How much sugar we consume in our daily diet has become such a concern that even the government is waking up to the fact, the Department of Health commissioning a report by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition to look into carbohydrates and health.
There's no doubt that artificial addictives and fat have been outcasts of the food world for a while now, but more recently sugar has become the most recent food phobia du jour. And, in the rush to avoid sugar, one of the biggest victims has been fruit, with people abandoning their five-a-day and desserting the supermarket fruit aisles in droves.
But, experts warn, ommitting fruit totally from your diet is a fad that's totally unfounded. 'As Nutrition Expert Ian Marber explained last week, There’s been this huge misinterpretation and overreaction to the sugar warnings,just like fat is an umbrella term for good and bad varieties, so is sugar. Yes, fruit contains sugar, but it also contains fibre, vitamins and minerals. People are viewing fruit sugar as they would the sucrose added to cakes and biscuits. It’s completely inappropriate to think of it in that way.'
Most experts are still advising that we should eat everything in moderation. One of our favourite food bloggers Deliciously Ella explains, 'Fruit actually falls into the simple carbohydrate category and as a result some people believe that you should avoid most fruit. However, I find that the glycemic index is a great tool with this. There are fruits such as grapes and melon which are higher GI so I tend to avoid these on a regular basis. Bananas also fall into this category so I tend not to go mad on those.' Nutritionists also urge us to eat fruit as it contains essential fibre. Here is our guide to 5 Fruits you should be eating.
5 Fruits You Should Be Eating
1. Dates and Date Syrup
Deliciously Ella says, 'I love Date Syrup – it just adds such an amazing flavour rather than just being a sweetener so it is so great on porridge or in something like hot chocolate.'
2. Berries
Mark Sisson, fomer Elite runner-triathlete says, 'Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and gooseberries are all packed with antioxidants and vitamins. These little fiber bombs are the smartest, most nutritionally-dense fruit you can eat. Aim for a half-cup to one cup daily. Keep in mind that these fruits, especially strawberries and raspberries, are excellent on grilled meats and in salads, so go ahead and experiment!' Sounds delicious to us!
3. Citrus Fruits
Grapefruits have long been hailed as a 'skinny fruit' but like other citrus fruits they have a a low GI rating. Amelia Freer, Author of Eat.Nourish.Glow and dietician to the stars even likes to zest an orange into her Raw Healthy Apricot and Fig Granola. Yum!
4. Apples and Pears
Apples and Pears are reportedly lower in sugar than other fruits but also satisfy a sweet tooth.
5. Kiwi Fruit
Author of 'I Quit Sugar For Life' Sarah Wilson says, 'Avoid Fruit juice as a glass contains 8-10 teaspoons which is the same as Coke. Same deal with dried fruit...50 - 70 per cent sugar' She recomends fruits that are low in fructose like kiwi.
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