Many people are willing to do whatever it takes to look thin – even if it means eating only bananas all day. Just thinking about this makes me nauseous. I love bananas, but there are only so many I can eat. Seriously, who came up with the banana diet? Back in the early days of my health career… I was a big proponent of counting calories and to be honest, I probably would have tried the banana diet if somebody told me that it would help me lose ten pounds. Thank goodness I have changed over the years, and as a result, my views on dieting have also changed. Being healthy and fit is what it’s about! No more yo-yo dieting, no more counting calories, and definitely no need to live off bananas in order to get the body that you want. Whether you’re looking to drop a few pounds or have more than fifty to go, you may want to consider eating less fruit. The latest research shows that limiting your fruit intake can make all the difference when it comes to dropping weight. You’ve probably been told that fruit is essential, filled with nutrition, and high in fiber. Sure it provides the body with nutrients and fiber, but “essential”? I don’t think so! Fruit is just another form of sugar and since it’s fructose content spikes insulin levels, it prevents your body’s ability to burn fat. Wowsers! This may come as a surprise for some. Although a fresh bowl of fruit is refreshing and tasty, too much of it cannot only add pounds, it can make losing weight seriously challenging for some individuals. If you’ve been struggling to lose weight, you may want to consider your daily intake of fruit carbs. So just how much fruit do the experts recommend? Consuming more than 2 servings per day isn’t the best idea. My patients who consume more than this amount often struggle with yeast problems, weight issues and increased cravings. How about a healthy source of protein as a snack rather than a banana? Organic hardboiled eggs and snow peas are just as easy to stick in your lunch bag. Fruits, carbs, and sugar have always been a common topic of discussion among health experts and most agree that fruits are good for overall health as they are high in antioxidants and certain vitamins. But here’s some food for thought. A glass of orange juice has about 36 grams of sugar. The same amount of pop has 39 grams of sugar. Would you wake up in the morning and reach for a can of Coke? Didn’t think so. So what makes a person think that reaching for orange juice is a good idea if it contains virtually the same amount of sugar as Coke? In the end, if you’re trying to lose weight, limiting your intake of fruits may help you achieve your goals faster. And, when you have a pear or another piece of fruit, always have a healthy source of protein first, such as a handful of almonds or walnuts. This will help balance your blood sugars. Waking up in the morning and having fruit on its own spikes insulin. This is something that you clearly don’t want. Balancing your blood sugars will keep you feeling fuller longer and studies show that it will also assist with weight loss. So, the take home message… Having concentrated orange juice at breakfast, a banana mid-morning on its own, a strawberry daquiri on your sexy date, or a bowl of fruit before bed, is not helping you drop those pounds. It’s just releasing insulin, keeping you hungry, and adding to your waistline.
