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Calories In Fruit Are Greater Than Many People Think

| Saturday, 26 January 2013
By Darnell Visini


Fruits are popularly perceived as a healthy snack full of nutritious vitamins and minerals and low in fat. They are generally rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C and potassium. Fruits are rich in dietary fiber, aiding digestion and bowel health. They are high in water content, aiding hydration. Most fruits have water content above 80 percent. Some people believe that there are no calories in fruit. These folks will be surprised to learn that fruit do have carbohydrates (sugars and starches) and must be included as part of any calorie count. However, this count is low.

At the low end of the scale, a single blackberry has one calorie, a cherry about two and a grape three. Further up the scale, the highest calorie amounts are present in oranges, apples, grapefruit, bananas and avocados. Dieters might be alarmed at these numbers, but this alarm is unnecessary.

The highest calorie count per whole fruit is found in oranges (65), apples (95), grapefruit (100), bananas (107) and avocados (150). Those on a diet might be startled by these figures, but this alarm would be misplaced. To place these figures into context with other foods, a cup of fresh fruit salad is a great snack or dessert and contains about 100 calories compared to the 260 calorie count in a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The lowest calorie count is found in apricots (30), kiwi (34), peaches (35), mangoes (40), pears (45) and pineapple (50).

The preceding calorie numbers are trivial compared to the nutrition in fruits. Nutritionists conceded it is appropriate to be aware of the calorie amount in fruits. However they emphasize that eliminating the intake of fruits would be a very poor decision.

Fruits contain many vitamins and minerals that are essential to a healthy diet. Nevertheless, some people worry about their sugar and fat content. However, fruits are low in sugars (carbohydrates) and fats compared to other foods. Avocados and coconuts are two exceptions in that they are high in fats, albeit healthy fats.

Nutritionists suggest that consuming at least 2 servings every day. Some even recommends as many as 3 or 4 serving in a daily basis. Their high fiber content helps to control appetite and food intake by inducing a feeling of fullness. Some people like to eat a piece of fruit before (not after) their regular meal to help limit overeating.

Pure fresh juice is a popular way to consume fruits. One important point to bear in mind with this serving format is that if the pulp is not consumed with the juice, much of the dietary fiber found in fruits is lost. Another cautionary point is that canned or bottled juices can be high in added sugar and hence have a high calorie count. Pure juice is to be strongly preferred over canned or bottled products.

The calories in fruits are of little concern relative to the calorie count found in other foods with similar nutrition. Eating vegetables and fruits is widely considered to be a good way to manage weight gain and achieve a balanced healthy diet. Happily, there is an abundance of fruits to liven up a menu plan and avoid a low calorie plan from becoming boring and eroding motivation. Experts agree that eating fruits is a good idea; by all means count their calorie content, but do not stop eating them, especially in preference to candies, cookies and cakes.




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