http://www.thedailymeal.com/news/healthy-eating/eating-more-fruit-secret-healthy-weight-study-says/020116
http://www.bmj.com/content/352/bmj.i17
http://www.shape.com/blogs/weight-loss-coach/dried-fruit-fattening
As I was scrolling through my Facebook feed I stumbled upon this article based on a study published in the British Medical Journal. he study showed that individuals who consumed more servings of fruit each day, better maintained their weight or even began loosing weight. This struck me as odd because I had always believed that though fruit has its benefits, you should limit your servings per day due to the amount of natural sugar which occurs in fruit. This study found that Flavonoids, which are plant metabolites which have an antioxidant effect, were found to be the benefiting factor in fruit. This made me wonder if how you indulged in your servings of fruit mattered.
Being on a college campus I am surrounded by junk food ALL the time. This constant temptation can be hard to face. One day I had stared all day long at muffins, Krispy Kreme donuts, and brownies. My sweet tooth was beyond repair so I went on a hunt for something semi-healthy yet still indulgent. I came across a bag of dried tropical mix fruit...at that moment in time it sounded heavenly. It's fruit too so, I mean, how bad could it really be? The answer is...TERRIBLE. It was loaded with sugar and most of the ingredients listed I could not even pronounce. How could something made from a healthy ingredient become so bad for you?!
I found an article in SHAPE magazine that discussed how dried fruit can be health if you choose the correct kind. Drying out fruit is removing all the water and there for shrinking the size. That means that to gain the same nutritional value as a piece of fresh fruit, you would only need to eat a smaller serving size of dried fruit. Also, this article discusses the importance of reading the nutritional labels Though dried fruit still offers the same antioxidants that fresh fruit does, you need to find a brand with no added sugar or preservatives. That is where your healthy snack becomes unhealthy and you may as well have just eaten a brownie. That last statement might be a slight exaggeration but you get what I'm saying.
So take the advice of parents everywhere and start eating more fruits and veggies! :)
Great post! I learned a lot from all of your information. I like how you incorporation college kids a little in there and information about the sugar in the foods too. Great organization with your information and points throughout the points. Good job!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I work a full time job and commute to EIU so I never have a well balanced meal during the day. I have started to eat more fruits starting the beginning of this semester, the natural sweetener curbed my need for sugar and helped me to lose a few pounds.
ReplyDeleteHey, that's really cool that you provided a link of foods that will help people maintain a weight they wish to have. You're right, being in college has definitely been a challenge getting the proper meals and supplements a day. Our meals are all thrown off and with us being up late studying or up super early access to healthy food is limited.
ReplyDeleteCollege can make it hard to eat unhealthy because of all the junk food options and that is also something that I struggle with as well. but I liked all the information that you included and about how some food looks healthy and its really not (I have also been fooled a few times as well).
ReplyDeleteThis information was really cool to me. I have heard the same thing to limit fruits, but I never listen because I love the taste of things like strawberries. I also have a huge addiction to raisons and craisins in my yogurt and to snack on. I should probably look into these though. I have always preferred the sweetness of fruits over candy though. Thanks for the information. I enjoyed reading.
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