Question:
Are carbs in fruit any better than

I have been trying to stay away from starches and carbs, such as bread, and have been eating protein (meats) and fruits. When I went to Fitday.com to track my intake, I was shocked to discover how many carbs fruit has (specifically tangeloes and peaches which I have been eating). Should I cut out the fruit, or are these carbs not as bad as the carbs in bread, chips, etc?    — fieryfish (posted on March 3, 2003)

March 3, 2003
Hi! I wouldn't worry about the carbs in fruit. The carbs in fruit are natural sugars which are OK according to my dietician (versus the "bad" carbs in white bread, rice, potatoes, etc.). However, they do count in your total carb intake so if you're counting carbs, just keep your fruit intake down. Hope this helps! Good luck!!
   — Teresa W.

March 3, 2003
Fruits also have a lot of (natural) sugars, as well as carbs. There are those who feel that non-complex or "white" carbs such as potatos, bread, rice, and junk-food carbs, are all to be eaten sparingly because they tend to promote cravings for more carbs. Some feel the same way about sugars, mostly processed sugars (like in cookies), but ALSO -- for some people -- natural sugars such as those found in fruits.<P>I'd just see how you do with it. If you find that you're triggering overeating because the sugars in fruits make you crave more sugars (or carbs), then I'd eat a bit less of those fruits. I know I'm very aware of the sugar issue now, even though I don't dump, because I do think that fruit smoothies (which I love) tend to be too much for me if I have one every day. And I think dieticians tend not to recognize the subtleties of this issue for (some of) the morbidly obese, either. :-(
   — Suzy C.

March 3, 2003
My nutritionist says that we must strike a balance between protein and carbs and that carbs are essential to our health and nutrition. However, there is a difference between complex and simple carbs. Fruits, beans, veggies, whole wheat products, those are the complex carbs and good for you. The simple carbs are the white ones, sugar, flour, white bread, rice, pasta. Simple carbs break down into sugar and will just cause more cravings. But eating fruit like you are doing is a good way to get in those complex carbs. Like Suzy C said, if you find that you are craving more and more, then cut back, and if not, enjoy!
   — Cindy R.

March 3, 2003
Fruit put real pounds on me last summer. AND lit a fire for sugar cravings that it has taken me MONTHS to put out. It isn't the occasional fruit that does it, but I was having several fruit servings a day. And I KNOW better! Fruit is sugar. The body doesn't care where it came from--it's sugar. To date, good grain carbs have not ever put wt on me. Complex carbs are slightly (note slightly) malabsorbed, whereas sugar is NEVER malabsorbed. Pick your carbs carefully. Personally, I'd see you better off with a potato or good grain bread or cracker (not white pasty stuff) now & then than to OD on fruit. I know there's a theory that natural sugars can't hurt us, but yes, they can. We do not malabsorb them. And they jump right on our bodies like candy sugars.
   — vitalady