Is Sugar from Fruit a Bad thing?
As a society we tend to hear a lot of talk about avoiding sugar, but not all sugar is created equal! The sugar in your candy bar and the sugar in your apple are very different. The most important thing to remember is that fruit is never a bad thing..and you should run away from any diet company, influencer or celebrity that tells you differently! So let’s disregard diet culture trying to make us fear bananas and learn about why the sugar in fruit isn’t harmful after all…
Added Sugar
Added sugar is sugar that is not naturally occurring in your food, but rather, added by the manufacturer for sweetness. Added sugar will be listed on an ingredient label under a variety of names like cane sugar, corn syrup, sucrose, or fructose to name a few. In general, it is recommended by the American Heart Association to limit added sugar to under 25 grams a day for females and 36 grams for males. This recommendation is a lot easier to go over than you might think with one singular can of Pepsi having 39 grams of sugar and a standard candy bar having around 25 grams. Not only that, but added sugar is often found hidden in foods like yogurt, granola bars and salad dressings. Too much added sugar is linked to high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. So why doesn’t natural sugar do the same thing…?
Natural Sugars
Natural sugars are sugars that are naturally found in food. Fruits contain natural sugar in the form of fructose. Sugar found in fruit is not metabolized the same way as the sugar that is added to other foods. The fiber found in fruit slows the digestion of added sugars so your blood sugar levels don’t spike in the same way as they would from something like a cookie. Since fruit is a great source of fiber and also many other vitamins and minerals, there is no reason to be fearful of it or limit your fruit consumption.
With all the information around healthy living out there it is so easy to get caught up in the diet trends and quick fixes. Foods like fruits and vegetables have never been and will never be something to avoid or worry about!
If you’re confused or want to better understand if you’re eating too much sugar, schedule a call with Alli here.
This article was written by Lindsey Moser, nutrition intern. Fact checked by Allison Tallman RD.