yin and that wasn't good.
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