# Is fruit good for you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 11, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193 "2003-06-11T20:33:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193/21 "2003-06-12T13:00:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by I Love Me, Vol. I \* > \*\*But Dr. Atkins doesn’t think you should eat much (if any) fruit, right? > > Or veggies either? Do I have that about right? If true, it doesn’t sound very healthy to me. \*\* You’re two for two on the Atkin’s diet misinformation. From [http://atkins.com/Archive/2001/12/15-464579.html](http://atkins.com/Archive/2001/12/15-464579.html) > [@](#): > > You can have two to three cups per day of: > > alfalfa sprouts > daikon > mushrooms > arugula > endive > parsley > bok choy > escarole > peppers > celery > fennel > radicchio > chicory > jicama > radishes > chives > lettuce > romaine lettuce > cucumber > mâche > sorrel > > These salad vegetables are high in phytonutrients and provide a good source of fiber. > > Other Vegetables > You can have one cup per day of these veggies if salad does not exceed two cups. The following vegetables are slightly higher in carbohydrate content than the salad vegetables: > > artichoke > celery root > pumpkin > artichoke hearts > rhubarb > asparagus > chard > sauerkraut > bamboo shoots > collard greens > scallions > dandelion > snow peas > bean sprouts > dandelion greens > spaghetti squash > beet greens > eggplant > spinach > broccoli > hearts of palm > string or wax beans > broccoli rabe > kale > summer squash > brussels > kohlrabi > tomato > bean sprouts > leeks > turnips > cabbage > okra > water chestnuts > cauliflower > onion > zucchini > > If a vegetable, such as spinach or tomato, cooks down significantly, it must be measured raw so as not to underestimate its carb count. And that’s only the first two weeks of the diet. After, “You will add more portions of vegetables, and most people will be able to gradually add nuts, seeds and even some berries. It’s important to understand that you will not be shifting significantly away from protein and fat to carbs, although you will be slowly changing the ratio of carbs to that of fat and protein.” Looks like an awful lot of veggies to me. ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193/22 "2003-06-12T14:06:02Z")
Eating hard fruit like apples and pears is good for your dental health: it stimulates your gums. I’ve heard an unconfirmed rumour that kiwis have antioxidants that help you avoid hangovers if you eat them before bedtime. They’re marketing a nutritional supplement that is heavy on some nutrient that comes from tomatoes, can’t remember the name. Basically, I think each different kind of fruit offers some fairly unique benefits. To give up all fruit and replace it with pills you’d have to be quite sure you knew what the fruit was providing that you needed, and be sure that your pills covered it. I for one would a thousand times rather eat a variety of fruit than do all that research and buy all those pills and make meals out of pills and soda pop. It would also be cheaper in terms of overall energy spent, even if not in cost. Yes, the value of fruit is far, far more than nutritional. Go to a juice stand in Brazil and then tell me you’d rather have pills ! ---
**Author:** ![Loneraven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c0e974/32.png) [@Loneraven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loneraven)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193/23 "2003-06-12T14:14:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cowgirl \* > **They’re marketing a nutritional supplement that is heavy on some nutrient that comes from tomatoes, can’t remember the name.** Lycopene? ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193/24 "2003-06-12T14:39:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Lycopene? Yep, that’s it ! I’d rather have a tomato, and not have to think about it. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193/25 "2003-06-12T15:16:47Z")
My husband is diabetic, so I come at this from a different angle. For him, there are fruits that are simply not healthy. Bananas, for example, make his blood sugar skyrocket. So does melon. Strawberries, on the other hand, don’t, and they have lots of fiber while being awfully tasty. I don’t think we can compare “fructose” with “high fructose corn syrup.” (I’ve seen studies on hfcs that scare me.) Fructose is extremely sweet compared to sucrose, something like 180 on a sweetness scale compared to sucrose at 100. So you can get a lot more sweet bang for the calorie buck. Fruits tend to be filling, as well. Personally, I’m not a big fan of fruit, aside from tomatoes. I much prefer veggies. Julie ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193/26 "2003-06-12T15:22:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blake \* > > The next problem is again linked to the fact that humans evolved primarily as frugivores. I would like a cite on that. A recent discovery of 160,000 year old homo sapiens skulls in Ethiopia discussed in a contemporary thread is linked to evidence of hippo consumption. As someone who has followed the Atkin’s lead, I generally avoid fruits as they are loaded with simplististic carbs, but I do compensate with plenty of green vegetables. I’ve considered that as a matter of evolution we have evolved into omnivores, but lets consider the historical context. Fruits and other high and/or simple carb foods such as wheat/rice and potatoes were generally seasonally available only. For example the bruin is a well known omnivore as well but consider that it loads up on berries in the fall only, in order to fatten up for the long winter. Ever see a fat lion? They don’t eat fruit. **cowgirl** But do think about this. The tomato should be cooked to release the Lycopene. I fry my tomatoes along with my eggs and sausages every morning. ---
**Author:** ![frithrah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@frithrah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frithrah)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193/27 "2003-06-12T15:43:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jsgoddess \* > \*\* > I don’t think we can compare “fructose” with “high fructose corn syrup.” (I’ve seen studies on hfcs that scare me.) > \*\* I don’t necessarily need a cite but can you elaborate on the distinction? I’m aware HFCS also has a lot of sucrose and therefor has a higher GI load, but is there any reason beyond that? Are there any factors that make it unhealthful for non-diabetics? Coca-Cola for example, while claiming they haven’t changed formulas, swapped HFCS for sugar a while back because it is cheaper. Cola purists lament. But since it is sweeter, less should be required. And since it has a lower GI than sucrose, It should by all accounts be healthier. Are there other aspects I’m not accounting for? ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193/28 "2003-06-12T15:54:54Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by I Love Me, Vol. I_ > But Dr. Atkins doesn’t think you should eat much (if any) fruit, right? Dr Atkins doesn’t think much about anything, these days. ---
**Author:** ![frithrah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@frithrah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frithrah)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193/29 "2003-06-12T16:12:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by r\_k \* > \*\*Dr Atkins doesn’t think much about anything, these days. \*\* If its true what they say “You are what you eat.” Then Atkins apparently had an epiphiny on vegetables before passing. /me ducks flying produce :rolleyes: :eek: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193/30 "2003-06-12T16:17:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* I don’t necessarily need a cite but can you elaborate on the distinction? I’m aware HFCS also has a lot of sucrose and therefor has a higher GI load, but is there any reason beyond that? Are there any factors that make it unhealthful for non-diabetics? > > Coca-Cola for example, while claiming they haven’t changed formulas, swapped HFCS for sugar a while back because it is cheaper. Cola purists lament. But since it is sweeter, less should be required. And since it has a lower GI than sucrose, It should by all accounts be healthier. Are there other aspects I’m not accounting for?\*\* I’ve seen two studies reported that claim that hfcs has a different impact on the body than sucrose or fructose. The claim I saw was that hfcs raises blood sugar while retarding the release of insulin, and that the hfcs raises the bar for satiety as well by interfering with the production of (I think) leptin. Lemme see what I can find. Well, I found this article, which somewhat agrees with what I thought I remembered. [http://www.skagitpublishing.com/publications/meddir/news.php?article=md09](http://www.skagitpublishing.com/publications/meddir/news.php?article=md09) I’ll see what else I can find. Julie ---
**Author:** ![SlowMindThinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@SlowMindThinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlowMindThinking)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193/31 "2003-06-12T18:46:45Z")
There is another consideration that hasn’t been brought up. People are microbe supporting habitats.=, particularly in the gut. I read an article (March? Feb or April? Scientific American?) article mentions that there are 10x more bacteria cells than human cells in a body. Those in the digestive tract are especially important to your health; without them you are much more prone to infections and your immune system is weaker. Will they thrive on Dew and pills? No. The fact is, people are apes. Apes mostly eat fruit. We come from a line that branched out to include nuts, and then meat. It is undoubtedly good to eat at least some subset of them. We did not evolve from pill popping Dew drinkers, and you would be taking a risk being one. (In the 60’s, the medical establishment pushed formula over breast milk. Well, they were wrong about forumula being superior. Same goes for living on pills.) Grienspace, bears eat berries in the fall because that is when berries mature in bear habitats. Many birds eat berries. Ever see a fat bird? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193/32 "2003-06-12T18:55:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by grienspace \* > \*\* > **cowgirl** > > But do think about this. The tomato should be cooked to release the Lycopene. I fry my tomatoes along with my eggs and sausages every morning. \*\* Sorry for the continued hijak, but … do canned toms count? ---
**Author:** ![SlowMindThinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@SlowMindThinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlowMindThinking)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193/33 "2003-06-12T18:59:41Z")
Oh, and don’t forget you can consume only as many fruits and veggies as you need. It is hard to subdivide pills. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193/34 "2003-06-12T19:13:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cowgirl \* > \*\*Sorry for the continued hijak, but … do canned toms count? \*\* If I remember correctly, you actually get more lycopene from tomato sauce and paste and catsup than from raw tomatoes. So cooking doesn’t kill the lycopene. Julie ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193/35 "2003-06-12T19:25:36Z")
IIRC lycopene is one of the pigments in tomatoes - cooking liberates it - which is (one reason) why bolognese sauce stains your shirt so readily. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Calculus\_of\_Logic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@The\_Calculus\_of\_Logic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Calculus_of_Logic)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193/36 "2003-06-12T19:40:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SlowMindThinking \* > \*\*There is another consideration that hasn’t been brought up. People are microbe supporting habitats.=, particularly in the gut. I read an article (March? Feb or April? Scientific American?) article mentions that there are 10x more bacteria cells than human cells in a body. Those in the digestive tract are especially important to your health; without them you are much more prone to infections and your immune system is weaker. Will they thrive on Dew and pills? No. > > The fact is, people are apes. Apes mostly eat fruit. We come from a line that branched out to include nuts, and then meat. It is undoubtedly good to eat at least some subset of them. We did not evolve from pill popping Dew drinkers, and you would be taking a risk being one. (In the 60’s, the medical establishment pushed formula over breast milk. Well, they were wrong about forumula being superior. Same goes for living on pills.) > \*\* 😃 They have pills for that too. They are called ‘probiotics’. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193/37 "2003-06-12T19:58:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cowgirl \* > \*\*Sorry for the continued hijak, but … do canned toms count? \*\* Absolutely. the whole process of canning involves cooking. I relgularly cook a meal (stew) made from canned tomatoes, ground beef, onions and mushrooms and PEANUT BUTTER . It used to be supplemented by rice, but I discontinued that. The original recipe was developed by my mother who improvised what she learned from her tenure as a teacher in Indonesia, to provide us meals at low cost in Canada. Now I just add more beef. Yumm! ---
**Author:** ![Drabble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8491ac/32.png) [@Drabble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drabble)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193/38 "2003-06-12T20:14:23Z")
phooey, I thought sucrose was more complex than glucose, but they are both Monosaccharides. Sucrose, table sugar, is more complex!! [http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/C/Carbohydrates.html](http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/C/Carbohydrates.html) People aren’t apes, their primates. 🙂 Just wanted to say that 🙂 Great apes can and will eat meat if the opportunity comes up. I’ve seen even chimps chase down a babboon mom and then grab her baby! They ripped it apart and shared it among three of them…yummmy 😛 We are physiologically made to eat meat, and fruit, etc. Omnivores…Even our teeth are designed so that we can eat plants and meat. So yeah, and nuts too. So is fruit healthy? Well, good place for vitamins and such, but a balanced diet is more than fruit. Yeah, formula is a poor substitute for breast milk!! Don’t get me started! But my 8 month is on formula now that she eats other solids. [qoute]Then Atkins apparently had an epiphiny on vegetables before passing. [/qoute] LMAO!! 😃 yeah, an all protien diet apparently causes people to dry up and lose weight because they are dehydrated…considering the body is like 70% water…a lack of water could show a reductio in mass on the wiegh scale! I like fruit over candy, so when you compare the two…i’m sure fruit is the better choice for my sweet tooth. I still can’t get over the fact that fructose is a monosaccharide just like glucose is…😛 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193/39 "2003-06-12T20:39:54Z")
U are very important and shold be correctly ascribed. ---
**Author:** ![SlowMindThinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@SlowMindThinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlowMindThinking)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193/40 "2003-06-12T22:25:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Drabble \* > \*\*People aren’t apes, their primates. \*\* 😕 We’re both. > [@](#): > > Great apes can and will eat meat if the opportunity comes up. I’ve seen even chimps chase down a babboon mom and then grab her baby! They ripped it apart and shared it among three of them…yummmy 😛 Yes, but the vast majority of their calories come from fruit. And, to be honest, I believe humans and chimps are the only great apes that go out of their way for meat. > [@](#): > > We are physiologically made to eat meat, and fruit, etc. Omnivores…Even our teeth are designed so that we can eat plants and meat. So yeah, and nuts too. Really, they are designed for fruits, tubors, and nuts, and incidentally meat. We can’t eat grass, and we are not evolved to kill with tooth and claw. Significant meat consumption required significant tool making ablility. > [@](#): > > So is fruit healthy? Well, good place for vitamins and such, but a balanced diet is more than fruit. Absolutely, but a balanced diet is way more than Dew. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Calculus of Logic \* > They have pills for that too. They are called ‘probiotics’ Now, you’re talking a diet, one that satiates you so well, and io much cheaper to just buy a bunch of bananas, some veggies, and the fixens for PBJ sandwiches. And, of course they mass manufacture all of these pills you take in just the right manner for you. :rolleyes: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fruit-good-for-you/181193.md?page=3)