Table of contents:
- Myths surrounding the prohibition of eating fruit after eating
- Can you eat fruit after eating?
- Pros and cons of eating fruit as a dessert
It is undeniable that fruits offer a myriad of health benefits for the body. Regularly eating fruit every day can keep you away from various diseases and health problems, get a fitter body, and help you control your weight. You certainly don't want to miss the various benefits of nature, right? To get the maximum benefits from fruit, when should we eat fruit? Many people use fruit as a dessert so they often consume fruit after eating. However, there are also those who believe that the fruit should be eaten on an empty stomach. Are these rules really that important? To find out the answer, see the full review below.
Myths surrounding the prohibition of eating fruit after eating
Many believe that eating fruit after eating makes the nutrients that enter the body redundant. In addition, eating fruit after meals can cause digestive problems. So, the best time to eat fruit is believed to be the most appropriate when the stomach is empty, or before you eat large meals such as lunch and dinner. However, you don't need to worry because this is just a myth.
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The theory circulating to support this myth is that the fruit will be absorbed more quickly with the help of a special enzyme if eaten on an empty stomach. However, if your stomach is filled with food, your digestive system will be busy absorbing nutrients and substances from food, not fruit. As a result, the fruits that you consume after eating are just piled up in your stomach, not properly digested and absorbed. This is at risk of causing fruit fermentation in the stomach. The results can vary, from flatulence to belching to stomach aches.
Can you eat fruit after eating?
Fruit can be eaten at any time, both before and after meals. There are no scientifically proven rules for when is the best time to enjoy fresh fruit. If you eat fruit after eating, the fruit won't build up and cause digestive problems. The nutrients obtained from the fruit will still be digested by the body properly.
Compiled from the Huffington Post, a nutritionist and diabetes from the United States, Jill Weisenberger, revealed that the fermentation process of these fruits will not occur in the stomach. The reason is, fermentation requires many bacterial colonies. Meanwhile, your stomach is filled with hydrochloric acid which will kill various bacteria, even before the bacteria build up colonies and cause fermentation.
Moreover, Jill added that the human digestive system has been designed in such a way as to be able to process various types of food at once. For example, when you eat rice with vegetables and side dishes. The content and properties of each of these foods are different, but your digestive system can still work properly.
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Pros and cons of eating fruit as a dessert
What you should worry about is not when is the best time to eat fruit, but how many combinations of foods your body has to digest. Even though fruit is a healthy and fresh dessert option, you still need to pay attention to the portions. Any fruit still contains calories and sugar. So, you should listen carefully if your stomach feels full. That means you are getting enough nutrients.
If you really want to eat fruit, give it a break first for about one to two hours. This is so that the levels of calories and sugar consumed do not exceed those burned by the metabolic system into an energy source. Excess levels of calories and sugar can lead to various health problems such as diabetes, obesity, liver disease, and increased cholesterol levels.
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However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't eat fruit after eating. Eating fruit after meals can keep you from choosing desserts like ice cream or cakes. Other than fruit desserts usually contain higher levels of saturated fat, added sugar, and calories. Over time you will also get used to regularly eating fruit every day. That way, you can get the maximum benefit from the various nutrients in fruits.
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