More Calories In Fruit Than What You Might Expect

By Darnell Visini


Fruits are widely acknowledged by dietitians to be a healthy food rich with vitamins, minerals and energy. They have a generous amount of vitamins A and C plus potassium. They have low fat. Fruits are also a good source of dietary fiber, aiding digestion and reducing the risk of bowel cancer. Their water content is high (80 percent or more), aiding personal hydration. Some folks seem to think there are zero calories in fruit. Not quite; fruits have some calories but the count is relatively low.

One single whole blackberry has one calorie, a cherry has about more than two and a grape has three. Naturally, for these examples, the total count will vary on the number of fruit per serving.

The highest calorie count per whole fruit is found in oranges (65), apples (95), grapefruit (100), bananas (107) and avocados (150). Those on a diet might be startled by these figures, but this alarm would be misplaced. To place these figures into context with other foods, a cup of fresh fruit salad is a great snack or dessert and contains about 100 calories compared to the 260 calorie count in a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The lowest calorie count is found in apricots (30), kiwi (34), peaches (35), mangoes (40), pears (45) and pineapple (50).

The preceding calorie numbers are trivial compared to the nutrition in fruits. Nutritionists conceded it is appropriate to be aware of the calorie amount in fruits. However they emphasize that eliminating the intake of fruits would be a very poor decision.

Many menu planners suggest eating a minimum of two and as many as four individual servings of fruits daily. A subsidiary benefit of eating fruits is that they help serious calorie counters to manage their appetite. This benefit results from the high fiber content of fruits. Fiber produces a feeling of fullness in the stomach which limits food intake. One diet strategy is to consume fruits before a regular meal so as to control overeating higher calorie foods.

Nutritionists recommend eating at least two servings per day. Some suggest as many as three or four servings daily. Their high fiber content helps to control appetite and food intake by inducing a feeling of fullness. Some people like to eat a piece of fruit before (not after) their regular meal to help limit overeating.

The consumption of fruit juices raise requires some caution. Pure and fresh juices are very popular way but if the pulp of fruits is not consumed with their juice, the dietary fiber in them is largely lost. Another point is that bottled or canned juices are typically high in sugars and therefore have a big calorie count. Hence, pure juices are strongly preferred by dietitians over bottled or canned juices.

Calories in fruits are minimal compared to the count found in most other foods of comparable nutritional value. Eating plenty of fruits, and vegetables, remains one of the best ways to control weight and maintain a healthy diet. There are a many fruits to choose to avoid a low calorie diet becoming dull and sap motivation. The calorie content in fruits should not concern dieters, particularly if fruits are substituted for cakes, candy and other sweets.




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