Is fruit a necessity in a well rounded, healthy diet?

[bmacsys]

I eat fruit but don't enjoy it. I just consume it for the health benefits. I do like vegetables. Can I just stop eating fruit without losing too much health-wise?

[loco]

I eat fruit but don't enjoy it. I just consume it for the health benefits. I do like vegetables. Can I just stop eating fruit without losing too much health-wise?

Both are good, but vegetables are better.  You are lucky that you like vegetables.  Eat as many as you can, especially broccoli.  I hate vegetables, so I eat fruit to compensate, but I wish I liked vegetables better.

[MidniteRambo]

As long as you can get your antioxidents and fiber from other sources (which you can if you do your homework), I would keep fruit at a minimum.

[Dos Equis]

You like vegetables better than fruit?   

I think fruit is an absolute necessity for long term health.  Hard to replace the antioxidants and fiber. 

[MidniteRambo]

You like vegetables better than fruit?   

I think fruit is an absolute necessity for long term health.  Hard to replace the antioxidants and fiber. 

I average between 50-100g of fiber per day without any fruit.  As far as anti-oxidents, grape seed extract, vitamin c tabs, ALA, brocolli, tomatoes, onions, carrots, spinach, yellow peppers.  You can get the same benfits of fruit without the fructose which gets in the way of fat loss.

[MidniteRambo]

By the way, see "Does Fruit Make You Fat?" by the International Sports Science Association"

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/issa14.htm

"If You Have Fruit, Fruit Juice, Or Any Of Its Derivatives, The Following Conditions Occur:  . . .  Muscle does not have the necessary enzymes to synthesize fructose into glycogen; therefore the liver converts this fructose into liver glycogen . . . Since the liver is responsible for supplying energy to the entire body, once its stores are full, a rate limiting enzyme in glucose metabolism, which is responsible for signaling the body to store glucose as glycogen or convert it to fat (phosphofructokinase), signals the body that all stores are full. If the glycogen stores are signaled as full, then the third way our body uses excess glucose is to convert it to fatty acids and store as adipose tissue. IN ESSENCE, FRUIT SUGAR IS EASILY CONVERTED TO FAT" (emphasis added).

[bmacsys]

I average between 50-100g of fiber per day without any fruit.  As far as anti-oxidents, grape seed extract, vitamin c tabs, ALA, brocolli, tomatoes, onions, carrots, spinach, yellow peppers.  You can get the same benfits of fruit without the fructose which gets in the way of fat loss.

Hey, you did the reasearch for me! Thanks.

[bmacsys]

By the way, see "Does Fruit Make You Fat?" by the International Sports Science Association"

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/issa14.htm

"If You Have Fruit, Fruit Juice, Or Any Of Its Derivatives, The Following Conditions Occur:  . . .  Muscle does not have the necessary enzymes to synthesize fructose into glycogen; therefore the liver converts this fructose into liver glycogen . . . Since the liver is responsible for supplying energy to the entire body, once its stores are full, a rate limiting enzyme in glucose metabolism, which is responsible for signaling the body to store glucose as glycogen or convert it to fat (phosphofructokinase), signals the body that all stores are full. If the glycogen stores are signaled as full, then the third way our body uses excess glucose is to convert it to fatty acids and store as adipose tissue. IN ESSENCE, FRUIT SUGAR IS EASILY CONVERTED TO FAT" (emphasis added).

So fruit is getting me fat and not my junkfood snacks. Cool.

[Dos Equis]

I average between 50-100g of fiber per day without any fruit.  As far as anti-oxidents, grape seed extract, vitamin c tabs, ALA, brocolli, tomatoes, onions, carrots, spinach, yellow peppers.  You can get the same benfits of fruit without the fructose which gets in the way of fat loss.

I agree in part.  Vitamin supplements (which I take) are not a substitute for food.  You can get most of the same benefits from eating vegetables.  But if you hate vegetables (like me), then you eat more fruit.  I get most of my fiber from fruit.  The past seven days, I averaged 63.3g of fiber per day.  I eat bananas, oranges, grapefruit, apples, and raisins pretty much every day and peaches, nectarines, cherries, and grapes intermittently.  I don't think fruit, which has no fat and no cholesterol, interferes with fat loss. 

[MidniteRambo]

I agree in part.  Vitamin supplements (which I take) are not a substitute for food.  You can get most of the same benefits from eating vegetables.  But if you hate vegetables (like me), then you eat more fruit.  I get most of my fiber from fruit.  The past seven days, I averaged 63.3g of fiber per day.  I eat bananas, oranges, grapefruit, apples, and raisins pretty much every day and peaches, nectarines, cherries, and grapes intermittently.  I don't think fruit, which has no fat and no cholesterol, interferes with fat loss. 

Just because something has no fat or cholesterol doesn't mean its not fattening (for example, try consuming a large quantity of beer every day and see what happens).
Its not the fat or cholesterol in fruit, but the sugar which the body can easily convert into body fat (take a gander at the article above I posted).  Moderate fruit consumption can be done within the context of a well-structured diet, but is it irreplaceable? Defintely No (vegetable and supplements can achiebe the same or better results).  If the person consuming the fruit is looking for a way to achieve fat loss, fruit is a logical place to cut back (assuming that there are not better areas, such as elimination of alcohol etc.)

[Dos Equis]

Just because something has no fat or cholesterol doesn't mean its not fattening (for example, try consuming a large quantity of beer every day and see what happens).
Its not the fat or cholesterol in fruit, but the sugar which the body can easily convert into body fat (take a gander at the article above I posted).  Moderate fruit consumption can be done within the context of a well-structured diet, but is it irreplaceable? Defintely No (vegetable and supplements can achiebe the same or better results).  If the person consuming the fruit is looking for a way to achieve fat loss, fruit is a logical place to cut back (assuming that there are not better areas, such as elimination of alcohol etc.)

I don't agree that supplements are as effective or better than food.  On the other hand, I read the entire article from the link you posted and it makes some good points.  Maybe I need to rethink my stance on fruit and fat loss?   

[MidniteRambo]

I don't agree that supplements are as effective or better than food.  On the other hand, I read the entire article from the link you posted and it makes some good points.  Maybe I need to rethink my stance on fruit and fat loss?   

If what you're doing works, why change?  If on the other hand there are remaining stubborn fat reserves you're trying to whittle down, you sound open-minded enough to experiment with some diet modifications.

[tarzapedamonkey]

ive been dieting for like 5 months around and i eat about 4-6 pieces sof fruit a day depending how much exervcise i do

ive gone from 340 to today about 277,started jan3rd 2006

 im eatin fruit and im still losin weight

[The BEAST]

ive been dieting for like 5 months around and i eat about 4-6 pieces sof fruit a day depending how much exervcise i do

ive gone from 340 to today about 277,started jan3rd 2006

 im eatin fruit and im still losin weight

Eat veggies instead and see what happens...I don't think anyone is saying you can't lose weight when eating fruit (especially at 340) but you will most likely see more gains if you replace the fruit with veggies.  If you must have fruit add in a banana right after you train...this is probably the best time to get it and have your body use it.

[The BEAST]

Oh and congrats on the weight loss.

[loco]

ive been dieting for like 5 months around and i eat about 4-6 pieces sof fruit a day depending how much exervcise i do
ive gone from 340 to today about 277,started jan3rd 2006
 im eatin fruit and im still losin weight

Congratulations!

And I lowered my % body fat from 13% to 7%, and managed to gain some weight from muscle.  I am being asked if I'm getting ready to compete again, even though I'm not...yet.  I didn't even do that much cardio.  Just lifting heavy and eating right with lots of protein...and fruit.  Raisins with breakfast, blue berries mid morning, an apple or pear with lunch and fruit juice mid afternoon.  I do add Psyllium fiber to my fruit juice since juice, unlike fresh fruit, does not have fiber.  I believe fruit just has too many benefits that outweigh any negative effects fructose might have.  Same with milk and yogurt, too many benefits that outweigh any negative effects lactose might have.  It also depends on the person.  Everybody is different.  I do wish I liked vegetables more. 

[tarzapedamonkey]

thank you bros

i jus bought a steamer so ill start steaminh veggies,but to tell u the truth i hate veggies

fruit i like cuz if i get bad food cravings i eat a piec eof fruit and it calms me down

most of the veggies i have r ,onion,spinach,brocoli,peppers,carrots

[Jr. Yates]

I use fruit as my post workout meal because it has simple sugars and satisfies the sweet tooth.

[Bluto]

get a juicer