Ask Will: Is it okay to eat over one’s daily recommended sugar intake if the calories are coming from fruit?
Hello,
Is it okay to eat over one’s daily recommended sugar intake if the calories are coming from fruit?
Thank you!
Chelsea
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Hi Chelsea!
In one sense, the source of sugar doesn’t matter
All sugar, regardless of the source — whether it’s from a grossly over-sweetened faux food or from a perfectly healthy apple — is composed of the same two parts: fructose and glucose.
In fruit, the ratio of fructose to glucose varies a lot:
- apples have 65% fructose
- cranberries consist of 20% fructose.
- The white granulated stuff you sprinkle in your food is 50%.
In another sense, it matters a lot 
While the sugar molecules are the same across the board, the way your body processes them are definitely NOT the same. Glucose stimulates an insulin response (because your body needs it in order to pull it from your blood stream into your muscles and organs for energy). Fructose doesn’t stimulate insulin, but is broken down in your liver.
In terms of sources of sugar, those from fruit are the best for about a million reasons. First, their effect on your body is moderated by the fiber present in the fruit. In other words, the glycemic index of a piece of fruit is lower because of the natural fiber found there. This means that the glucose is less likely to over-produce insulin — which means you’re less likely to get a carb crash 90 minutes later, leading to more hunger and more eating.
Also, fruit is exceptionally healthy for you because it has critical vitamins and minerals you need every day. It should be your multi-vitamin of choice!!
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This will be better for you from a nutritional standpoint, and a weight standpoint.
Will
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