5 "Fruit Rules" You Need To Remember Before Mixing Fruits Together
Dec 28, 2018 by apost team
If you're trying to eat better, improve your health, and lose weight, you can't go wrong by eating more fruit. Fruit is incredibly good for you -- it's full of fiber and essential vitamins and minerals, it's low in calories, and its high water content is hydrating.
Fruit is also unprocessed and doesn't contain significant amounts of fat, salt, or chemical substances that you don't want in your body. All in all, fruit is one of nature's perfect foods.
To get the most nutritional value out of your fruit, though, it's important to be aware of a few general rules. Here are a number of things to remember if you're about to start making fruit a bigger part of your everyday diet.
apost.com
1. Consider what time of day you're eating fruit.
Do you make a habit of eating fruit as part of a bigger meal, or do you reach for a piece of fruit as a dessert after a meal? If so, you might want to rethink the habit of eating fruit with other foods. It's hard for your body to digest fruit along with a lot of heavy starches or meat. This can give you indigestion and gas. It also means you're less likely to absorb all the valuable nutrients the fruit contains. Instead, eat your fruit first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
2. Think about how acidic or alkaline your fruit is.
Some fruits are tart and tangy, while others are sweet. This difference in taste can be explained by the pH level of the fruit. There are three main categories of fruit: acidic, sub-acidic, and alkaline. Citrus fruits and pineapples are the best-known examples of acidic fruits. If you're going to eat fruit that is high in acid, pair it with another fruit that is sub-acidic, like apples, berries, or papaya.
3. Don't eat acidic fruits and sweet fruits together.
Sugary-sweet fruits like bananas are delicious, but if you're planning to eat citrus or another highly-acidic fruit, avoid eating the sugary variety at the same time. Mixing too much acid and sugar in your stomach can cause heartburn and other digestive issues.
4. Think twice about eating that fruit salad.
Many fruit salads combine acidic, sub-acidic, and sweet fruits right in the same bowl. The finished result may be tasty, but it's probably not as healthy as it appears. Eating fruits from different categories at the same time can slow your digestive system and make it harder for your body to extract all the nutrients from the food. If you love fruit salad, make your own at home, and be sure to combine only acidic and sub-acidic fruits.
5. Every type of melon should be eaten alone.
Melons are nutritionally dense and incredibly hydrating. In fact, 90 percent of each melon is water. Because melons have such a high water content, your body can digest them much faster than other types of fruit. In order to get as much nutrition from your watermelon or cantaloupe as possible, eat it alone on an empty stomach.
Final Thoughts
Eating more fruit is a sweet and delicious way to lose weight, improve the appearance of your skin, and boost your overall health. But if you don't eat your fruit at the right time, or if you mix the wrong fruits together, you may not be getting as many benefits as you could from nature's candy. Follow these simple guidelines to absorb more vitamins and minerals from your fruit and avoid indigestion.
What's your favorite way to eat fruit? Will you be changing your habits based on this article? Let us know! Pass this article to your family and friends if you liked it, so they can start making the most of their fruit consumption, too.
Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your doctor. Your health is important to us!