Fruits in our diet
A sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits are the main causes of weight gain. Consuming lots of fruits and vegetables can help prevent excess weight gain.
Fruit and vegetables are to a large extent our natural primary foods. This does not mean that we cannot consume meat protein, but instead of making meat protein our primary diet. Attention should be given to relegating it to a less important position.
Fruit can be eaten whole, unseasoned and uncooked, and is an abundant supply of easily assimilated nutrients. The carbohydrates in fruit are in the form of simple sugars, the proteins in the form of amino acids and the fat in the form of fatty acids. These nutrients are ready for absorption and do not require energy expenditure for the digestive process. This means that fruit should be eaten as an entire meal and not in combination. In this way, the digested fruit will be sent to the small intestine where the nutrients are readily absorbed.
If the fruit is eaten with other food, it is retained in the stomach until the other food is digested and the fruit sugars start to ferment. Melons comprise a class of fruit of their own. Melons decompose faster than other fruits. It is advisable that melons be eaten on their own.
The avocado is an unusual fruit in that it provides an excellent source of fat. It combines best with non-starchy vegetables and makes a fair combination with acid fruits. Combining it with sweet fruit is best avoided, due to the inhibiting effect of fat on sugar. It also makes a fair combination with starches because of its low protein content. Avocados should not be combined with proteins.
The tomato, generally thought to be a vegetable, is an acid fruit. If it is consumed immediately on being picked, recent research indicates that it will be alkaline. Due to its low sugar content, it can be combined with non-starchy vegetables, but should not be combined with starches or proteins. Well, there goes the tomato sandwich and the tomato salad with a chop!
If fruit and vegetable juices are to be enjoyed, these juices should be taken on their own or about twenty minutes before a meal. Since they dilute digestive secretion, juices should not be taken with a meal. Fruit constitutes natures ‘fast food’ counter. Simply prepared and served, fruit makes a quick meal or snack for both children and adults.