Can Eating Too Much Fruit Make You Fat?

When most people think about shedding a few pounds, they load up on fruits and vegetables, but can there be too much of a good thing? Apparently, yes.

Don’t get me wrong, fruit is always a healthy go-to snack, especially when you’re looking to satisfy that sweets craving and yes, it’s loaded with vitamins and minerals. However, like any other food, it still contains calories. Furthermore, dried fruit is much higher in calories compared to fresh fruit.

On average, a cup of strawberries contains 53 calories while a large orange contains 87 calories, which is not bad, but without moderation, one could easily end up consuming far more than that.

Here’s the thing: Fruit is high in fructose and carbohydrates – two things that a person needs to cut back on in order to lose weight. If you’re eating a combination of fruits, specifically a fruit salad, then the calories could add up even faster. You could be consuming anywhere from 200 to 350 calories – maybe more depending on the size of the bowl or container.

For those who have diabetes, moderating your fruit intake is especially important as it can cause a spike in your insulin levels – causing your condition to worsen. Even if you’re not a diabetic, a spike in insulin levels makes it more difficult for the body to burn fat. As a result, your liver processes the fructose and stores it so it can be used for energy later.

The moral of the story here is that fruit is as delicious as it is nutritious, but overdoing it can actually set you back if you’re trying to lose weight.

According to the Dietary Guidelines For Americans 2010, aim for no more than one to two servings of fruit per day. Not only is this good for your waistline, but research shows there is reduced risk for stroke, heart attack and certain types of cancer.

Apples (65 calories per cup), watermelon (46 calories per cup), and cantaloupe (54 calories per cup) are lower in calories compared to pineapple (82 calories per cup) and pomegranate seeds (144 calories per cup) and dried fruits, including raisins (247 calories per ½ cup), cherries (266 calories per ½ cup), and apricots (191 calories per ½ cup).