Am I cruel to write this? Maybe. But it has to be written.
I realize it’s the middle of summer and just about every fruit worth eating is in season. Peaches are perfectly ripe, apricots are plump, and berries are bursting with flavor.
Even if you’re not a year round fruit-i-vore, summer makes you want to be one.
In every client nutrition session, I hear about what people eat. At minimum, I have them recall what they’ve eaten in the past 24 hours. At most, I have 2 weeks of written record.
And one thing I see people overdoing time and time again is fruit. Especially in summer.
But, but, but…
“Fruit is healthy”
“Fruit is the perfect snack”
“Fruit has vitamin C and antioxidants”
Yes, yes, these things are true…-ish. It seems the past few decades of government sponsored nutrition messages to eat 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day have been lost in a game of telephone. Somewhere along the way, people forgot that vegetables were part of that sentence and many people took it as an excuse to go way overboard on fruits in the name of health.
But that “healthy habit” might not be doing you any favors.
Here Are 5 Signs You’re Eating Too Much Fruit
1. You’re Frequently Bloated
Fruit is a classic trigger for bloating and here’s why. Fruit is rich in a type of sugar called fructose. Unfortunately, many of us are not well equipped to digest and absorb large amounts of fructose. Researchers believe up to 40% of people suffer from a condition called fructose malabsorption in which fructose is inefficiently absorbed across the small intestine. So instead of nourishing us, sometimes fruit sits in the gut and ferments with the help of bacteria. And the result of those bacteria feasting on fructose is a lot of gas and bloating that makes us feel pretty icky.
Now, glucose (also present in fruit) does help facilitate absorption of fructose, which many use as an argument to suggest fruit is fine and only refined fructose is an issue. But, that’s only true to a certain extent. Most fruits have been bred to be larger and contain more fructose than their great grand parents (the original apple was about as large and sweet as a crab apple), so you can understand how the human body might not have the skills to handle it. If hefty portions of fruit leave your tummy in knots, chances are you have some level of fructose malabsorption and you probably should lay off the fruit.
“The most important carbohydrates that routinely cause clinical abdominal complaints are lactose, fructose, and the sugar alcohol sorbitol. Lactose has long been recognized as one of the most important nutrients, and fructose and sorbitol have become increasingly important following recommendations to increase fruit and vegetable consumption” – World J Gastroenterol. 2007.
Side note – In addition to fructose malabsorption, you can also have an inflammatory reaction to fructose. I tested reactive to fructose via the Mediator Release Test, which measures chemical and food sensitivities, so I have to be doubly careful with the amount of fruit I eat!
2. You Have Diarrhea or IBS
Along with the fructose absorption issues I described above, which does commonly lead to diarrhea, let me explain another possibility for why fruit messes up your digestion. Fruits are designed by nature to carry seeds and make a new plant, so when you think about it, it’s in their best interest to not be fully digested by humans. The plant is hoping that some of its seeds will survive transit and get, shall I say, “deposited” in a new location to grow a new fruit tree/plant. (I should have taken a photo of the massive bear poop from a recent Alaskan hike through berry-filled bear country, but you’ll have to take my word for it. It was solid berry seeds! And, no, I did not see a bear…. this time…)
“The clinical symptoms of carbohydrate malabsorption [including fructose malabsorption] include flatulence, abdominal cramps and pain, diarrhea, and sometimes even headache, usually after the ingestion of a product containing the incompletely absorbed sugar.” – World J Gastroenterol. 2007.
Many fruits (like apples) are also rich in pectin, a type of fiber that folks with IBS may have trouble fully breaking down. If you have IBS, it’s possible that an apple a day will NOT keep the doctor away.
“Faecal bacteria of IBS patients showed the lowest ability to degrade pectin.” – Acta Vet Brno. 2002.
3. You Can’t Lose Weight
You’ve already switched to a real food diet, you’ve cut out soda, candy, processed foods, etc… but there’s one problem: you’re still not losing weight. If you’re still battling the scale after adopting healthier habits, you might consider looking at your fruit intake.
I agree that fruit is a healthier alternative to many desserts and junk foods, but if fruit is a staple item at every meal and snack, you may simply be eating too many carbohydrates to allow your body to lose weight. In brief, any time we eat carbohydrates our blood sugar goes up. That triggers our body to release insulin to lower the blood sugar. How does it do that? By converting it to fat for storage!
It’s unfair to single out fruit, but if you’ve already overhauled your diet, this could be the stone left unturned. We’re quick to blame bread and sweets for our weight, but when you realize that a banana packs the same number of carbs as 2 slices of bread and more than some candy bars, you might have a different perspective. Also, be sure to read #4 and #5!
4. You Always Crave Sugar
Not only does eating fruit spike your blood sugar, as explained above, it also doesn’t sustain it for very long. If you have fruit by itself as a snack, you might notice that you’re satisfied for 30 minutes or so, but soon after your tummy starts growling. That’s because fruit doesn’t come packaged with much protein or fat to keep us sated. Yes, it has fiber, which helps a bit, but it’s not enough to prevent a crash in blood sugar after eating fruit.
What happens when our blood sugar tanks? We get hungry and we get cravings.
For what? For foods that will raise the blood sugar quickly; anything sweet or starchy. (I’m having de-ja-vu)
Aside from the blood sugar-hunger connection, the fructose in fruits has another seldom-discussed effect. Fructose does not trigger the release of leptin, a hormone that signals satiety, and instead triggers the release of ghrelin, a hunger stimulating hormone. No wonder eating fruit makes you want to eat more fruit!
So, do your body a favor and eat that apple with some peanut butter, those blueberries with some full-fat Greek yogurt (or homemade, unsweetened whipped cream!), and that peach with a handful of almonds. The fat and protein from those additions will help dampen the effects of fructose and you’ll be surprised what a difference it makes. This sort of food combining is especially helpful at breakfast.
5. You Love Smoothies and Juice
I’m already bracing for the hate mail, but again, this has to be said. Yes, your green juice is better than most drinks, but if it contains fruit, it’s likely packed with sugar.
When fruit is juiced and you remove the fiber, the remaining sugar is absorbed quite rapidly into your bloodstream leading to what I described in #3 and #4. A 12oz cup of fruit juice, even freshly squeezed organic OJ, has the same amount of sugar as a can of soda. Now the classic rebuttal is to just make a smoothie, and while I do believe this is a better option, I still don’t think it’s ideal.
Even when you chew fruit very well, it’s still not broken down as finely as when your Vitamix gets to work. By mechanically breaking up the cellular structure of fiber, our body has more immediate access to the sugars contained in the smoothie. So even though you didn’t take out the fiber like you would when juicing, you did impact the rate at which your body will absorb the sugar in your smoothie. And not in a good way.
Plus, when fruit is in a liquid form, we can eat a whole lot more of it. A 4oz glass of juice has the sugar of 1 apple, but that sure doesn’t feel like a full serving!
You might stop at 1 or 2 apples if you’re munching on them fresh, but 2 apples worth of juice is just a few gulps.
If you believe you should join Smoothie-aholics Anonymous and can’t go without your fix, you might try making your smoothie with a reasonable portion of low-sugar fruits, like berries, and combine it with nuts, coconut milk, and chia seeds to lessen the impact on your blood sugar. If green juice is your thing, juice only non-starchy vegetables.
So, now that all the fruit-lovers have mysteriously vanished from my life, you may be asking…
What’s a reasonable amount of fruit to eat in a day?
In general – and unless you’re following a very low carbohydrate diet – I suggest 2 portions of fruit daily, preferably in its fresh and whole form. If you really want bonus points, make one (or both) of those portions berries.
If you are very physically active, at a healthy weight, and/or thrive on a higher carbohydrate diet, by all means, eat more! I don’t pretend to create set-in-stone “rules” here.
How much is a portion?
A portion of fruit is defined as approximately a ½ cup (handful) or the size of a small apple. (Not half a watermelon or a jumbo bowl of fruit salad.)
Vegetables are far more nutrient-dense than fruits when it comes to vitamins and minerals. And the classic nutrients that people use to defend high consumption of fruit are readily available in low-carbohydrate vegetables.
Potassium is easily found in avocados, chard, mushrooms and kale, vitamin C in raw broccoli, bell peppers and tomatoes, and antioxidants are abundant in all vegetables, but especially the green and leafy variety.
I’m not saying don’t eat fruit.
I’m suggesting you be mindful of your portions, particularly if you identify with any of the 5 signs you’re eating too much fruit detailed above and opt for lower-sugar varieties when given the option.
Think of fruit like a dessert, not celery sticks. <– Tweet that!
Do your waistline and digestive system a favor and aim for a few servings of fruit per day, not 5-9.
And if you need help making your new best friends (aka vegetables) taste good, be sure to grab your copy of my FREE ebook: “VEGGIES: Eat Them Because You Want To, Not Because You Have To” via the box below.
Until next week,
Lily
PS – Before you go, I’d love to know: Do you think you’re eating too much fruit? Which of the above do you identify with?
I’ll see you in the comments!
Lily, this post really spoke to me. Even though I believe that there is no right way to eat for everyone (we are all different, after all), I’ve experienced with a lot of different types and quantities of foods and have now concluded that 1-3 servings of fruit per day is optimal for my body at this time.
As a kid, I loved to eat half a watermelon. And for some reason my mom always suggested I eat whole grain pumpernickel break with it (Russian tradition). Now I understand why – if I eat fruit with nothing else, I start to feel a little edgy and light-headed. So I usually eat some fruit, wait 5-10 minutes for eat to begin moving through digestion and right away follow up with some protein with veggies or protein carbs. You may look at me weird when at brunch I order an egg and veggie omelette with brown rice and a side of fruit and and eat my fruit first, chat with you for a bit and then eat the rest, but I know that my body will feel great before, during and after the meal if I do that.
We love green smoothies at our house and I usually add 1/3 banana, 1/3 c. berries, spinach/kale, a bit of coconut milk, chia seeds (or hemp seeds) and coconut oil (per serving) – yum!!!! The kids love helping me make them. If we wanna get fancy we’ll throw in raw cacao powder and add avocado to make them really creamy chocolate!
And I have to add that I love green juice with no fruit, instead using cucumbers and celery as a base, with greens (kale, chard, spinach, etc.) and lemon (for flavor).
Keep up the great work – LOVE your posts!
So interesting, Lana! I have the same aversion to eating fruit in the middle or after a meal, especially a protein-containing meal. Turns out it alters the pH and enzyme environment of the stomach, making digesting a large amount of protein quite difficult. For those with fructose malabsorption or sensitivity, that digestive upset can be quite uncomfortable! That may explain why most of my clients do best having fruit as a snack instead.
Love your healthy smoothies and green juice! Cucumbers make a great base for green juice in place of fruit.
I eat raspberries, blueberries and blackberries around ten in the morning.
5-6 of each.
I eat a combo of grapes, pineapple, and melon in mid afternoon…bought in a small container at an organic foods place etc. I don’t use sugar, just stevia once in a while.
I am of good weight, but am concerned about sugar content. Yogurt and milk have sugar. I put two heaping tbsps of yogurt on my granola cereal along with milk.
I am 86 and have no medical problems or prescriptions. I eat plenty of vegetables….but worry a little about the sugar factor.
Thanks for listening.
Feelin’ great, no medical problems, and no prescriptions at 86? You’re doing amazing!
I admire your health very much. I always wanted that no prescription and no medical problem at the age of 86.
I am 51 1/2years old and start perimenopause stages. It has been one year now , I eat lot of fruits in a day as 6 to 7 different kinds ( blueberries, figs ( in season), grapes , blackberry , pineapple, cantaloupe , persimmon or mango (depend for the season) , banana and avocado .
Every morning I extract collard green , spinach , kale, beet, cucumbers , carrots, small piece ginger , and small raw turmeric, cilantro, apple . I extract 40 ounces of juice. I drink this juice every day even on vacation I packed and well preserve fruits and juice extract to have them daily for one year now. I do not eat pork , beef for a year now. But I eat chicken one a month. egg one a day.
I can not drink milk or have yogurt. I never take any supplement of any kind. it made me sick and bloated. I go out to sun everyday ( when sunny day , one hour sun bath daily .
I do have multiple fibroids in uterus and cysts in ovaries, I just found out last year. My doctor did not recommend to do any thing yet because they all still small size. I will probably stop period soon. The hope that after menopause they will shrink if fibroids and cysts still small. These are the reason that I changed my diet 80% raw fruits and vegetable juice extract all organically grown or raise (meat, eggs).
But after I read this article , I think that I eat too much fruits and to big potion in a day for a year. I will probably change to good control potion and probably eat less fruits. I will have my physical check up soon so that I can see whether too many fruits could bring sugar problem for me or not. So far my sugar was very good number last year test, before I started a lot of fruit intake.
Thank you very much for the article The Sign That You Eat too Much Fruits. I will take this advise for control portion of fruit into my daily diet. It is good article !
I eat 5 apples a day. Why do I always feel so bad?
Lana, your comment spoke out to me! I remember that one year, I decided to fast for Ramadan. I think it was in August and the rules were that I couldn’t eat or drink from sun-rise to sun-set.
Because I didn’t feel like eating but wanted something juicy, I always started with a piece of fruit (usually peach), then I would move on to my real starter – soup. Then I’d have my mains and another bit of fruit for dessert.
I never felt happier or healthier in my life. I had always imagined it was the fasting but your comment finally made me realise what made me feel that way! It was limiting myself to only eating fruit with meals and not over-doing the fruit!
Thank you!
I know! My new doctor has sent me to an excellent nutritionist who, much to my amazement said “Fresh fruit organic or not, go light. I want you to concentrate on healthy proteins and go heavy on the greens”.
When I started the heart health diet I simply assumed that fruits in quantity were great – but guess what healthy proteins and a whole lotta leafy and green food did? I lost 23 pounds in 2 months, exercise every day with at least a two mile walk and am starting with a trainer this week at the gym.
My doctor casually told me the weight and when I squealed he said “This is not about losing weight, it’s about you not dying.” So of course I said “Yes, I know, but 23 POUNDS!!!”
By the way, I just turned 61. Happy birthday to me…
That’s fantastic, Donna. Congratulations! The best part about it is you’ve taken action and proven to yourself and your doctor that food and exercise does make a difference.
Greens are definitely something to “go heavy on”! Great advice.
*blink* So I guess it would’ve been helpful if I’d read this BEFORE purchasing the huge yellow watermelon that now sits in my fridge.
It just looks so refreshing on this 95-degree day!
Great stuff, as always. 🙂
Now you have the perfect excuse to invite friends over to share it with you! 🙂
Say, that’s a great idea! 🙂
Thanks for the information. Right on for me.;I hardly eat any fruit, but I decided to start eating right and bought a bunch of fruit and veggies. The first day (yesterday) I sat on the couch ate lots of grapes than later had an apple and then a protein bar for lunch. Avocado in a flour tortilla. Well my IBS has flare up with diarreah, bloaded and weakness. I had been constipated and now I can sit still for 5 minutes because the fountains of the deep keep flowing, it’s like a harsh cleanse!!!
Again thanks for the information and education. When should I start eating fruit again? I’m scared!
You should look into the low-FODMAP diet. It’s done wonders for my IBS. Among the things you mentioned, wheat, avocado, and apples are problematic. Wheat is high in fructans, avocados in moderation are fine (moderate polyol). Apples are high in polyols, so I avoid them. I live in NY state, and it’s really tough to not eat one of the only things I can get fresh around here, but my digestive tract thanks me.
Oh, Lily. You’ve got my number. I AM eating too much fruit. And you touched on why – I’ve recently started eating pretty clean and fruit feels like a “treat” that I can have. As often as I want. And guess what? My weight loss has stalled out … interesting. I love that you provided guidelines for how much is acceptable, and I think I will try some of those protein/fat combos to give my snacks more heft. But can I be sad for a minute? I heart fruit!
Interesting observation about your weight loss, Beth! Fear not, I don’t suggest you break up with fruit completely, just fine tune the types/amount a bit. 🙂
I heart fruit, too!
I am very think all my life. 72 years young walk 2 to 4 miles a day. Ear only fruit veggies nuts seeds. I love fruit do not like beg make myself eatveg. Only protein I get is in greens and nuts and seeds. Been veg for 42 years. Have a lot of candida problems. Fruit makes me nervous but happy. I was told by a physic to not eat any fruit or grains. She said I can not digest them. So been on fruit veggies nuts and seeds for dome time can’t digest beans or soy. Have to eat every 2 he’s. Blood sugar drops from many allergies. If I go off fruit I loose too much weight and am tired. Any suggestions. I put fruit with nuts or seed or avacado
.. Thanks for your help. Ann crystal
Hell everybody my name is Inna and am frutoholic and nuttoholic ((((( Last night scoffed 300g of blueberries and 300 g of strawberries and on the top of that 150 u of Brasil nuts (((( All this morning am not leaving my toilet
((( I know its time to stop but or cut dawn but I CA NOT MANAGE THAT (((( little snack packs of nuts and fruit is very expensive so i buy big ones and eat it at once ((( am 55 by the way …… thank you for reading
Inna – go easy on the Brasil nuts. They are delicious, I know, but just THREE of them cover the daily recommended dose of selenium. Too much selenium cannot be a good thing, no more than a deficiency would be.
I used to be addicted to fruit! And it felt like blasphemy when I first learned they were not that good for my health. Now I’m pretty used to eating more veggies instead, but it’s still soooooo difficult to reject a delicious pineapple or papaya when I’m in tropical places.
Tropical places always get me too, and that’s a great time to indulge a bit more. So great to hear you’ve embraced more veggies, Madeleine!
lol fruits “not that good for me” thats the funniest shit I’ve ever heard XD Ive seen plenty of young women worry about how much freaking fruit they’re eating because of articles like this, but then go and chow down on a burger with no thoughts. People enjoy the damn fruits, it grows from the earth.
Grows from the earth… so does deadly night shade & the dangerous herb monkshood . You need to use more reasoning in you reply.
Fruit is the most healing food on the planet. I eat a 75% fruit diet (counting tomatoes as a fruit) and 20% vegetables. I live in total euphoria. There is no way I could feel any better. People are so stopped up with fat and are not able to absorb good food correctly and it “disagrees “ with them. Lower the fats and keep introducing fruit particularly berries and melons.
I totally agree with you anonymous. I’m 44 years old, 5’9, and 141 lbs. I’m slim and toned because the majority of my daily food consumption has always been fruits, veggies, nuts, and beans. I’ve never dieted, and I don’t eat processed foods.
Eeek! I think I’m eating too much fruit! This really explains a LOT, I’m going to shoot for 1-2 servings a day and see if that helps with my weight loss goals. Thanks!!!
Report back and let me know how it goes, Carly!
Am eating alot of oranges n sugarcane.i don’t think am doing my body a service
I’m exactly the same all I eat is fruit(strawberries,grapes,apples,oranges,mango,peaches,plums,kiwi)and was thinking it was good for me instead of snacking on chocolate and sweets.I have chronic constipation and an under active thyroid so I’ve been blaming that on my rapid weight gain when now after reading your post I think it’s actually the fruit that’s causing it,Won’t be eating fruit now but what else am I going to snack on?
Thank you so much for this fantastic article! I was one of those people – who ate crazy amounts of fruits because I thought it was healthy to do so. I was wrong – in which I’ve experienced each of the points you’ve mentioned! I’ve lowered my fruit intake to 2 per day and always wait few hours after I finish my meals especially if I have meat or chicken. Again, thank you for the great read!
I love how you listened to your body when it gave you the signs that you were having too much fruit. Your solution is rationale, healthy, and most of all, feels good for your body. Bravo, Sara!
Love it! I learned something today. I have to share this with my mama and husband. I am a fruit fanatic. However, it sounds like moderation is best with everything you intake. Definitely noted. Thanks for sharing Lily. 😀
Glad you found it useful, Siedah! Share away! This is an oft-ignored message.
Whoa! This was super informative! I’ve been eating a real food diet for a few years now and never really thought about these tips. I did cut out any kind of juice in the morning finally because of the sugar content, so that really rings true with me. I will keep this in mind from now on, especially when trying to eat at least 50% raw!
Thanks so much for sharing!
Oh yes, fruit can easily become a staple on a raw foods diet unless you’re really careful and many people suffer the digestive consequences of too much fructose. Glad you found some pearls in here, Trista!
Wow i realy lean something today,befor i eat tomuch of fruit but now realizing tomuch of fruit is a problem to me i will change.
Wow, I never realized there was such a thing as eating TOO MUCH FRUIT! My “diets” in the past have consisted of eating mostly fruit… now I know to change that. Thanks for the insight!
Right Lauren?! Yeah the fruit-only diets can be a metabolism nightmare. All that sugar leads to high blood sugar and high insulin, both of which signal the body NOT to burn fat.
I highly suggest folks consider their adjusting their breakfast when attempting to lose weight or stabilize their energy.
Hi Lilly.
I started reading your post thinking: “What? No way. Fruit is good for you. It’s not as caloric as a candy bar and even if you have a lot of it, it’s still healthier than having a stack of pancakes! Lilly is really out of line this time”
I went on reading and quickly checking and scoffing at the list of items: “Nope, no bloating! No sensitivities. I digest it really well. Sorry. No problems at all after eating fruit.”
When I was ready to declare my unconditional love for fruits and to declare that fruit and my body were a match made in heaven… I stopped cold at the “not loosing weight” suggestion. I ran to the bathroom, climbed on the scale and… there it was: no weight loss whatsoever. Nothing. After a whole week of heroically and completely avoiding all kinds of processed foods. No more pasta for me. So long cookies. Goodbye bread. A whole week of meat, fruits and vegetables. And some yogurt too. But still… no weight loss. Ok Lilly. You got me there. I hear you loud and clear. 2 apples a day from now on then. Well… let’s make it peaches. I like them a lot better. 🙂 .
I recommend doing some research on the glycemic index of foods. Candy bars have far more calories than fruit does, but some fruits like bananas and watermelons (and potatoes on the veggie side) will spike your blood sugar and insulin much faster and higher than chocolate will. This is also why berries are recommended. Their fiber content reduces their glycemic index lower than most friuits. Peaches are awesome, but variety and moderation are better. I hope that helps!
Wrong. Bananas are low on the GI with 51.
It’s the high fat yoghurt and meat that are preventing weight loss, not the fruit. Possibly also the salt in the meat causing water weight retention.
Please show me a fat fruitarian.
thank god someone on here has some common sense
Oh and I forgot to add that fats and carbs together?? A HUGE NO NO!!!
Too many fats prevent the absorption of carbs into your body’s cells. If you’re going to eat high carbs lower your fat intake and vice versa. Carbs for the win for energy and sustainable weight.
I enjoy eating oranges after meals and now I know that’s the cause of anxiety and belly bloating. Eating fruit compared to junk food helps a lot but I think to take it to the next level we need to keep the portions in check, like you have advised.
I eat way too much fruit! I follow Weight Watchers but I haven’t lost a signal lb all year despite following the rules strictly. My gut is constantly doing somersaults recently, it is NOT happy with me! On an average day at the moment I eat an apple (a pretty sizeable one), 6 or 7 strawberries, 2 bananas (pretty large ones, I love my bananas!) and a pretty sizeable bowl of grapes. I relate to so many points in this article, I’m going to give 2 pieces of fruit a day a go and see how I get on. I might have to snack on things that contain points but I’m not losing weight as it is so it can’t hurt to try
In Weight Watchers (I’m there too), a banana equates to 2 fruits!
Hurray, I may have just found the answer. Same here and loving 4-5 serves a day…. Hmmm will have to ease up
I too am a weight watcher. Fruit is currently 0 points so i load my shopping cart each week and use it as filler. Way too much. I’m gassy and family complains about that. I also worry about too much fructose and overworking my pancreas. My weight has plateaued as well. Gonna try to cut down fruit and use more veggies and protein as filler. With me it’s all about feeling full.
wow this is very informative, maybe it helps my addictions of eating too much papaya, I love papaya since I was a kid, but since I have a two kids my weight increase so much and it’s double my size. But after 2 yrs my weight is reducing from 78 kilos to 52 with the help of my daily exercise routine. I run 4 kilometers 5 times a week. but I also eat too much papaya and drink lots of lemon. Now I think too much eating papaya can harm my liver because of papaya have large amount of fructose , since I read your article I feel that it’s time for me to reduce my papaya big bite habit. thns for sharing this wonderful content.
I too have been eating way too much fruit. I thought it was okay until I started listening to a friend who is dieting- (she isnt eating any fruit at all) she spoke about the carbs. I have had a bloated stomach and have not lost any weight even though I have stopped drinking wine as well. On an average day I will eat one pound of blueberries (yes I said one pound) or one pint of blueberries, one pint of rasberries, some grapes, some watermelon and not sure what else.
I am going to cut down to 2 pieces of fruit a day and try for more veggies.
Food for thought!
HI,
I actually just started a whole foods diet and have been using fruit as a crutch the past 2 days to help me with my hunger and cravings between meals. I have been way bloated, gassy, and always pooping. I thought this was just a transition phase from processed foods to whole foods. Now, I think it’s because I’ve been consuming fruit like candy the past 2 days to fill myself up between meals so I don’t reach for something completely off track. I’ll try to keep it in check and eat more vegetables. Thanks.
I’m frequently bloated, always crave sugar and I LOVE smoothies and juice + I know I eat too much fruits because that’s basically what I eat whole day and my doctor told me to stop eat only fruits because I was only 55 pounds on the age of 16 So now i only eat fruits on breakfast.
Avocadoes and tomatoes are technically fruit but you listed them as alternatives. Any other fruits that should be counted as a vegetable? Also what about the fiber content? Is a fig or a prune a better option then say an apple?
Botanically speaking, a lot of foods we don’t think of as fruit are actually fruit (like the ones you mention, but also zucchini, peppers, cucumbers, etc.). For the purpose of this article, I am referring to the usual fruit – those that are sweet and therefore naturally high in sugar. Yes, fiber content helps lower the glycemic impact, which is one reason berries are so fantastic.
I have just started drinking veg and fruit filled smoothies instead of porridge for breakfast and wondered why I put on weight!!! Now I know. can you tell me which berries are good as in your article you sound a bit negative on blueberries or are they ok in with my leafy veg smoothie
Any type of berries would be a great addition to your veggie smoothie, blueberries included. 🙂
Similar to most of the posts. I to thought I was doing the ‘right thing’ and eating copious amounts of fruit, all berries, primarily blueberries (love um) and strawberries (love these too). I exercise everyday, that is walking to/from work, and walking at lunchtime, and gyming for at least 1.5 hours 4 times a week, and yet.. I have piled on the pounds. After reading the information, I would definitely say the information is not cruely written, I am so glad I found it, I now have to reduce my fruit intake, it is the only explanation I have for the way I feel. Gassy and bloated (constantly).
I am not going to remove my beloved blueberries completely just reduce the amount I eat in the morning to a handful and not 150g a day (yeah I know probably was too much).
It was very comforting to read your advice as I have definitely been consuming too much fruit, thinking it was the best way to lose weight. 2-3 pieces at lunch and two at dinner equal too many pieces. Can also relate to the feeling of bloating so I will revise my diet and put in more greens and monitor the results. The fruit was intended to help to stay ‘regular’, having had colon cancer. Thanks heaps for your comments and here’s hoping for some positive,results on the scales!
Hi thank u for this , I did actually ask someone the other day if u can overdose on fruit ! Iv recently had blood test back and have a foliate deficiency. My doctor said it was due to my diet. Iv started eating fruit and a lot of it. I use one of those bullet things and a normal smoothie consists of banana, apple, pear, kiwi, strawberrys , natural yoghurt , almond milk and porridge oats. Is this too much fruit ? I have been getting pains in my stomach.
I participated in a study where patients were required to eat 40+ servings of fruit a day. No adverse side effects from the study were found and people lost weight during the study. The only negative side effect was some bloating from eating some of the same fruits (such as only apples) to meet the requirements of the number of servings. I feel like this is come sense though… Unless this article was written by the CEO of Taco Bell
Please link to that study, Jon.
Strange, he didn’t come back with a link!
Hi,
I’m mother of 4 children and after kids being last 2 months bringing from school one thing or the other I decided seriously be strict on their diet (Iactually never thought I fed kids with unhealthy foods as always cooked from scratch but seems like it wasn’t healthy enough =)))) and work on boosting their immune system. While my 3 older ones eat the most of fruit with no problem ( I always give them as a dessert after meals), I have my fussy youngest 3 year old who refuses to eat anything apart apples and bananas. So in order to be able to give him wider variety of fruit I started to make smoothies in the morning and evening after meals. The last shocking news were to discover that one of the children’s had pinworms/threadworms (the beauty of the motherhood!!!). The whole family was treated as reccomended but while I was researching about natural treatments along with traditional Mebendazole which is not good for any of us I came across to smothie with papayas, pineapples, coconuts, coconut oil and papaya seeds. I have been since making that smoothie almost every day for whole family every morning. I also give them anti-flamatory smothies with carrot, pinapple, turmeric, ginger etc or berry smoothies after evening meals. We are not worried about loosing weight for none of us as we are petite sizes =))) but I have notice obviously more bloating and gases for myself and hubby with colitis sometimes gets bad reactions so he takes it easy on smoothies those days. I rather give them fruit smoothies than chocolates or cookies as a treat as I have taken that complitely out of their diet and out our of shopping list for good=))))Your article is intresting but I have to choose lesser evil which is variety of fruit to compare other sugary things. I can see what are you trying to say and might explain all the bloating and gases but I grew up myself eating all day fruit as my Dad grew them in our huge back garden and never harmed me in any way.
Well that sure answers my current question.
I have really cleaned up my diet after struggling for many years with food cravings.
I gave up all processed foods, junk foods, snacks, lollies and chocolates.
I eat plenty of vegetables nuts whole grains eggs chicken fish small amounts of dairy beef and drink plenty of water.
And now I am absolutely bloated and always in pain…..maybe its the 5-6 pieces of fruit I eat a day. Owww and I thought this was better than the junk.
Hmmm maybe I will try 2-3 fruits and see if it helps.
Thank you so much ! Althought , I knew that information it nice reminder..:)
I think sugar, glucose is so addictive that people will come up with any reason to believe it healthy..
I have hit a weight plateau this summer. I wish I would have read this article in June and not in August. I probably would have been more successful with my weight loss. I am definitely guilty of everything written and was confused why I stopped seeing results. Thanks for the advice. I’m on my new healthy and more balanced diet path.
My weight have not dropped at all. I make fruit smoothie everyday for breakfast. I have an apple and orange for my work snack. After reading this, I’m going to have fruit smoothie with greens for breakfast only. And veggies for both snacks and suppers. Will reply back in a month if weight finally dropps
I am so pleased I have stumbled across your article. I have been baffled by my Son’s weight gain – given that he eats healthy foods only drinks water and is very active. The weight is mostly around his belly and has bowel issues as well. He eats a lot of fruit (instead of processed foods) so this all makes sense to me now; I’ve been allowing him to eat too much fruit thinking I was doing the right thing giving him healthy food.. I will now cut right back on fruit and hopefully that will make a difference to both his weight and bowel problems. Thank you so much for this article!
Ohhhh! I have been eating WAY too much fruit! My diet was so bad and I have been eating healthily for the past 10 months but in the last two months my fruit intake has gone sky high. I was thinking it was healthy snacking but the fact my stomach has started bloating lately gave me cause for concern and an internet search led me here. I would think nothing of eating 6 apricots, 4 peaches and a couple of apples in a day…. along with a bit of fruit in my (mainly) green veg juice. I now realise i was craving the sugar in fruit and eating more made me eat more!! I will be much more mindful and hopefully the bloating and binge eating of fruit will stop and my weight loss will start again.
Well, it seems I identify with all of those signs, unfortunately. I’ll tell you something that happened this summer that really drove it home. I went on vacation with family for 8 days, and most of what we did was drive around and look at sites. Very little physical activity and NO working out. And we ate candy while we drove around. We ate three square meals a day, which I never do, so I ate more than I usually do. But the only fruit I really had was prunes and orange juice. When I came back, I had lost six pounds, which I haven’t been able to do in years! So I see a message in there……
Just when you thought it was safe to dip into the fruit bowl. Jeez Louise i’m currently finishing a one pound bag of red seedless. seriously I’m NOT over weight reasonably healthy though could lose ten pounds i thought my fruit intake was one of the better aspects of my diet evidently not I’ll try to transpose at least a vegetable portion for a fruit one. Sigh?!!! What’s next. Sex. it is then i draw the proverbial line and boycott self help articles. But seriously very interesting reading thanks
I had to comment because your article resonated so clearly with my experience. I would describe myself as a fruit junkie (6 servings easily in a day). I knew in the back of my mind that this was problematic but told myself it was better than processed “carbs”. I have been dealing with signicant issues of bloating and other unpleasantness. I had recently eliminated gluten to evaluate if that was the culprit but the problem persists. Your article makes me think I cannot tolerate fructose in large quantities. Thank you! I will immediately make this change and look forward to feeling better.
I still wonder about the high fructose content in most processed foods? Is it the same? Given the reliance on these factory foods, I would think more people would be experiencing reactions?
Too much of anything is unhealthy, we all know that, but if you’re going to claim that you’re eating too much fruit simply because “you love juice” then I’m sorry but you’re just not being serious. Please write your articles in a slightly less ridiculous manner. Also, you suggest only 2 small portions of fruit a day while nearly all respected health organization, WHO included, suggest more. I guess they have much more authority for me.
Reading this while sipping my second fruit and veggie smoothie for the day, oops!
Hey this has been a very interesting blog and I am very grateful for your potential guidance.
Today I am eliminating all fruit from my diet for 2 weeks to see what happens.
I was diagnosed with many food intolerances in October and have been avoiding foods like dairy, gluten wheat, avocado, nuts, soya potatoes and many more. However I have also been formally diagnosed with coeliac disease as confirmed through a gastroscopy and biopsy.
But due to the inflammation and poor gut I have put on weight 10kgs from May to Aug. I have now stayed around the same but since adjusting my diet, of eliminating everything, eating only fresh cooked foods no processed foods including gluten free products and breads I have not lost a lb!
I have increased my fruit intake and use it for snacks and when I’m hungry. But as you say this does not curb my hunger!!!!
I have reintroduced milk (to add to tea only) as of yesterday and this seem ok so I am hoping I could so introduce eggs etc into my diet.
I really hope that fruit has been my problem and I can lose some of this excess weight I have gained which makes me feel dreadful!
Thank you and ill try to keep you posted 😉
Good luck on your journey, Georgina. Remember, everyone has an individual tolerance for fruit, so I don’t necessarily recommend eliminating it completely.
You may want to read this article about the top 10 elimination diet mistakes.
Thank you. Much appreciated!
I relate to eating too much fruit. Prob having about 6 serves a day. Weight loss difficult and I look like I’m bloated! Thanks for your information.
Hi Lily:
One year ago I was diagnosed with C-diff and it was horrible. My digestive system is still not normal. I don’t know what to eat anymore. Before that I had a lactose problem now they tell me it may get worse. I was also told that I now have IBS. So I have been trying to eat lighter and smaller meals. I have been eating a lot of fruit and I have a very bloated stomach by the end of the day. I told my husband maybe I am eating too much fruit. I have four servings a day. I have even almost eliminated gluten too. It has been very challenging and painful. I have discomfort almost every day in my digestive system. I am going to cut back on the fruit to see if the bloated stomach goes away. Thank you for the information.
This article was really interesting for me.
I gave up refined sugar and grains last year and then decided this year (ie two weeks ago) that I would only eat one portion of fruit a day for January. I used to eat about 6, plus 8 or so veggies.
I managed the ‘one a day’ (usually blueberries, plus the other veggies) until today when I caved, and have eaten 1 1/2 apples, cup of blueberries, lots of mango, 2 nectarines, some kiwi and some melon. I have been craving fruit almost hourly for the 2 weeks, which I didn’t expect as I had been off refined sugar, honey, maple syrup and sweeteners for at least 2 months at this point. But then today, after eating lots of fruit, my body and mind have gone HAYWIRE. I have had a constant “brain-fart”, not able to concentrate, feeling exhausted, lazy, lethargic and constantly trying to work out if I felt like this before January 1st when it was my usual daily dosage of fruit.
Definitely going back to my usual (for January) meals tomorrow – measuring my 80g of berries and not having any other fruits. I do NOT want to feel like this again!
…I probably am eating too much fruit! I wondered if I was because a few months ago I radically changed my lifestyle eating habits and whilst I feel as though my middle is a bit slimmer, I thought I would have lost more weight by now. So I googled it and saw your article.
I eat fruit for breakfast every morning with nuts, thing is though I eat a lot! Then when I come home in the evening I usually eat another 2-3 pieces of fruit….I am definately going to reduce my fruit intake…thank you
I think I’m eating too much fruit because even though I don’t do any processed foods and i workout 4-5 times a week my weight won’t budge and the belly fat is there. And, I have digestive issues anyway and have seemed more bloated. So, I think you answered my questions. Obviously I was thinking it or I wouldn’t have found your site?
OMG.!,, thank you Lily. After two to three weeks binging on loads of fruit,, i felt more bloated than ever and kept putting on weight i decided the only thing i was doing differently was eating lots of fruit and that had to be the reason. I only just realised that fruit has loads of natural sugars that could not have been doing me any favours. Everything you said proved true for me. The more fruit i ate the more i wanted to eat. !! Crazy..
i just googled the subject of side affects of too much fruit and after reading your article was extremely pleased to have my suspicions confirmed. It was tho you wrote the article just for me. Thank you and as of this morning, no more fruit for a while for me!!!
I have been eating a big bowl of fruit salad for breakfast every day for the last 3 months, thinking it would be good for my health and help me to lose weight. Well my weight hasn’t budged and this week I have felt really unwell with awful stomach pain and bloating. I stumbled across an article about fructose intolerance and malabsorption and recognised the symptoms immediately. Paid a visit to my GP as the pain felt like period pain ( coming from my ovary) (went through the menopause 12 years ago) but she said I was probably suffering from IBS. So I will definately be laying off fruit for a while until things return to normal!!
I eat a minimum of 3 servings of fruit a day! I will eat an apple at break and lunch, sometimes a banana with breakfast, and then grapes at lunch, and an apple after dinner! I have eaten a lot more fruit the last few months, about 4 a day and I have noticed I have put on weight on my lower stomach area. As well I have had bad stomach pains too and bloating. Will this be permanent ?
Wow. I just found this and everything I can agree with.
I am ,in fact, eating too much fruit. The sugar cravings, the bloating, the not losing weight, all of what you said, I’m like “are they like reading my mind???!!!”
I am going to cut back on fruits. I would have NEVER guessed that a healthy food can be “bad.”
Hopefully decreasing to two portions daily will help me to lose weight. Something I’ve been struggling with FOR YEARS.
Wish me luck!
Whoops, I have been eating about 3 portions a day.
I think I will stick to 2.
I would much rather eat a bowl of grapes than a packet of potato chips though.
But I hear you on the vegetables… I think I should probably focus on getting more of that in my eating habits.
Pt 1 and 2 resonate
This might be a bit off topic but I personally am not trying to lose weight but rather I gym everyday and I eat fruit (strictly) for lunch. The reason being is its easy to throw some fruit into a lunchbox and cheap (where I stay). Its healthy and Im allergic to nuts so something like muesli and yogurt wont work for me.
I probably have like 2 bananas and two handfulls of grapes (as an example) per day.
Now, if i get to gym everyday surely the sugar isnt an issue as it wont be in my system long enough to be converted into and stored as carbs and should be used up when I work out right?
Basically I want to know if this is a good idea or if im countering my workout due to the sugar intake?
I’ve been having liver problems that started not long after I began eating a fruit packed smoothie every morning. After I eat the smoothie, about 30 minutes, I’m starving for lunch. I’ve been struggling to figure out what is upsetting off my liver and why I’m so darn hungry. I think I’ll cut down on the fruit and see if things resolve.
This article is false
I don’t think it is entirely false. People with certain digestive disorders, or diabetes, etc., probably should not eat massive amounts of fruit. Let’s face it, most fruit smoothies are largely sugar highs for people telling themselves they are being super healthy–hey, it’s probably better than consuming lots of milkshakes. But this article goes beyond that by basically stating that anything more than a miniscule amount of fruit per day for everyone will cause digestion problems. I have IBS with diarrhea, did the whole FoodMOP thing, and worked with nutritionist. Milk will give you lots of gas and is hard to digest. That’s more likely the digestion problem with smoothies. Fruit is a very healthy thing for most people. Use some common sense here. If bananas give you gas, stop eating so many. And by the way, when I’m having problems, I absolutely have to stop all raw vegetables. I am in no way implying or stating anybody should avoid or limit vegetables.
I’ve been counting calories since November and have lost 25lbs. But with every lb. lost my daily kcal budget decreased so I started eating lots of fruit and trying to eat clean believing that I was eating healthy. I got addicted to fruit smoothies and was having about 2 a day. (1/2 CUP BLUEBERRIES 2 SLICES PINEAPPLE AND 1/4 banana and chia seeds or protein. Powder) After about 2 weeks ,I awoke feeling like I needed to throw up and my stomach felt out of sorts for about a week. This is reason I looked up this topic.
I found this article on a google search. I am a recent smoothie convert and was concerned about my new Ultra High dose of fruits per day. My concerns were backed up … great article… I’ll be using more green leafy and avocado etc and a little less fruit. Thanks!
I have diarrhea wgen I eat avocado. What causes it?
I eat a lot fruit thinking it would help me lose weight. I’ve actually gained weight & im having a problem losing it!
just learnt that eating the same fruits in a day is not good like having maybe 2 apples in a day is not advisible..how true is that?? and if is true why is not advisible, what is the happening when i have 2 or more fruits of the same kind in a day.
Sometimes I eat so much blueberries that my excrement smells like blueberries am I eating too many blueberries?
I am currently in severe stomach distress so I consulted my favorite physician — Google — for a diagnosis. Last night, I mindlessly snacked on a rather large portion (2 cups, perhaps) of leftover fruit salad that I had made two days prior. I had trouble falling asleep (4 hours of tossing and turning) and awoke just an hour later with bloating, gas pain and colic, bowel noises, nausea and diarrhea. An hour later, I am full on vomitting with runny bloody diarrhea. Well, not only did I have WAAAY TOO much fruit, but I also learned that I could have easily misprepared the fruit salad by not washing the rind of the cantaloupe and using the same knife to cut the rind off as I did to cut it up, without so much as washing in between. Google taught me that this alone could introduce bacteria including the dreaded e-Coli!
I am particularly sensitive to e-Coli having been terribly affected (and hospitalized) by it six years ago. I nearly lost my life then when the bacteria attacked my pancreas and threw me into a (sudden onset) diabetic coma. I was warned then that the littlest bit of e-Coli could cause an e-Coli storm in my intestines — and I thought that meant I must avoid undercooked red meats, not my beloved fruits!
Your article was very informative. Thank you.
Sorry to hear that, Ellen. Most people don’t know that produce accounts for 42% of all food poisoning cases. Might be helpful to read this article: 10 Food Safety Mistakes You Didn’t Even Know You Were Making Feel better soon!
I recently decided to keep track of the fruit I eat and discovered I can eat over 800g in 1 day! Definitely need to reign in my portion control. The amount of sugar I must be getting is crazy. Hopefully I will finally start to loose some weight as well.
I eat way too much fruit. Probably about 7 portions per day. Will this be the cause of my current skin issues?
Hi,
I make smoothie with one Apple, fresh aloe Vera, cucumber and about 60 grms of blueberry,
I hope am not taking too high fructose levels doing that, I have been doing this for more than six months now, and being a athematic I must say my immunity has never been better,
Though I think I have felt bloating issue many number of times, I recently have started taking two slices of full grain breads along with it, to give my smoothie some solidity, thanks for giving me idea of combining it with nuts,
Would you like to suggest some tweek in my breakfast scheme? It will be highly appreciable
Sure thing. For more info on breakfast, check out this post: http://pilatesnutritionist.com/the-healthy-breakfast-mistake/
If you eat to much fruit will it also make your blood pressure stay up if you off of salt?
Not only is this article complete BS, I can’t believe this person identifies herself as a nutritionist when there is a statement in here about fruit “spiking blood sugar” (completely untrue and proven so by SCIENCE). Please DO NOT listen to this person. Fruit is an amazing source of nutrition and there are NO adverse health effects of adding fruit to your diet and, actually, not really an adverse effects of adding fruit to your diet in regards to your weight. Listen to science, not some person who is literally sabotaging you by telling you to simply starve yourself when you’re hungry so you can be thin. Also, I have maintained my weight after losing 20 pounds with eating pretty much unlimited fruit when I am hungry. I only eat until I feel satisfied…but some days I eat as many as 4- 6 bananas… and that is just bananas.
Side note: Fruit actually helps regulate blood sugar for diabetics when added to meals despite that fact it has (god forbid) natural fructose (the devil, right?!).
This is a very unfair way to characterise the article. You are not considering relativity. Certainly the spike in blood sugar from an ice cream cone is not the same that of a banana – but the banana will cause a spike nonetheless. It stands to reason that if the banana is a stand-out on the glycemic index for a person (higher than the rest of her diet), that spike will have a greater effect than on someone who eats poorly.
Also, nowhere in the article does the author suggest starving oneself to be thin. It seems to me the author is trying to help people, not sabatoge anyone.
Having read the studies you refer to, a very small amount of fructose in a meal results in lower blood sugars if it replaces an isocaloric amount of glucose.
However, if you just eat less glucose instead the effect is likely to be superior; and fructose in these small amounts is also supplied by carrot, beetroot, parsnip, sweet potato, and so on – there is nothing special about fruit. Replacing a potato with a sweet potato will give you the “catalytic” dose of fructose AND a lower carbohydrate load overall.
I never comment but your comment is just beyond ridiculous that I couldn’t help it..you sure do have a friend in healthy but not apparently happy Mr. Anonymous! And sorry I’m being rude as well! Lily knew she would get some haters but she’s only trying to help Unlike You!! EVERY body is unique and it’s great that you handle abundance amounts of fruit..others simply CANNOT. I cannot!! I can tolerate some berries after a gym workout but otherwise get heartburn, bloating and fatigue. Her article is 100% accurate.. Now please stop being a bully..why are you even here..you clearly haven’t read ALL the comments regarding certain digestive systems that simply cannot tolerate a lot of fruit in a day. She clearly did not say that fruit is bad!
I almost did not read your article but I’m glad I did because I recently added more fruit to my diet and became very gassy and it was killing me. I laid off the fruit for a couple of days and I was good. Well last night I had 2 fresh pears and now my stomach is cutting up again. I am already lactose intolerant so when my stomach reacts like this my first thought is “Did I gave dairy”? I want to continue to have the fresh fruit and now I know what to eat and what not to eat. I believe I am fructose intolerant as well so this article was very helpful.
I never thought about eating too much fruit before reading this article. The reason I searched for “can fruit give you gas pains” was because I was getting very bad gas pains in my lower abdomen. I constantly have smoothies with TONS of fruit. Also I put TONS of fruit in my oatmeal while thinking this was very healthy. Thank you for this article as it was really eye opening! And no, I’m not mad at you for saying the truth.. and my stomach thanks you. Hmmm I am thin but now wondering if all my fruits are keeping my belly fat?? I eat healthy but love my sugar and I am a bit outside the normal sugar range which is 108. Thank you so very much!!!!! WOW!
Great article! I make a smoothie about 3-4 times a week as a meal supplement – water, frozen fruit variety, Greek yogurt, little honey, protein powder & green powder (green veggies). I thought that was a great idea but now I’m reconsidering! Any thoughts?
I’m suffering certainly with Feeling bloatd & stomach pain, my weight loss has also come to a standstill so I do feel from reading your comments that I’m eating far too much fruit.
I agree with some of your posts/disagree.you have to think about each individual different situation. Such as smedication(they’re prescribed) how it has to be taken w/or w/out FD. There age. Wt. How much they eat or drink or get enough in a day. I mmyself have health iissues. & One minute were told all the time ieat your fruit and vegetables this many times a day. No one is really saying stay away from Apples red or green. Stay away from bananas. All I here are lies. And people contradicting there stories. From fitness trainers to movie stars. Saying what they don’t eat. But then caught w/ something they don’t eat. I’m saying I think fruit/vegetables are gd for you. & All the stores I go to spouts.whole foods. Trader Joe’s. People have a basket full of everything. Like I was stating….I health problems. A turkeytearian .been since 95. I also have COPD diagnosed in 07 never ever smoked a day in my life 49.102 lbs. Been on steroids( pill form 20mg it changes. & Always in the hospital. So you see. No judgement from me. Good look to everyone and their goals.O & my potassium is always low. My Dr recommend a banana 2times a day.
very nice information
I eat WAAAAY too much fruit! I can put away 3 pounds of blueberries every day… way too expensive and I have not been able to lose weight!
I found this article very interesting. Since much of the info out there is focused on those just starting to make changes for health, it’s nice to find advice for those of us looking to further improve an already healthy diet and lifestyle. I identify with several of the issues you called out – by the standards you outline I typically eat 3 servings of fruit a day, so I am cutting my allotment by 1/3 to see how it effects me. I do have a question tho. You suggest some smoothie combinations to lessen blood sugar impact – why do you single out coconut milk as opposed to other dairy-free options? (I usually switch between soy and almond.) I’m curious what about coconut milk makes it the best choice. Thanks. I just found your site through this article and look forward to coming back.
I think that rather than hate you, fruit lovers like me are going to love you. I decided to googled this topic cause I recently started to work out and with that comes new better eating habits. I thought that eating fruit was good but now a days I sincerely do not know what good is. I thought that I was eating too much fruit and you just confirmed it. I have been pretty much snacking on mostly fruits and I cannot go without my smoothies. You make excellent suggestions. I think that my lesson from reading your post is that everything should be taken in moderation. This is my first time leaving a comment but what you wrote is so informative that I had to honestly thank you.
This is so useful. Thank you.
I dont normally eat much fruit, am a veg person normally. But lately have been craving fruit. I ate 6 portions in one sitting.!. The next morning woke with tummy ache and trots. Feal very bloated, and even put on wieght.. Now your piece has enlightened me I’l go back to 2 times a day. Thankyou.
I eat on average a banana a orange a apple handful blueberries 4 strawberries couple small pieces of watermelon every single day I went from 217 to 158 I eat no meat eat handful raw broccoli spinach cauliflower mushrooms 4 baby carrots everyday eat walnuts sunflower seeds almonds pumpkin seeds along with way to many cashews and peanuts everyday eat Greek yogurt eggs fish whole grain bread 3- 4 times a week MY OPINION ONLY eat the hell out of fruits it’s gods version of cupcakes candy bars and birthday cake
You say you don’t eat meat, but then say you eat fish? It’s only or the other–not both. And just because eating a lot of fruit works for you, doesn’t mean it works for everyone. If I ate as much fruit as you everyday, I would be spending most of my time on the toilet with diarrhea.
There is a lot of evidence that large amounts of fructose can cause harm when consumed in excess. However, this depends on the dosage and context and does not apply to fruit. You can’t fit in the amount of whole fruits into your stomach, for the fructose to cause harm. It’s like saying Coke can give you cancer, yes studies have shown that, but you leave out that it only applies if you drink 80 litres of coke everyday for 60 years. It’s selective information I guess.
Okay, well you try explaining that to my digestive system then. Besides lactose, the only other thing to give me extreme digestive issues is fruit. No other high fiber foods cause as much trouble.
Thank you so much for this enlightening article. I started to make a google search on “eating fruit and digestion” because I am just back from a trip when I ate pretty much no fruits for ten days. I was craving for it but guess what? The “junk food” I was eating (bread, meat, cheese, salads, that kind of things) magically stopped the diarrhea I was suffering from for months while I was feeding myself pretty much on fruits. It also sure rings a bell about the impossibility to lose weight… will try it out! 🙂
I just recently started making smoothies. With fruit, unsweetened almond milk, and protein powder. I have one for breakfast and one for lunch and then eat a reasonable dinner. I was a fast food 3x a day person and never ate fruit. I cannot handle textures.. pretty picky with veggies too, so I have began to supplement with a shot of wheatgrass in the morning. (Made from organic powder in my home). I’m still not losing weight.
– feeling defeated.
I did a search on eating fruit and upset stomach and ended up here. What a great bit of reading, I don’t have a sweet tooth so craving sugar is not an issue BUT. last week I decided to add more fruit to my diet, what a disaster! I had a train journey to make last Friday and had consumed a punnet (small one) of blue berries a few hours before. I ended up having to stand outside of the train loo for the last hour of the journey, feeling bloated, sick, hot, cold and really quite unwell. I thought I had picked up a 12 hour bug. It took me until Saturday before I felt properly well again, I didn’t link the blueberries at all. Today I bought a pint of mixed fruit and eat the lot after a salad lunch and my god I am feeling it again now. Not as bad as Friday but still enough that I am sitting at my desk feeling bloated, sore and know I’m going to need a loo close by. Not nice! I need to lose some weight so I’m going to take a leaf out of this blog and cut myself down to two pieces of fruit a day maximum and see how I go.
I have been trying to figure out the culprit of my bloating.. I originally thought it was the beans, lentils and brown rice I was consuming. Although I don’t eat as many servings of that as I do fruit. After reading this article, I’m thinking that I’ve been consuming too much fruit, YIKES!!!!! and not enough leafy veggies. I have to asses my diet, reduce the fruit and add more veggies … Boy, I hope this helps with my digestion.
I decided to eat cleaner, and I love fruit! I ate fruit in the morning, afternoon, evening and in between. I love fruit and figured its fresh, nutritious, unprocessed etc! It’s so easy to grab some fruit out of the big bowl of cut up pineapples, melons, strawberries for a snack or an alternate to pop corn or chips and cookies! Well, I began experiencing bloating, indigestion, burning sensation in abdominal area. This went in for a couple weeks. My husband just lost his job, so I had no insurance. I was on web-md diagnosing myself with everthing from ulcers to cancer! Then at work I was feeling nauseated, and miserable! I tried to eat a chicen ceasar salad, but was just too sick. I ate two minuscule pieces of lettuce, sipped on some club soda and just could not eat. ( I found the club soda to be soothing)The burning, bloating and nausea had gotten the best of me. I didnt eat all day and the discomfort began to subside. Never did it enter my mind it could be my fresh healthy fruit. After all, I could live on fresh fruit and some protein. Later that evening feeling some hunger pangs, but afraid to eat only sipping perrier. I finally threw caution to the wind and got a plain hot dog from 7-11 as I was starving. I waited for the dreaded burning, bloating and nausea. It didnt happen. I drank club soda and later had some brown rice and garlic shrimp and a thai ice tea. No pain or discomfort. I later had some cheese and crackers, no problem. I finally started to realize maybe it was all the fruit! I began searching google and found this thread! What a relief to find it probably isn’t cancer. This morning not a bite of fruit and my stomach is 90 improved. I will now be incorporating more veggies and easing up on the fruit to see how things go.
I have been going to weight watchers and slimming world in the past which fruit is no points/sins. I love fruit and I consume at least 7 portions a day but not shifting weight like I feel I should. Which is annoying because I do everything by the book. Then I get told I eat to much fruit. Reading this makes me realise why. I do get bloated but not always. I will try cutting it down to 2 portions and maybe snack add some vegetables as I usually only have 1-2 a day. Thank you for this article it defiantly makes me realise why I may not be losing the weight.
Thank you very much for your very informative article. I am one of the many readers who binged on fruit and never thought it to be an issue as I am quite lean, very active and have no problems with my sugar levels. But now, I know better and will try to cut back on the fruit. The difficulty is what else to eat between meals as I am a vegetarian, eats loads of vegetables including green juice and I try to eat processed food like rice crackers sparingly.
thanks again,
I’d say you should carry on eating your fruit as you have a healthy lifestyle and the fruit isn’t giving any problems, in fact they’ll be doing you the world of good. The people on here are obsessing with sugars and weight gain, but no one is looking honestly at the rest of their diet. Humans were ‘designed’ to eat fruit and veg, not hotdogs and burgers.
After reading your very informative article, I fall under #1. I noticed that after eating a couple of peaches a day, I was very bloated and my sugar readings were slightly higher. Also noticed weight gain, I guess from the bloating and I am pretty fit, but with the peaches I noticed a difference. I will be cutting out peaches!
Denying holocaust is a sin but denying fruit is the most optimal food for human kind isn’t. How funny is that. I’m sorry Lily, I swear I don’t want to pick you or anything but you even have an apple in your logo on your site, that tells me something.
I was raised a meat eater and became a massive fruit eater some months ago but I still don’t suffer from any of the points you described. Even my blood test is perfect.
My cravings disappeared for sugar when I started to eat so many fruits and comes back everytime I don’t have the access to fresh, juicy goods.
I’m truly sad that you have eggs and meat promoted on your site yet you don’t write a post about “5 signs you are eating too much fat and protein”. The 5 points would be:
1. You are obese
2. You generally experience heart attacks
3. You have sweet tooth after each meal
4. Your conscience is telling you to stop killing innocent beings
5. You tend to become ill more often
Of course these points are a bit edgy but so your points are. All of them are real concerns about consuming mostly fat and protein instead of carbohydrates, which fuels our body naturally. You even know that well if you have a degree of nutrition.
Well good for you. You may not experience any of these problems, but many people do.
I take a sandwich bag full of grapes and cherries. I also have one smoothie a day made with 1 cup of blackberries, strawberries 1 bananak and vanilla yogurt. Also one scoop of greens. Is this to much fruit.
It’s only too much if it negatively affects your health.
Hi Lily, I came across your post after I googled, “Will I have painful moments if I switch to eating only fresh fruits and vegetables? ” Very informitive. I googled this coz I have had an increase in headaches, bad ones! And yesterday, I thought I’d eat a bowl chicken chili. I got very sick, and vomited many times, and I got so weak I could barely walk. Anyway, I am male, 54 yrs old and thought I was losing weight.The bloating thing really hit true for me. My stomach looks twice it’s normal size. HELP!
Just an insight to my day – half a watermelon, 3 kiwis, 3 pears, 2 apples, 2 oranges, berries, a whole box of strawberries. !!!!! and i wonder why im not loosing weight! thankyou for sharing this
this article is so wrong. i had IBS but that was from consuming too much foods with refined white table sugar not fruit. I no longer drink sugared beverages and cut down drastically foods with table sugar but i now eat a lot fruit. The results are no more IBS and i have lost weight!!!
Wow…just because it doesn’t match your own experiences doesn’t mean it’s wrong. You should consider getting off of that high horse while you’re at it.
Tania – I love your comments 🙂 xx
Tania..I love your comments as well!
I love your comments as well Tania!
My smoothie for three days 8 oz day drink consist of 2 med bananas, 1 lg cucumber,1 cup or more mixed organic spinach, kale, arugula, 1/3-1/2 cup, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, 2 small cups Activia yogurt, 1/2 cup brewed green tea, 2 tablespoons organic Bragg’s apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp turmeric. No bloating, diarrhea, exercise 3 days week, walk 2-5 miles 4-5 days week, but cannot lose desired 10 lbs midsection weight. Should I cut some of the fruit?
I like fruit so much .
Hi Lilly
Can you please explain how fructose raises blood sugar. I haven’t managed to understand that myself.
Best wishes
Jillian
I just want to say that I would never unfollow you because of my love for fruit.
I tried removing all common food allergens to see if my digestive problems would go away. Between the diet change itself and all that healthy food I was eating, everything got way worse.
Why?? This elimination diet didn’t accommodate for IBS-inducing (high-fodmap) foods, and I was actually eating more of them (including at least all that fruit!) as I avoided other foods.
I still have problems 1, 2, 4, and 5 in your list, and it’s because I’m a non-discriminatory food lover with a discriminatory digestive system.
As I eat loads of plums and peaches that my coworkers brought in from their trees, your post is a great reminder that natural does not mean unconditionally healthy, and it all comes down to moderation. I want to put “moderation” in all caps, because it’s that important, but I don’t want it to look rude. I’m going to go for that happy place of no more than two servings a day and see how I feel.
Thanks!
I just finished a MS in Nutrition and am surprised we didn’t talk about fructose sensitivity. Ironically enough I’ve been having digestive issues and I’m starting to make connections to the large amounts of fruit I’ve been eating. I understand how blood sugar can be impacted but I am not aware of I what you mentioned in a comment about having difficulty digesting a protein-containing meal with fruit. You said, “turns out it alters the pH and enzyme environment of the stomach, making digesting a large amount of protein quite difficult.” Do you have some evidence based research you can refer me to so I can understand this more?
(I thought fructose was converted into fat by the liver and does not become glucose)
Yep. Fruit contains glucose in addition to fructose.
Right with you Lily. Fruit is advertised to us both in nature and marketing as being better for us than it really is.
I think of this post every time I purchase fruit. It is so true. Veggies can be just as yummy. Add some legumes or beans to a salad for a healthy dinner. I also love egg salad on a bed on fresh spinach for a quick and easy lunch. I live in FLA so am fortunate to have fresh fruit and veggies year round.
Hi Lily!
Welcome to the PNW! Rob and I loved it there and we are hoping to be back next summer. I know you will enjoy all the wonderful things the area has to offer!
When adjusting my diet, I realized I was eating too much fruit through my sugar intake. I had to remember (and still need to remind myself) that even though it’s not processed sugar, it’s still sugar and a little goes a long way. I also realized that I wasn’t eating enough whole grains. So I actually switched out a high-sugar fruit (which I was eating with the thought of getting vitamins and fiber), with a low-sugar, low-glycemic granola bar as my mid-morning snack. I had way more energy and my digestion got back on track surprisingly quickly.
Though, that being said, the northwest cherries are amazing.
As always, thank you for your food advice!
-Jill
lol.. you are all bloated and gassy from eating flesh of dead bodies and the coagulated bodily fluids of other beings.. not from eating fruit as nature intended humans who are frugivores to eat.
True
…Hi!! I eat 2 or 3 fruits every morning but not half cups of each. Usually rasp./straw./blueb./blackb. or a part of a banana…maybe oj. but small servings. Is that over doing? I don’t seem to ever have any bm problems. Sandee lee
yessssssssssss! at last, someone who agrees with me. a few years ago my new boss (at a health centre) suggested we go on a detox weekend. I chose fruit – oh wow!! never again,. I bloated, cramped, burped and all the other ghastly results of over-fruiting. luckily salads and veggies are my favourite, so to cut out fruit was not an issue. sometimes I have half an apple, or some berries or a kiwi with plain yoghurt, almonds and flaxseeds. but usually only weekly. I am dead against juicing and smoothies owing to the amount of sugar consumed in one portion. when I see someone drinking fresh orange juice, I ask them to guess how many oranges went into it. when I see parents loading up with commercial fruit juices I remind them of the amount of sugar and tell them its the same as giving their kids a soda. usually they don’t want to know, they look so virtuous! and most kids get a small carton of fruit juice in their lunch boxes. why not just give them a small coke?
its going to take a while to re-educate but I am looking after my 3 grandsons at the moment, and they are getting the message! the younger two only drink milk(after breakfast) and water, they don’t like sodas or fruit juice. success!
Good morning Lily it has been mentioned to us that we eat far too much fruit. I must emphasise that I am extremely health conscious most of the time, but occasionally binge. Every second day we have a smoothie consisting of 1 stick celery, 1 carrot. 1 avo but not always, 1 piece pineapple, 1 piece paw paw, 1 banana, 1 guava, 5 strawberries and sometimes approximately a few slices of root ginger, This we put into our blender with 1 cup double thick plain yoghurt and 1 cup full cream milk. To this we add 1 tablespoon raw honey. Let’s hear what you have to say about this haha.
I eat as a very large breakfast daily – in my nutra bullet raspberries,blueberries,blackberries,ground almonds,chia seeds,pumpkin seeds,sunflower seeds,flax seeds,q 10,walnuts,Brazil nuts,sesame seeds,full fat Greek yogurt,agave syrup,dates and almond milk..result = NO Sugar cravings, I am FULL for the ENTIRE day until evening, my skin shines, loads of energy SUSTAINED. Having suffered from gallstones from a diet high in cheese years ago I find that on the rare occasions I have had an attack after being tempted with a cheese dish (the only food my body will willingly accept and feel good on is the above mix of nutrients.
I forgot to mention that in my daily nutrabullet drink I also add raw coconut oil, hemp ground.
I eat in one day 2 granny apples, 2 nectarines or peaches, a good handfull of strawberries and oikos yogurt with a ton of fresh blueberries added to it. Feel very bloated and agitated afterwards so now i know why, thank you for this insight and please know that i try to be very healthy with my food choices, i used to weigh 243 pounds and now i am 123 pounds and have kept it off with diet and exercise for 10 years but in the last year have become addicted to fruit but have severe bloating so any advice would be appreciated, i am 41 years old and female if this means anything
I get the sugar crash thing happening to me. Then I want donuts. Like right now.
Hi all
I got prove that eating too much fruit is harmless. Even for diabetic type 2 patients.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23497350
Thanks for sharing, Tim. I read that study.
The “low fruit group” ate 51g of fruit, while the “high fruit group” ate 125g of fruit daily. For reference, a small apple weighs about 150g. Sorry, your study does not “prove that eating too much fruit is harmless.”
In this study, the “high fruit group” wasn’t even eating an entire apple daily!
OH! So glad I found this!!
I’ve been eating more fruit – mostly as a way to stay hydrated and maybe lose weight. But I can’t lose any!! I’ve way reduced carbs, no carbonated drinks, very little processed food…. And, I’ve developed horrible bloating and ‘bathroom issues’ —– I’m going to take a look at my fruit intake, I think I may be having to much. I’ve even substituted fruit for a meal……. It’s at least somethin to look at and analyze!!
In total shock that you can eat too much fruit!
Yes I have been extra amounts since I got my new blender. It’s just to easy too do.
I will be cutting back as from today, learning I suffer the side affects.
Thank for the tip!
Thank for the tip.
I definitely suffer fruit side affects.
Will be cutting back as from today.
I am so glad I’ve read your article. I have all the five symptoms mentioned. I joined Slimming World and eat huge amounts of fruit. I cannot begin to tell you the pain and bloating I’ve been suffering. I told the leader about this and she laughed it off. I’ve lost five stone and have struggled with my last four pound. I feel now I’m not going mad. Can’t wait to share this with some fellow sufferers. Thank you so much. X
I run 70-80 miles per week and eat unlimited fruit. I’m talking 8-10 lbs of grapes per day, along with some mango and watermelon. It really is disgusting. I wonder as I get older my body cannot handle all the fruit, as I do seem to be a bit more bloated, but I am so hooked. If I don’t get my grapes, I am extremely grumpy.
I found this really helpful! I’m currently half marathon training and have increased my fruit intake. I also absolutely love smoothies and usually have a glass of OJ mid morning. Immediately after eating, I was getting stomach aches and had to go, I was worried for my training and your article has reassured to me that there is such a thing as having too much, balance is key!
Fortunately, I now know this.
Unfortunately, I just ate 8 apricots (and that was definitely not even half of the fruit I ate all day…). Gonna have to work on it.
I have stage 4 cancer (liver) I’m eating probably 6 bowls of fresh fruit a fay. I don’t understand why in craving it so badly. Is it good or bad for my liver?
I joined Weight Watchers Dec 30. I am down 30 pounds, and thank fruit for that. Most fruits are 0 points, so I have been eating lots of fruit, so I can eat dinner with my hubby. I have a few of the symptoms you mentioned, and no idea where they may have come from! Now I know, and thank you! Look out veggies, my new love!!
Into my second week of a four week stay on the island of Malta. Nice and hot and eating plenty of fresh fruit thinking it’s the right thing to do. Only to find myself in the early hours with a painful stomach and running to the loo. Thinking back I’ve concluded after looking online it is to many prickly pears. However, coming upon this sight has lead me to a whole new way of looking at fruit and of how they should be consumed. You have possibly saved me from having more of upset stomach in the future. Thanks.
Such an interesting read, I am a google-holic and after googling ‘eating too much fruit’ your page appeared!
I currently follow the ‘slimming world’ diet, however the last few weeks I have been wobbling – as it doesn’t feel ‘natural’ but with a weight increase and my own test at eating healthily causing this gain I decided I had no option but to revert back to the plan.
BUT
I find myself eating 5-7 fruits a day, because they are ‘free’ ‘unlimited’ my weight loss is improved if I avoid bananas – and I knew about the carbohydrates.
But seeing it all in black and white, wow!
Thank you for an altered perspective
Thank you for this article, I did a search because of bloating, tummy cramps and very sore ‘ waste exit area’ yes I’m on diet where fruit is ‘free’, tho I do love fruit but definitely overdoing it, this article is very sensible and balanced, and an eye opener for me, so I’m going to cut back on fruit and consentrate on more veg and a more balanced approach to diet . Thank you !!
I definitely do think I’m eating too much fruit, I generally have a whole banana, 1/2 cup blueberries in a smoothie after the gym with my protein powder, chai seeds and peanut butter and a few other goodies, then I have an apple and an orange and sometimes watermelon and other fruit too!! I’m way over the fruit scale and find no matter how hard I train I struggle to lose weight!! I love the quote “treat fruit as a dessert not celery sticks” it really has me re-thinking how much fruit I’m eating, I will definitely reduce the amount and try to mainly have berries from now on!! Thanks so much ?
Hi there. In the past 7-8 weeks I’ve been eating raw foods and a hot meal at night. I’m vegan previously.
I have found I’ve gained weight. I’m bloated, I have gas all the time, loose bowels… I’ve eaten mainly fruit. I starting following fruitians in a Facebook page. Everyone said the weight drops off, wellness and energy on a fruit raw diet 24/7.
No one else have posted the symptoms I have… in the past 2 weeks I’ve had a sharp headache that comes on after my fruit lunch. I found your post from looking online, ” is too much fruit bad for you?”
I’m definitely going to stop the fruit island! It’s not living when your life is based around a toilet….
I absolutely relate to the factor of bloating! I consume a great deal of fruit. Thanks for the tips.
Wow, thank you for this information!! I’ve been living by the at least 5 fruits or veggies/day rule for the last couple years but recently been eating more fruit. A couple months ago I had to take some antibiotics. Ever since then I’ve had a ton of diarrhea. I read that lactose can cause diarrhea for 6 weeks after antibiotics, so I thought it must be my morning yogurt causing the problem. Then one day I had the yogurt without any fruit and I had no diarrhea! So I’ve been experimenting since then. I was eating a lot of fruit before my morning yogurt, like 1 apple + 1 plum + 1 kiwi + 1 banana + 1 avocado. I thought I was really being nice to my body by eating so much fruit. After reading your article I am guessing that the real cause of my diarrhea is the fruit!! It’s going to be hard to eat a lot less fruit, but I think it’s worth a try. Is it possible to develop fructose intolerance later in one’s life and all the sudden? I was doing fine until 2 months ago. I am in my mid-50s, athletic, thin, vegequarian (vegetarian plus a little bit of fish). Thanks again! This article was very helpful!
A pescatarian eats fish but not no meat.
False post…….I’m going to keep it simple…..eat fruits before any food or eat fruit as food, above mentioned problems or solved! and one more thing, eat fruit as much as you want it won’t hurt you, but keep in mind organic is real!
This is some really great information. It was easy to understand. Recently I have been eating too much fruit and this information really helped me understand about how much ftuit to eat. Thank you so much this information really helped and I am now going to share this website with my friends.??
Thank you! Finally someone saying it out-loud!!
Man, this kinda bums me out. I have been trying to eat better and have substituted fruit for snacks. Guess I need to work on balancing with more veggies.
….I’ve been addicted to fruit all my life, and have grown up in a family with super healthy eating habits, where my fruit craze was frowned upon. I was always told to keep it down to 2 a day, which felt like a cruel and unusual punishment. Even today (i’m in my 40’s), after years and kids, I still cannot bring myself to eat less than 4 servings each day, and enjoy my morning smoothies like the smokers enjoy their first cigarette of the day. I’ve noticed though that it really doesn’t help the weight loss efforts, and it also doesn’t help my sugar cravings. If left to my own devices, my diet would be 80% fruit and the rest raw or steamed veggies, nuts, grains, the occasional soft-boiled egg and dairy (mostly yoghurt and kefir). One of the side-effects that has always bothered me the most is the bloating and the stomach aches, most prominent after eating tropical fruits (that I adore) like papaya and pineapple, or oranges; also, apples always make me soooo hungry! I wish you all good luck in your attempts to keep fruit from taking over your life :).
I’ve heard that people often crave foods containing nutrients their bodies can’t digest properly. In other words, their bodies are trying to get the nutrients by binging on the foods that contain them. Is that true? For instance, since childhood, I’ve always eaten tons of grapes. I wonder if it’s due to fructose malabsorption?
For the past few months or so I’ve been having a brunch of around 4-6 serves of sub-acidic and acidic fruit every day. Also over the past few months I’ve needed more sleep than before, and if I sit down to meditate I often start feeling sleepy or even going into micro-sleeps soon after! This is not ideal, disruption to meditation and requiring more sleep is undesirable. A week or so ago I was lying down for a while, and when I got up I started feeling faint and almost collapsed to the floor, getting a blackout. My zinc was low several months ago, but since I started taking zinc tablets it has been good. I got a blood test in early August, and my iron, vitamin B12, and vitamin D levels were low. I’ve been taking supplements since then. Recently I tested the acidity of my saliva—it was 6.4. I was also having a banana, six dates, and a handful of sultanas every morning. Now I’ve cut back and instead of having that for breakfast I have porridge with six dates, and occasionally a banana. I may still adjust to reduce my fruit intake and see how that goes.
I haven’t been experiencing any of the signs above, but the oversleeping and faintness is a big concern.
“Potassium is easily found in avocados, chard, mushrooms and kale, vitamin C in raw broccoli, bell peppers and tomatoes, and antioxidants are abundant in all vegetables, but especially the green and leafy variety.”
Avocados, bell peppers, and tomatoes are all fruits, not vegetables. We tend to eat them more like a vegetable than a fruit because they are not as sweet, and the latter two are only mildly acidic.
I get plenty of exercise and am slightly underweight, so fruit intake is not a concern for me in terms of weight.
What a great article, my weight was coming off slowly couldn’t understand why, very healthy walk for 12 hours a week my diet contains no fat and little carbohydrate or at least so I thought. It was my mum that said and may I quote this just rolled off her tongue your fruit intake is way to much its just pure sugar, my reply rubbish fruit is good for you and low fat. How wrong was I , mums know best. I have since stopped my fruit just to see what happens. Not only have I lost 3lb in two weeks but my stomach doesn’t hurt anymore.
Great article.
Hi Lily, just came across your website. I’m literally fascinated with this article. I have eaten (now I think) too much fruit for the last few years. Since the birth of my 2 children I decided it was time I lost some weight. I reduced my portions and carb intake dramatically but carried on eating the same amount of fruit as before. No wonder I have hardly lost weight. It’s been very frustrating. I am so glad I came across this article. I think now I have a plan! thank you
Firstly I craved any kind of olives I ate them by the catering tin, each day, and not a lot else, for months and months. Suddenly I stopped. Instead I ate 5 X 4 pun nets if necturines a day. Plus strawberries.
At this time I became anemic breathless, pale skin, white in bottom of eyes. I spoke to pharmacist and asked what he could give me as didn’t want to visit doctors. He recommended iron tablets and said you need to take a vitamin supplement C so the iron absorbed into your system. I explained I was craving necturines he said you don’t need the Vit Suppl. then. I took a B supplement instead.
After 24hours I was I was no longer breathless. I am not taking the iron anymore but do crave necturines cold hard one after another. I feel very bloated and cannot loose weight as you suggested in you write up, thank you for writing the facts I am now going to cut them out or reduce to just 2 a day.
I have been operated for cancer in 2014, and I and not able to swollow whole foods. I have to make smoothies. I am taking around 3000 calories a day so I don’t lose more weight. I weight 182lbs before my operation now I weigh 145lbs and I am not able to gain weight. There is no vegi in my smoothies and I use 3 bananas, 2avocados, kiwis,walnuts, chia, milk and use ”RAW MEAL” from (garden of life)and UDO’s oil 3-6-9. each day. Can you help me organize my meals so they can be best for me?
thank you 🙂
Pierre
You mention to eat more vegetables like avocado, bell peppers and tomatoes, but those are all fruit. Are we supposed to treat them like vegetables like most people assume them to be? And if yes, is that because they are not particularity sweet?
Yes, for the purpose of this article, I’m referring to the types of fruit that are rich in natural sugars (rather than the botanical definition).
Hi Lily,
Very insightful article. I began eating one bowl or fruits(mixed bowl) everyday for breakfast assuming that fruits are super healthy and best breakfast to eat and was bloated all the time. For a really long time I couldn’t figure out if it was my tummy which was spoilt or if it was some other reason. Eventually on thinking hard, I realized that the one thing common for 2 months that I was super bloated was that I was having fruits on empty stomach for breakfast. That’s when I started exploring some articles and found this. Thanks for the explaination and I am disappointed in these tasty fruits and my ability to digest them.:(
Hi Lily, interesting article and I am going to act on it! I have been attending a well known slimming group for longer than I car to remember and had moderate success. Just a stone and a half from target ….I am maintaining week after week. I feel very patronised when people question whether I have at least 1/3 of a certain type of food etc. Yes I do….in fact more like 2/3 but much of that is fruit…..all types. I graze all day in fruit. In my kitchen I always have an overflowing fruit bowl and as I walk by, I pick a pear or orange etc. It’s habit. Now the slimming group says that’s fine…..I should still lose…..but nothing is happening, in fact last week I gained a lb! I am going to cut the fruit to a couple of portions a day and replace with more vegetables to snack if needs be. Thank you
Great article! I gave up all the bad foods 10 months ago. I have lost 50 pounds without ever being hungry! I eat as much as I want! Of course, my diet is fruits, nuts, lean proteins and lots of veggies. I eat my fruits to get maximum benefit. 4 or 5 small meals a day. I Start with Bran cereal and grapefruit. Some healthy snacks and a few sandwiches for lunch. Dinner is typically fish with a large salad. I do allow myself to indulge on Sundays to minimize the cravings. Although I will eat whatever I crave on Sunday, I find myself not over indulging. I will eat pizza if I want. Also, I do have a sweet tooth! I started exercising about 2 months into the diet. By that point I had lost almost 30 pounds. Losing the weight first motivates you to work out! It really is all about the diet though. You can’t outrun a bad diet!
so that’s why I don’t loose weight: 2 bananas, 2 apples, 2-3 clementine’s or a medium sized grape and some nuts per day are to much. I will reduce my fruit intake, maybe I’ll loose the bloating to! Thanks!
Thanks, this was helpful. 1,3,4 and 5 are very very truetrue for me and I eat 5-7 pieces of fruit a day
hello Lily, I have been operated for right manibule cancer and two ganglion on the right side of the neck in august 2014. I am not able to swollow whole foods. I have lost all my fat. So I started to pump iron to put on some weight. I ve been eatting smoothies that contain 1 banana, 1 kiwi, 1 avacado, spinach, frozen berries, pumpkin seeds, nuts, and use powder proteins Now I got a juicer and juicing my vegis and drink one cup of this vegi juice plus my smoothie, I would like to know how much of the vegi juice should I drink? Thankyou in advance. Pierre 🙂
This is complete bs, when you cut out processed foods from your diet and have a meal of the same fruit at once, your body should have no problem digesting “too much fruit”, what I’m saying is fruit is better on an empty stomach and not eating different fruits at once will help too, I had 10 bananas for break fast and i feel great
Hi,
I might be eating too much fruit because I really love it and have always had a sweet tooth. I cut out most sweets already and now eat fruits instead. I have chronic constipation and need all the fiber I can get.
I have a healthy weight on the low side, 3 kgs away from the underweight category. I eat about 4 pieces of fruit a day, whole. Could I still be overdosing on fructose? If I cut back on fruits, I fear I might lose weight.
Hey hun, I don’t think it’s necessary for you to cut down on your 4 portions of fruit. I think that’s perfectly reasonable for someone who doesn’t indulge in unhealthy sweets. For your constipation maybe try eating watermelon as one of your servings of fruit? Watermelon works wonders on my digestive track and is a great water dense fruit. Or you could try fiber one cereal with some raspberries. I use to have bad constipation problems but as soon as I started eating fiber one cereal (the one that looks like bran and has 14g of fiber per serving), I noticed a huge improvement in my bowel movements and once I started adding raspberries or strawberries with the cereal my body was 100% normal again. The daily intake for fiber for a woman is around 24g so if you aren’t much of a veg person try the cereal but if you like veggies try swapping out some snacks you consume with some leafy greens. Hope all that helps, have a lovely day! 😀
I have been eating a large bowl of fruit with yogurt every night also kept to a strict diet but only lost 1 lb thid week is this fue to my fruit intake after reading this i think this is the case
I came across this page while searching for answers on this unbearable pain I get from eating fruit. I love halos, strawberries and pineapples. I’m not overweight, but have gained some weight before eating fruit because I started getting lazy over the winter months and now I’m trying to get back to where I was. I really need to shed about ten pounds to be at a comfortable weight. I see everyone speaking about greens and I have a question if I may as what can I do to give them flavor, but not make them unhealthy? Here’s a list of some veggies that I really would be interested in learning how to prepare to enjoy broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, spinach, zucchini, egg plant, peppers, onions, celery and a few others. These are just some that I know I like but wouldn’t know how to make them without adding tons of butter to make them taste so good so if you can please send me some suggestions. Thank you
Hi Holly, Have you checked out my free ebook: “Veggies: Eat Them Because You Want To, Not Because You Have To”? It teaches you how to make veggies taste good, including recipes. Snag your copy here: http://pilatesnutritionist.com/how-to-make-vegetables-taste-good/
Thanks so much for the article! I’ve been eating a very fresh and clean diet for a couple years, but fruit has been a large portion of it. I get just as much vegetables, and I incorporate (what I think) a healthy amount of good fats as well, but I’m still slightly paranoid about my blood sugar levels. I do tend to crave the fruit for most of the day, and tend to feel a crash every once in a while, but usually only when I’m sitting at my desk at work and not moving around. That seems to be the only symptom I experience though, the only bowel symptoms I experience is an abundance of gas, but no diarrhea or bloating, and I still don’t have a problem losing weight. But as I said, I’m still paranoid that i may be contributing to high blood sugar levels, any suggestions? Am I just paranoid?
You can buy a blood sugar meter and test strips over the counter to find out.
I am on a e foods diet for autoimmune disease and i have had bloating lately along with what seemed like sugar spikes and crashes and cravings. I thought fruit intake in the last couple days might be the answer. Although i think I only get about 3 servings, that may be too much for me. Plantains, apples oranges and bananas are my go to.
You’re spot on! Well it all makes sense now as I have 4 of the 5 symptoms. I love fruit and eat loads all the time approx 40-50% of my intake. I will definitely cut down . It’s a shame because I really do like the tastes of all the different fruits I eat but it’s time to change!! I’ll still eat fruit but not 8am-midnight ha ha. Thank you for the information.
so, i have to say that im in tears right now, again. or like always lately. i just got home from being at the hospital most of the day today as lately, ive had bad pain inbetween my breasts, my stomache area , or heart area. its horrible and nothing helps it go. had it for years and it flairs up now and then but i can t soothe it. also, i think im gluten free but dont work so i cant afford to buy things that are and am forced to eat gluten. then, after getting something for my tummy and coming home i hadnt eaten all day and couldnt wait to just have a bowl full of my favorite fruits of which is all i bought yesterday not having alot of money. ten dollars got me milk and fruit. i ate at six pm. and by eight i was in bowel pain again and thought what the hell. i just got home and didnt eat anything. i also took meds for my migraine of which ive had for fifty years now. i got up in alot of pain and studpid me made a protein shake with milk, tofu, and greens and proteins powder. i thought i should put something in me. thats when the pains hit . i also got the chills like crazy and tried to lay in bed . i was so so cold and thinking, this isnt worth being here. im now 54 and life isnt the same. ive changed so much and cant figure out what to do and how and why anymore. i dont want to literally eat . im always in pain every single day . and i mean pain. ive almost fainted in the washroom having bowel movements from not eating right. hard stools, gas, diarrhea, stomache pains, headaches, etc. i dont go out no more and i cant. with these issues…………..i dont drive and live alone. no help. i just dont understand whats happening to me and why. im scared, depressed, upset, sad, down, hungry, truly fed up, dont want to go out. where to go and what to do. im scared. and protein powders give me tons of gas too. so, now what…………….i wish i had someone to help me really. i mean someone really as i need it as im so down and lost right now. if someone does read this , i hope you find it in your heart to help me as id love nothing more to save my life right now. thank you.
kari………………xo
I’ve had very little fruit the past three or four days and it’s because I’m hardly thriving on it and actually feel pretty unhealthy with several issues. The reason I would eat fruit though and I do mean eat not drink is to get the fiber and help my bowels move but they’ve been sluggish quite a bit. But for the last three days it’s been getting better and yet I still don’t feel the way I’d like but it’s an improvement. Actually instead of constantly trying to eat healthy I’ve just had more tea and “regular” foods. And I’ll continue but I also would like to add more dairy back into my diet (I haven’t drank any milk for about a week) but I think it conflicts with the fruit or something because I know that makes me feel full more quickly. The thing is a few months ago I could feel it helping but I was spacing out my meals, eating fruit, and drinking milk between 5am and 8-9pm plus other healthy things. And I’m not even overweight so that is not one of my issues. So by not eating as much fruit and getting more water will that help? That’s the only reason I think I’m not feeling a lot worse right now.
My husband was always telling me that I was eating too much fruit but I ignored him because if fruit is good for me more fruit would be better, right? Well no!! 2 weeks ago I was really ill for a day and reading your blog about not being able to digest fructose it all made sense. I was eating 2 huge bowls of fruit twice a day. Although I kept strictly to my diet I still wasn’t losing weight, now I know why!! Since I was ill I have really cut down on the fruit, I don’t feel bloated at all and the weight has started coming off again. Thankyou soooo much for helping me understand that fruit is good but now only 2/3 portions a day is my limit.
Oh my gosh. My usual breakfast used to be a latte and a pack of Brevita cocoa biscuits. I go the gym a lot and thought my body needed better nutrition to support my gym programming. I’ve been having a smoothie every morning with banana, peach, guava, blueberries, Greek yogurt, chia seeds and coconut water but the cramps are just wasting me. I want to continue with my smoothies but I can’t see how I can operate with these vile cramps. Please can you advise me of some smoothie recipes that are stomach friendly. Thank you. Loved the article.
Ooo yes, definately! I have about 10 portions of fruit per day and can’t seem to lose weight. I seem to be carrying the extra around my middle. I shall have a go at a celery stick or carrot as a snack instead. Thank you.
This sounds like the answer to some of my problems. Thanks
Definitely the stone unturned here!
I still point the kids towards fruit snack rather than chocolate and they are getting a taste for nuts now. They no longer ask me for chocolate when they get in from school – result!
Great to hear, Susan!
Lily,
I am crying out to you. Help!!!!
I am a member of FA. Everyone else in the program is losing tremendous amounts of weight. I am not.
Typically, my food plan includes 1 large banana each morning and one large orange for lunch.
The problem: I want more, more, more fruit.
During this past week I decided to completely eliminate fruit from my diet and instead have vegetables (squash, green beans, cabbage, broccoli).
I feel soooo much better. My cravings are gone. I have more energy.
Please tell me it is alright to eliminate fruit and instead eat vegetables. Thanks.
I don’t see why that would be a problem, especially since you feel better eating that way. Do what works for you, Sarah.
i never looked at it this way (eating lots of fruits not good) while growing up i was told eating lots of fruits was in fact good for you. reading this i can now understand my blotting situation lol… i find it hard to loose weight even though i think i eat healthy. now i know i am consuming too much fruits. i usually have approximately 15-20 portion per day… lol this is not funny. i actually think i was eating health… this explains my constant hunger for more fruits… i spend 50 pounds per week just on fruits for my self… very sad indeed…
thanks for your input it has been very informative
I am /was eating, and had been till now on average, at worse 5 punnet of nectarines a day plus 2 x big pkts strawberries for ever, not much else.
Before the fruit craze buckets of green queen olives. Which fruit took over from. I’m anemic when getting iron tablets from chemist he said take a vitamin C supplement to help the iron absorb. I didn’t because of all in C in fruit. I wonder when I have been eating so much fruit and not eating much else if it’s ???? Off any iron in my system and left me anemic. I don’t drink alcohol I drink mainly fizzy water. Gone off tea maybe have 1 coffee day don’t drink soda. So your write up makes perfect sense, especially about the weight.
and craving more fruit. I’m 65 12st 3lbs. 5’0″ and notice a big difference when I leave fruit alone for even a day. Thank you for your advice. Joy
My husband and I could not figure out why we still couldn’t lose weight around our mid area and I happened to ask maybe we eat too much fruit and we googled you and found your article, so we are going to try to cut it back as you suggested….. two years ago I went on Juice Plus complete Shake it is all plant protein and I was able to cut 4 and 1/2 inches off my waist and now I can understand by reading your article how that worked for me…. so I am a distributor of juice plus and I’m going to go back and order my shakes again, today …. it did curb my sugar craving when I drank those, made it a lot easier to handle the highs and lows, I should never have stopped the expense is worth it because I put the weight back on in my mid area and thought I had cut back on all the stuff that was doing that, but I was wrong. So thank you for the info!
Now I understand why I’m up at 3:55 am with a sad tummy!
I’ve been having severe toothache lately which which makes chewing literally a living hell. So I decided to go “smoothie” until my appointment with my dentist (which is next week).
And I’ve been blending a mixture of Apple, Pineapple, Mango, Watermelon, Papaya and Bananas.
Reading your post is really insightful but where do I go from here till when I’m able to fix my aching tooth? I love my daily fruits..
I have struggled with my weight most of my adult life! Abuse, 6 kids and a sweet tooth and no self control…have been the main culprits. And now i cant seem to shake natural sugar or meat. Seems it has come down to that.
All of the above are true except maybe number 2. I just spent money and bought conventional meats, and the swicthed again over to raw fruits and vegtables…and the fruit is killing me, I know its too much, I can go all day and just eat fruit. When iI think of eating just vegtables…I want to curl up in a ball…I want meat, veggies, fruits and some fun foods like nuts seeds raw honey, dates, raw dairy etc and the like. Problem is I need to be a normal weight. My problem…if i eat too much fruit or pasturized dairy it seems my feet begin to pain me. My choices…paleo orsomethimg similiar in the long term, the Daniel diet…without grains beans nuts and seeds in the short term etc . I need no or low inflamation foods and grass fed meats and eggs and raw dairy. Right now ive made a year long committment to the Daniel diet and so I need help with that. How to eat vegtables only or mostly and be satisfied. Very little real sugar and most organic…and/ or raw dairy and grass fed in the end. Thank you for your time. Desperation, Pamela
3602232333
ps I am 60 pounds overweight.
I am 54
Hey awesome post you have there! Okay so I’m underweight & now been struggling in putting on weight. So you get the picture right, I snack on fruits most of the time since i am on a SIBO / low fodmap diet; this diet only allows me to eat fruits with higher glucose than its fructose content. And these days my tummy bloats and could this fruit-munching habit be the trigger? And oh ya! You mentioned about fructose causing all those sorts of things. Is it possible for a higher glucose ratio fruit cause this problem as well? Much love from Malaysia, thank you!
Hi…gosh..I’ve been eating salads and fruit for lunch for over a year..my weight has increased…today…so so bloated. ..very uncomfortable.
Just couldn’t think what I was doing wrong. .wondered could I be eating too much salad and fruit…put that same question into Google and your article came up..
Going to re think my food intake..feel quite ill at mo…just want the bloating to settle
I am 64. I exercise three days a week and walk two. In the morning I have egg whites, a sweet potato , a kiwi, handful of blueberries and two strawberries. At lunch I make a smoothie with fresh frozen blueberry, strawberry, raspberry. kale, spinach the package says it has 9gr of sugar and I top it off with broccoli. That is it for the day for fruit.
We have a spinach salad and fish for dinner.
I am in pretty good shape except I have a small gut I can not seem to loose. I have no other problems that you mentioned.
Does this look like I am eating too much fruit?
One more thing I forgot to mention i am 6′ 4″ 200lb
Thanks
Story of my life:
Eat fruits till I can’t move!
I have a fruit addiction! Can eat them for lunch,dinner and breakfast! Trying to get out of this habit. I am constantly craving sugar (and only if they are in whole fruit form), and I do multiple servings per day ( my lunch and my dinner are fruits… anything else is a small side dish). So yes, I am 140 lbs, with an aim of 130 lbs, I am a super “healthy” eater…( as defined by society), but a very unhealthy eater otherwise( fruit only!!!and very little of anything else…diabetes alert!!).
I def. associate with #1,3,4.
I could have written this myself.
Can’t break the addiction cycle!
I usually grab a cuties two or three times a day ?
Hi! I am wondering if before or after a workout you can allow yourself to be a little heavier on the fruits to refill the glycogene reserve used during a high intensity workout. I usually love having a fruit smouthie before a workout but I realized after reading the article that I might have some difficulty digesting the fructose. Is there an alternative I could turn to while keeping my smouthie before workout habit?
I quote
“What’s a reasonable amount of fruit to eat in a day?
In general – and unless you’re following a very low carbohydrate diet – I suggest 2 portions of fruit daily,”
If I am on an extra low carbohydrate diet (meat,vegetable,fruit, water and salt).
What portion would suggest for me.
Wow. This makes perfect sense and I have recently began running 4 times a week and yet have put ON weight! Eat mega amounts of fruit so going to try to this!
I’ve just stumbled across this page after over hauling my diet. Having not touched fruit for years, except maybe pineapple on a pizza, I have just had fruit for breakfast and a huge smoothie for lunch. I am now sat here with the most wicked stomach cramps I have ever had. (Apart from Labour pains!)
After reading the information on this page I think I have over done the fruit intake!
I’ve been smashing an apple, a banana, a peach, a couple of carrots and usually a handful of grapes at work, plus adding blueberries to my weetabix in the morning, and I’ve been feeling quite smug about it. Time to rethink! This was really interesting to read and I’ll make up more of my 5-a-day or 7-a-day or whatever it is now with vegetables from now on. Thanks for writing!
Quite the opposite for me. I eat mostly raw now with one cooked meal per day on the average. Fruit is the basis of my every day meals. I trimmed down fat quite quickly, and have never had so much energy in my entire life. In fact the doctor was diagnosing me with fibro just a year ago. That is when I decided to go all plant based. I was still having issues with my energy levels and that’s when I went raw. Just recently I have upped my protein intake a little to better accommodate my bodybuilding lifestyle.
If you are gaining weight on fruit then you might be ingesting too much of it!! One only needs to cut the portions down a little, and keep your total calories at a level to sustain your own lifestyle.
Oh this is fantastic reading I have been eatin loads of fruit and then later on been cravin chocolate and bread
Hi
I have been suffering with headaches every morning I wake up with one.I have been eating lots of fruit more than 5 -7portions daily sometimes more. I have a lot for breakfast and then some after my evening meal. Maybe this is why I am getting mussy headaches daily.I am going to cut down on fruit intake and replace with more veg to see if it makes any difference.
I finally got it. have really bad habit of eating too much fruit it raised my a1c from 5.9 to 6.4 Was eating 4 apples and 3 oranges a day. Maybe. My brother had cancer and the Rd said to me , “do you eat healthy” ” well heck yeah i do” Humm I told her i eat fruit fruit fruit. she said that is simple sugar, not healthy.. Omg. so i cut to 2 small plums and an apple a day.
Hi Lily…Since October last year I have cut out all added sugar and sweetneras the only grain I eat is a small portion of oats( I don’t do any other breads or rice or patatos) I do eat meat and lots of vegetables. I lost quite a bit of weight and I am now 3kgs away from my goal….fruit have been a very big part of my diet…my go to in any situation…and I realised this past weekend that I was able to eat the right portions of veg and protein and some fat but somehow have given fruit a free for all….so since Sunday I have had no fruit….and this morning I came crushing down….I was so dizzy and lightheaded that I couldn’t get out of bed and had a massive headache….Have you come across such a response when cutting out fruit?? I honestly didn’t expect it as fruit was the only real sugar left in my dieet….Thank you for the great article. Regards to everyone.
It’s possible that your carb intake has gone down enough to put you into ketosis. Headaches are a common response when your body is initially adjusting. Look up “keto flu.” (By the way, here’s more info on a ketogenic diet if you’re curious.)
Hello,my name isRodney?
I eat my protein,carb and oil err meal, carb being a fruit.
I am a carpenter so exert a lot of energy and sweat all day till I roll up. and I feel myself crashing throughout the day. being a carpenter and being me I give 110% out there in the heat in the cold whatever the weather, what would be my best carb throughout the day .I take the allowed amount of protein every serving I take a tablespoon of oil but my choice of carbs is fruit and I’ve been abiding by the Paleo Diet can you help me out can you give me some guidelines on what to eat thank you.
I eat far to much fruit,
I read a thing on pineapple eating to much cued give you problems’ so you have to be careful on how much you eat
This is definitely me. I have made all the healthy habits changes amd still feel dreadful and my liver is miserable. (Non alcoholic fatty liver). I live on fruit. And I know it’s too much, but I am so addicted and don’t know how to stop!
Thank you for this information. Yes, I am a fruit eater, my whole life! And so do eat green smoothies fairly often. I could exist on fruit alone if I don’t focus on eating something else. I am also vegan, and am trying to eat more balanced meals, without so many carbs. We will eat too much tortilla, bread, and potato otherwise. How does one eat no meat, no dairy, low carb AND low fruit? I would only be eating veges. I love veges but they don’t fill me up enough. Thanks!
Hi, after reading your post my sister now stops her children from eating 5 servings of fruit a day and only allows 2 now. She has replaced the other 3 serves of fruit with ice cream, chips and biscuits thinking that the less serves of fruit is healthier for them. She is not understanding that it’s healthier for the kids to have the 5 serves of fruit than replacing them with junk food.
I’m disappointed to hear that, Vincent. Clearly the intent of the article is to shift the balance from eating excessive quantities of fruit to eating more veggies. Displacing fruit with processed or high-sugar foods is something I obviously don’t condone.
I searched ‘can you eat too much fruit’ and found this article. I followed a very strict protocol of clean, no processed foods, took out the food toxic to my body, particularly to my thyroid and fed my body all the good nutrition it needed about four years ago. I got control of my hyperthyroidism and they didn’t radiate my thyroid (which they wanted to do). After that success, I kept up having vegetable juice for breakfast, smoothie for lunch and a regular dinner. I’m celiac so didn’t have gluten. I had a lot of migraines, mostly not the classic headaches I used to get, but still had migraine eye lights and flashes at least twice a day average. I since found that salicylates in foods caused the ‘migraine eyes’. These include greens like kale, spinach, chard, almonds, teas including green teas, too much coconut oil, blueberries. You can imagine how this changed my diet to more fruit. I am now sure that too much fruit is making me very fatigued, but you can see the dilemma I am in. I regularly try these healthy foods one at a time, but very soon begin to get the migraines again. I would have had about a half a bucket of greens in my large juice for breakfast, so probably overdid it! Any ideas?
If it is indeed salicylates, this article may be helpful: http://pilatesnutritionist.com/how-i-got-rid-of-my-never-ending-headache-15-minutes/ Good luck!
Thanks so much for this. I’m very hopeful. I too had given up making bone broth for the last six months. Very interesting
As soon as you illiminated the blame from bread (highly refined) wheat products, I must completely ignore any credibility within your article… Because the true fact is wheat products are more of a blame than fruits will ever be…
Please help me understand where I “eliminate the blame from bread.” Nowhere in the 200+ articles on this site do I advocate for the consumption of wheat.
Glad I came across this article. Over the past year I have changed my lifestyle. Eating better and working out 4-5 times a week. Yes I have lost weight and feel better but have been feeling bloated a lot lately and cannot lose the belly fat. I definitely eat a lot of fruit! Especially now that it is summer and everything is in season. I could not figure out what was making me bloated all the time so I am going to cut back on the fruit for a week and see if there is a difference. Thanks!!!
Well guess I’m in trouble!!! I eat way to much fruit especially in the summer it’s just to hot to cook and I nibble on fruit all day…I have been doing it for years, so I got a little concerned so I Googled it..well thanks for the info better slow down not a bit but a lot..
I am 71 years old, 6 foot, quite active for my age, cycling a mile or 2 a day, walking a mile or 2 a day, lift dumbbells 5k in each hand x 80 each day. Sit at the computer quite a lot. Still do strenuous gigs once a fortnight in my blues band. Body in quite good shape, apart from my belly is too big for my own comfort, not enormous, I wear size 34 waist in trousers. I haven’t had alcohol or drugs for over 20 years, but I do have an “addictive personality”. All or nothing type. I have recently stopped all chocolate biscuits and ice-cream, and halved my cheese intake (i was eating half a small packet of choc biscs a day, plus lunchtime cheese and evening ice cream). I now eat a good amount daily, of green vegetables, some wholemeal bread, a bit of cheese, not TOO much, and good balanced fish protein.
But here is my worry, I used to eat a couple of apples and a banana a day, but I am now eating as much as a whole punnet of strawberries, a whole cantaloupe melon, 3 or 4 bananas, and an apple or 2 EACH day. I know it’s crazy. I have good body functioning and digestion. But I feel I may well be satisfying a fructose craving that will keep my belly too big and firm, even bloated. Do I have your approval to continue this high fruit intake, or should I get sensible one more time? (I know your answer will be the latter!)
I have not had a diarrhea problem in about a year since I had cut out all snack foods, I can’t have dairy or eggs (I have become lactose intolerant). I restrict how much bread products I eat, if any at all. Today, my husband made me a pineapple pancake. Later, I had a handful of cherries and later I had a small Granny Smith apples. I stood up to put the core in the trash and did NOT make it to the bathroom. I put an adult diaper on for protection. I took an anti-diarrheal, which took about 30 minutes to take effect. So, I am going to make sure to cut my fruit consumption to two PORTIONS a day. Thank you for this info. I plan on following up with my doctor to find out if I have any food allergies.
Diarrhoea* get it right
I have frozen mixed berries & banana with low fat yogurt for breakfast coffee break I have orange, I mostly have salad for lunch with an apple cut up to go with it, after I have melon & pineapple ?
I wonder if im eating too much fruit?i started dieting in early january 2017 and so far have lost almost 6 stone (yes brilliant) but i have constant tummy pains and trouble going to the loo! But what is making me suspicious about the fruit i eat is since around the time or just before? i started my diet i have had a funny throat, i sing but cant as it goes out of tune and as though it is sore (but isnt) this is constant ive had tests for more serious concerns and a camera to check back of throat vocal chords etc, all came back with no problems found thank goodness. But this still leaves me with the same problem and thinking about it thought id investigate the idea of maybe eating too much fruit? i eat apples 2/3 with my bran flakes cereal i have half a banana 8 or so of red grapes, sometimes share a flat peach, plum and sometimes other fruits not necessarily all in one day but still i eat a fair amount in one day. Do you have any thoughts on this please?
Vince
I am practically a fruitatarian. I do not suffer from IBS or other bowel disturbances. However I do suffer from muscle cramps which I attribute to hyperkalemia. This symptom is immediately alleviated by a couple of TUMS ( calcium) or a few grains of salt. Fortunately I have chronic low blood pressure ( familial) . I do not eat grains or sugar.
Thanks for this post! I have switched to a bland diet recently and I noticed that I’ve eatin alot of fruit! I had dried fruit too thinking I’m having something a little different but it’s still fruit. My stomach area has been feeling gasy and achey lately.
1&3 is exactly what I’m experiencing. I recently had a baby and am trying to get my body back by juicing allot both fruits and vegies but can’t seem to loose the weight fast enough.
I eat more than 5 servings (usually like 8-10) of fruits everyday (plus a lot of vegetables but less other carbohydrates). I’m not overweight (168cm tall, ~51kg) but have been suffering from IBS (bloating, gas, constipation) for a few years. I always have dry and sore throat so need to drink liquid constantly and like to eat watery fruits (e.g. Asian pears, dragonfruit, watermelon). Is my diet problematic?
Thanks for this article. I no longer eat refined sugar but I do love my fruit. The problem is I get a lot of headaches. I see an acupuncturist, I do yoga and get plenty of exercise but I still have these headaches. I intuitively think that fruit may be part of the problem. I am willing to experiment and cut back on fruit but it’s not going to be easy!! I crave it.
Thanks again.
Several weeks I found a nice blender at an estate sale and decided to get because I had heard a lot talk about how smoothies were the way to go for better health. I started drinking one a day and two on some days. After about a week, my stomach had a bloating sensation. I couldn’t understand what was causing it.
A couple of days ago, I got to wondering if maybe I might be over doing it with these smoothies. I was making them with either strawberries and bananas, peaches or pineapples. I got on the internet and googled “can a person eat to much fruit?”.
It had several links to choose from. After looking at several of them, yours had the best and the easiest explanation I could find. I had no idea that a person could eat too much fruit in a given amount of time. This sight opened my eyes to a lot of things. Thanks so much for the info you give on here.. I am 63 years old and in good health and want to keep it that way.
I weigh 100 pounds I eat everything healthy and my favourite thing is fruit but my stomach is getting bigger and bigger every year I stopped eating fruit two days ago and I can already see a difference I’ve switched fruit for celery and carrot sticks
We have a large raspberry patch and when they are ripe (now), they are sooooo delicious, I pig out. I have them on cereal, I eat my fill when pick them (every other day) and I have them for dessert after dinner.
However, I noticed the last couple of days that my joints feel sore after eating a handful. I think it is the inflammatory reaction you were talking about. (I have a history of that with some arthritis in my elbows from too much Handball).
I am kind of bummed out that I have to cut back because they are so good when fresh off the plant.
Thank you for sharing. It is good to know that there is a connection…. a potential reason for how I felt.
Might be a dose-response reaction to salicylic acid, not fruit sugar (raspberries are pretty low in sugar overall). Raspberries freeze quite well. Save ’em for later. 😉
My symptom is i’m farting every five minutes and they smell like i’ve been eating skunks
Ag this has solved my problem thankyou. I have been trying to lose weight now for 6 month via weight watchers and haven’t lost a pound but i eat at least 5 portions of fruit a day. Well not from now on i don’t and I’ll see what happens.
Thankyou.
Hello
How about eating fruit with yogurt. When is best time to eat yogurt with meals, after meals or before meals or in between with fruit or by itself. Thanks. 🙂
A Chiropractor told me 4 years ago that fructose does spike your insulin weather a person has diabetes or not. And keeping that number at low level of 70s-80s helps a person loose weight. And I experienced it 2 times. As soon as I had extra fruit in my diet my sugar level spiked over 100 and I’d stoped loosing weight.. when I got strict with myself and only had a few berries every other day or so my insulin level would drop and I start loosing weight again! Not to mention he showed me a slide show of how fructose does affect even sleep because it interferes in the intestine and don’t allow Tryptophan to produce! And he showed me what other doctors discovered how it does convert into fat in our liver! So yes it wasn’t made for us to eat all the time.. our ancestors did not store fruits nor did they have suppermarkets to run to. Even meats weren’t eaten daily. Berries and tons of veggies .. you can never over eat raw veggies. It cleans us out and detox s our body and renews all our cells ..
despite people’s ideas that cooked prepared foods are healthy it really isn’t the healthiest.. but technology has made this new generation ! Now try to undo it, smh. I’m just so glad that you wrote this about fruits because the words got to get out there! People need to do more research on what and how they are eating! Good health to all and hope that people put it to the test in their own diets to see the changes that happen!! It’s amazing!!! Thank you again for educating
I switched jobs awhile back and now I drive truck . Since it’s boring, snacking is huge . So I snack on raw veggies, nuts and fruit . Probably 5-7 pieces of fruit each day . I have been gaining a pound or two each month . I’ll need to cut back on fruit and add more veggies.
I’m beginning to think it’s the excessive fruits in my diet too
I started my diet with the shakes lost three stone then I started adding fruit to my diet and stopped loosen anymore weight and I was eating vast amounts over the now I know why I’m really angry about this ad all we got told was eating plenty of fruit but don’t get told what happens when you do.
I eat berries with Greek yoghurt for breakfast and at lunch time another 3 pieces of fruit (banana,mandarin pear, kiwi ) maybe another portion after dinner. I’ve been very bloated. I’ve recently cut out potatoes pasta bread cheese biscuit cake pastry and sugar in my tea and coffee. Only eating brown rice fish and vegetables. Still a bit bloated must be the fruit I think especially after reading this ????
Doesn’t the fibre content in the fruit void the sugar to some degree I know your buddy doesn’t have to work as hard on digesting the sugar cuz of it and it doesn’t store half the fat as if that fructose wasn’t accompanied by it. Calorie in isn’t always a calorie in 20 grams of fruit sugar isn’t nearly the same as 20 grams a processed sugar can you elaborate on this where I’m wrong cuz I train constantly and only eat fruit before 2 and as snack at night
Yes, fiber slows down how quickly your body digests your meal, and thus how quickly it absorbs sugar. Those who are more active and who maintain a health weight often have more wiggle room in their diet for carbs and thus fruit, since their bodies are more insulin sensitive. Hope that helps.
I’m addicted !!! Love all fruits and from reading this, I’m eating way more then I should. I eat fruit 3 to 4 times a day everyday. You’re right it does make me want more. It’s going to be really hard but now I know I have to cut way back. ????
So glad I came upon this. Now I know I’m eating way to much fruit. I love all fruit and eat a lot, 3 to 4 times every day. I just can’t stop, the more I eat the more I want. Didn’t think you could eat too much, after reading this now I know better and will have to try to control my intake. Not going to be easy ????
i think I can relate. Ever since starting a longterm diet for14 years I’ve been eating much more daily fruit. Since starting it I have had serious health problems one after another. From menstruation hemorraging to cancer and a cardiac arrest. It has also cost me a world of problems from loss of a good job, my livelihood, to a disconnect with seeing family. I’m starting to believe the main culprit was too much fruit eating. Since recently cutting way down on it, I’m starting already to notice better changes. I have been praying to figure out the culprit and I believe I have found it. From diarrhea to my stamina, dizziness and other symptoms that had me down and out. Your blog started me to be even more suspicious of fruit. Thank-you!!
Hi. Awesome website and blog. I see your reasoning but I cant agree. I’m a full on fruitarian and I’ve been healed of so many chronic issues, from dermatitis, asthma, sinus issues and the list goes on. Although a lot of this post is useful, it’s not true. I have studied the lymphatic system and a fruit-based diet is designed for our body. I suggest you follow Dr Robert Morse and Jon Stearns. You will be amazed at the benefits of living on a raw living diet that’s primarily fruit based. These are not theories. We are actual people implementing this for years. God bless sis and I hope this helps
It can be useful as detox for a short period of time,but most people experienced health issues if they continually eat Lots of fruit daily, some after weeks or months, some after many years,depence on how much fruit each person can tolerate. I have stories about people with great health living almost solely on fruit suddely getting a lot of health problems and disease, so in the end a balanced diet is definetly the best
I think I am eating too much fruit as I’m so bloated and it’s only recently that noticed I am as I’ve been eating a lot of fruit to lose weight from all the Christmas food that I ate. I have stomach cramps aswell again only noticed recently due to eating lot of fruit and I eat more than 2 or 3 portions of fruit.
Hi. Great article. I have been down the cancer track so have a whole Lemon every morning for the vitamin C, during the afternoon an apple to keep the doctor away and in the evening a Kiwi Fruit to help me in the mornings. I am also a veggyholic. But I do struggle to keep my weight down to 75kg. Am I eating too much fruit? I am 78. Trevor
2 pieces of fruit (plus a lemon, which has very low amounts of sugar) is perfectly healthy.
You didn’t mention that pectin acts as a cleaner for your intestinal tract, which may cause diarrhea in some people
You also said nothing about gut flora which has a huge effect on digestion. If your gut flora is bad enough for long enough it can cause problems with your small bowel. This includes “leaky gut” which can lead to all sorts of issues.
In general if you have poor gut flora then you can have all sorts of digestion troubles (and a lot of other issues too).
I used to eat a lot of fruit and never had a problem at all. When I had issues with reactive hypoglycemia (which went away when I went organic, how to freak out your endocrinologist) I kept apples in my pockets all the time. I never had any “trots” or bloating or anything.
Then I had a series of infections which required many courses of antibiotics. After this I got Fibro, CFS, etc. Now despite my ongoing work at rebuilding my gut flora with things like all organic kobucha, all organic naturally fermented veggies and Prescipt Assist (a soil based probiotic, as milk based probiotics cannot recolonize the gut. They only stick around about a week) with good results – I still have the trots when I eat fruits now days, and some fruits far more that others.
Plums, Apricots & other stone fruits run right on through me. I know my gut flora is still screwed up. I keep getting infections (the last one was a seriously dangerous Biliary tract infection – it took 2 weeks on 4 different antibiotics to keep it from killing me).
… and so there went my flora again…
Can a person get diabetes from eating too much fruit?
Hi,
After reading your post I believe I may be eating to much fruit. I have been very bloated recently. I work long hours and often get hungry so grab a piece of fruit. I eat up to 6 pieces a day. What could I eat instead? When I don’t eat I often get shakey working with children in a nursery I need a quick snack.
Thank you
Melissa
I have IBS D and have had for many many years. I to eat plenty of fruit. We were away on a cruise and I realised I wasn’t haven’t the usual problems. I then looked at the difference in food I was eating compared to at home. I realised I wasn’t eating much fruit. I’ve since cut out and been so much better. I am trying to introduce a bit of ‘safe’ fruit back what do you suggest grapes? I love them
Thanks for the great read.
I can relate to many points above. . I recently began a journey to loose weight believing I need to eat lots of fruit. Which I did and have been doing. Once reading this article I can now see I need to cut back.
Hi. For breakfast I have one banana, for strawberries sliced, hand ful of blueberries, almonds and 1/4 cup whole milk. That is around the fruit I eat. I do eat veggies 50 lbs. Thank u.
Thanks so much for the lesson… Sitting here eating a Barlett Pear and wondering if “there is such a thing as eating too much fruit”… Google it and your post popped up…
After reading your article I have to say that #1 is what I identified most… Even while munching more than halfway through my pear while reading, my stomach began grumbling and I started to feel bloated… it was my fourth fruit today…
I have drastically changed my diet… past three weeks… cut out all junk food and processed carbs ….
This morning I had a banana… at break time I had 1oz of raisins with my oatmeal/ at lunch I had plum and at 3pm break I had a pear. And now, as i’m typing, I feel my eyes getting heavy which is often a sign of my blood sugar dropping… wow… even when you try and do the right things in your diet there another ‘fly-n-the oinment’… Anyway, thanks for the info… I will make some additional changes in my diet going forward…
Oh… your suggested fruit pear’ng…(pun 🙂 apples/peanut butter, peach/almonds, and berries/yogurt … is this according to your own tastes or is there a specific purpose for these combinations? I myself like banana/peanut butter…
I eat a medium size container filled with Orange .. purple grapes .. strawberries.. blue berries..
Watermelon everyday at 10am for morning tea is this a more bad or good thing?
I am so glad that I found your website. Unfortunately I found it a little bit too late and I have ingested way over my fair share of fruits. I am constantly bloated, I cannot stop eating, I crave sugar all the time, I am gaining weight, and its overall made me hate fruit but I cannot stop eating it. What do you suggest that I do? I have tried to start my mornings with hot lemon water and drink green tea later during the day , Ive started to eat chobani Greek yogurt — plain of course. Am I supposed to cut out fruit completely from my diet until I feel less bloated? I really want to lose these 10 pounds and I’ve been working out like crazy, I get over 20,000 steps in a day— running, walking, playing basketball—nothing seems to work, please help!!
i think im eating too much fruit, sometimes i eat up to 3 clementines and an apple a day, if not something of that sort, but at least 2 fruits per day. Orange, apple and clementines are my main, i just don’t understand how much is too much and if i shouldnt be eating that much then to what do i switch it too ? i want to lose weight not gain it.
Very interesting read. Suffering from bloating and stomach cramps, I’ve recognized I’m eating a lot of fruit which could be the cause of the symptoms. Will reduce intake and see what happens.
I love fruit – I could live on fruit! But this year, I decided to give WW a try and lucky for me, I could eat all the fruit I wanted!!!! And I did! A lot of foods I eat are not high in calories, I like to use MFP, but they have points in WW. Except for fruit! So for 5-6 Weeks I used the WW advise and rules! I lost weight, but only 3-4 lbs in the first 4 weeks!
I decided to compare WW to calories, and I was able to stay in the 1300-1500 range. Not enough to lose much weight, but with my exercising I do, I did lose one lb a week, but I did eat 2-3 c of fruit a day! That sure adds up calories, and MFP tells me I’m over my sugar amount everyday!
The last few days I’ve been having pains in my stomach, especially at night. It’s horrible to have that at night, so I looked this up here – and you explained, very well, thank you, what I’ve been doing wrong! I’m going to try to stay at 1 cup a day. But I bet I’ll hit 2 a few times. Hopefully that stomach aching will go away! If you have any other advice for me, I’d really appreciate it!
I’m doing Pilates too – I wish I could stretch and hold legs up better, like a
I did a “few” years ago! But it is helping stretch out muscles I don’t use enough these days! Thank you!
I work night shift and normally have a punnet of easy peal oranges, I have half the punnet with my half sandwich which is ham Chinese leaf and seed sensation bread, sometimes it feels like I crash for energy after eating, should I be eating less fruit?
Yup. On vacation. Drank 2.5 fresh mango smoothies yesterday. Woke up nauseous, bloating and had diarrhea this morning. Lesson learned. Definitely eating rice today.
Very interesting
Number one bloated and number three not able to lose weight
This article is spot on for me! Although I am very, very active and not overweight at all I struggle with cravings and constantly being hungry. Eating more than a couple of servings of fruit per day sends my sugar cravings through the roof! I did a 7 day total sugar detox (I even cut out sweet potatoes!) and it opened my eyes. My appetite stabilized and my cravings were reduced in a huge way.
As a vegan I can easily eat 4 bananas in one sitting, but that will never happen again.
I do blend 1/2 of a banana in my whole-foods based protein shake in the morning, but it’s full of fatty coconut cream and pea protein so it doesn’t send my blood sugar skyrocketing. Thanks for putting this together!
This IS literally a GODSEND to read right now!!!!! I got on the scale this morning hoping to see the numbers change. I have been eating excellent, maintaining about a 1500 calorie day with nuts, greens, salmon, chicken, veggies, aaaaand FRUIT! I usually have more than I probably pay attention to with additions to my cereal and snacking clementine while jogging the 5 mile Prairie I do everyday (did I mention EVERY DAY ha ha) aaaaaaand so when I get on the scale and I see NOOOOOOO budge on the scale? I was discouraged and perplexed and deciding about whether to just go and get a whole pizza to chomp on and drown my sorrows on that sad sight (although at this point I would pay for that choice….my stomach now cannot digest anything packaged or digested).
Soooooo the only thing that I could question was the fruit intake because I know it is a lot and I’m not too educated on the carbs/insulin production. Although for me, I am insulin resistant and actually take Metformin each day so I have no idea what bearing that has on my body and the fruit intake. I know I drink coffee and a lot of tea to get my energy levels up there to go to the Konza Prairie to jog that 5 mile trail that has tedious inclines and is a joyful workout that gives me a well rounded addition to my healthy lifestyle. I just can’t believe that the scale hasn’t budged in 2 weeks! I should have lost at least 4 or 5 pounds by now!!! My older sister said my body can’t sustain me biking 30 miles (which I also do) on 1500 calories because my thyroid will go haywire. I guess I’m scared to know what I’m doing to my body when I’m thinking I’m doing everything right with plenty of fruit and veggies!!
But thank you so so much for this read! I KNOW that I solved at least one of my main issues! I need to cut it out to just the small handful of blue berries that I keep for my noosa yogurt or cottage cheese ????
Thank you again! Any feedback will be much appreciated ❤️
Lily, thanks for an informative article. It’s number 3 for me. I am eating well over what I should at every meal and slowly have put in weight. Better re organise my diet.
Wow this article spoke to me. I absolutely loved it . Very well written. I’ll be honest, I hardly ever read long articles but This one grabbed me. Thank You ????????
Do not have problems 1-5.
Been told “eat fruit alone or leave it alone”. Combining rules.
Not true? Really interested because I feel the need for fat with it, nuts or cream.
Eat3-;5 servings a day.restrict to low sugar fruits. Am I ok?
70, 5 2, 105 lbs.,woman. Rest of diet mostly veggies and all the good stuff. But do well on higher fruit than most this ok?
I’m like addicted to fruit i can’t get away from it especially in summer all the nectarines, peaches, berry’s , mangos and ect i just don’t know how to get away from them i pretty much switched the fruit and vegetables servings 5 fruit 2 vegetables it works for me but i can’t get all the energy from the fruits out of my body cause i don’t do a lot of exercise. Beats me though i love fruit
I am dealing with being bloated to the point that my period cramps keep me in bed sleeping all day! I also deal with diarrhea every 3-4 days.
I recently joined weight watchers and Fruits and Veggies are free points. And fruits are easier to keep on the car because I am a dog walker and have to drive all over Madison WI.
Any suggestions on ways to keep veggies and dip cool in the car when it’s 80* outside? Or other good recipes for the car in the summer?
Hello!
Oh my! I know I have been consuming too much fruit . I drink a smoothie every night packed with 2 cups of frozen strawberries, one banana, half of an avocado, 1/2 cup of vanilla yogurt, and about a cup and 1/2 of pineapple. I drank one every night as a meal replacement for the past year. My husband, who is into eating well and exercising has been telling me how unhealthy my smoothies are for a long time. I thought he was wrong but now understand that it was me who was dead wrong. Thank you for this information.
Wow I never gave it a thought about eating too much fruit but reading this I understand now why I feel bloated and even when I’ve been to the toilet I never fell completely empty ( sorry) . I eat loads of fruit a day ,apple,pears, oranges,grapes,pears etc. I will definitely cut my fruit down . Thank you
I’m very fortunate to have found your information on toooo much fruit intake. After 4 months of being hooked on a daily “fruit” smoothie, I have developed a rash on my upper chest. I’m not sure the smoothie is the cause, but I am stopping the fruit smoothie for awhile to see if that is the cause. Here was my fruit mixture ( done in a blender): Almond milk, 1 banana, 1 apple, 1 cup frozen blueberries, a few strawberries, and half of a pear. Oh, and I would put honey on my morning cereal. After reading your article, that is way tooooo much fructose. I wished I had researched this 4 months ago.
Although your intentions are good, and I did enjoy reading your article. I think you should preface your thoughts as just that, unsubstantiated thoughts. Although some of your article is backed up by “science” you use it to fit a personal narrative that is slightly misleading. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe you are basing this on the review published in “Nutrition,” where researchers at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland said that when fructose is consumed in excessive amounts as part of a high calorie diet, can contribute to development of metabolic syndrome. Which agains is a very misleading statement. I can explain more offline as I’m not here to bash you in any way. Just to give people an alternative opinion also based in science and experience. All the best TEAM FRUIT
Hi, I’ve had a problem with rating wayyyy too much fruit because I crave fruit all the time. I eat nothing but healthy food so I’ve always thought you can’t eat too much fruit. In a day I’ll eat 10-14 apples, and a huge bowl of grapes. I thought this was fine but after reading this I know it isn’t. It’s just so hard for me to stop eating fruit because I crave it all the time and I’m always hungry so fruit is an easy go-to for me. I need help to stop eating all this fruit, do you have any suggestions?
Hi Lilly!
Thank you so much for your article! It was very informative and has answered a few questions for me. I have been vegan for a few years now but this last year or so i have been drifting more and more towards fruit as my staple diet. Your article has been very good in explaining to me what is going on inside my tummy as i have been having more and more difficulties recently and now i think i know the culpret! I will be downloading your ebook and trying a few of the recepies! Thank you again for the article!
I have every sign that I’m eating too much fruit… Glad I read this….
I need to know the healthiest way to eat a high alkaline diet with the right combination of fruits veggies and nuts. .. I started this diet because I read where it helps my Adderall absorb better… I was eating and drinking all the wrong stuff and could not get the full benefits of my med.. when I first started all the fruits high in akaline, I felt the med work better and longer but now… not so much and I’m tired more.. I want to eventually cut out the med and rely on my food and vitamin to help energy and add…. any suggestions
I just ate 3 very ripe banana and an apple. I would have had more but that was all that was in the house! LOL
I decided to go ‘low carb’ about 6 weeks ago. For me that meant no bread or crackers beyond 1 thin slice of “Dave’s Killer” whole grain bread for breakfast. It also meant no pizza crust & no potatoes or high carb fruits (apricots & my beloved bananas, etc.)
I’ve never had much of a taste for meat, so I’m not filling the gaps with steak. I have grilled chicken breast a few times a week & thinly sliced turkey breast once in a while.
Mostly I have an appetite for nuts, berries + greek yogurt, watermelon, guacamole, cheese & olives. (I do celery sticks & broccoli with hummus, too.)
I didn’t need to lose a lot of weight – I mainly wanted to stem a slow weight gain. It worked well for me. I lost a few pounds in the first few weeks & about 2 inches in my waist.
The biggest surprise is I feel satiated on much less food. The high protein, high fat foods I’m eating really stick with me, too. I also don’t feel bloated anymore. (I think all the afternoon snack crackers were doing that.)
I do eat a lot of watermelon – 3-4 cups when I’m in the mood – & it serves as a light meal.
I’ve been very happy with my new lifestyle & at 68 it’s nice to be able to eat the foods I enjoy & still keep my ‘girlish’ figure.
ps – thanks for your great article!
I eat fruit all day and a meal in tbr evening.
I feel fine no problems, just today I started cramping after eating a bowl of mix fruit.
Oh wow this is me! I’m doing slimming world and am struggling to lose more than ½lb a week and I couldn’t figure out why! In SW it is advised to go to fruits as the snack item and I eat so many apples – at least 3 in the evening and as this is a ‘speed’ food I thought I was doing myself a favour but after reading this I’m going to try a week with having veggie-based snacks instead like baby corn, baby sweet peppers and when I was a kid I LOVED getting unshelled fresh peas and sitting, popping them out of their shells and eating them so I’ll be trying those again later!
I cannot tell you how disappointed I am that you are right. All 5 reasons that you listed apply to me. As a matter of fact, I just joined the gym and the personal trainer told me that I was eating too much fruit in a day, thus, having too much sugar. It is really hard for me to get used to this idea of cutting down on fruits, but after reading your post, and having the words of the personal trainer echo in my ears, I must and I will. Thank you for such enlightening information – one that I had heard before but one that has just reinforced what I was told before.
I am vegan and eat very very little refined sugar in any form but I do eat a lot of fruit as my first meal of the day… Probably at least six or more fruits. I have been told I am pre-diabetic and I do have a ton of bloating so I have been wondering if the fruit is causing those two issues and I am finding different answers online about how much fruit is okay to eat ranging from eat just two a day to eat all you want….
I am having diarrhea especially after eating bing cherries. We have an abundance of raspberries, blueberries, rhubarb and bing cherries. Apples,plums and pears are ripening. And I have irritable bowel syndrome. Oh darn. Thanks for the article. I am not going to be “hating” you any time soon. I am going to check with my doctor who will say that same thing I’m sure. Stop with the fruit.
Today I bought a kilo of fresh ripe apricots. As I have type 2 diabetes I searched for benefits of eating apricots. I already had eaten about half a kilo in addition to 2 peaches and some melon. None of the health-websites or blogs suggested it is bad to eat too many apricots. It is really described as a heavenly fruit with up to 21 fantastic benefits. But i searched more and saw your article. Though I think people are different and so cope or react differently and eating fruit must been taken in the bigger picture of the whole diet, exercises and style of life and eating habits ( as Mediterraneans we eat much more fruit liberally) , still your explanations are useful and I will definitely cut back my fruit portions plus more veg and exercise,
Hello!
I’m vegan and I hardly eat any refined sugars but I eat tons of fruit in the morning and I feel great! I guess every body Is different. My children eat tons and tons of fruits with greens and the doctor has told me that they are in good health. In my family we love fruits but we also combine it with greens. I have never had a problem with fruit so far and thankfully I don’t crave sugary stuff.
Just came across your site whilst looking up blackberry benefits. Your site is great. Very pertinant comments and so helpful. I have just made 500grms of blackberries into a smoothie. How much do u suggest i drink a day? I do drink other fruit smoothies including veg and eat lots of nuts too. As i have had heart attacks and and am in poor health i am trying to benefit my cardiovascular system. I am 64.
In the morning I have a cup of coffee and a cup of apple juice, (not processed).
An hour later I have 2 cups of blueberries, (whole and raw)
1 whole peach, (Raw)
and 12 cherries, (Raw)
Then I go for a 3.4 KM walk around the track.
Is this too much fruit to eat per day?
So glad I came across this page! I feel like I’ve been eating a lot of fruit since I started my diet (I am on herbalife, so 2 shakes a day and I have mostly fruit as my last meal). I was worried I was eating too much but it looks just right as I have not exhibited any of the digestive symptoms. Now I know what too look for just in case. Thank you!
Lol thanks for these insightful comments. I’m craving more fruit and now I know I’m over doing it especially with my portions. I love veggies too but fruit is my weakness . I’ve been trying to eat healthier and I see much improvement in the way I feel and weight, but was concerned about my fruit intake .
I recently had a blood test and found that my total cholesterol had gone up to over 7 whereas a year ago it was 5.4. My good cholesterol had dipped to under 1.0. I have been eating much more fruit than I used to and wonder if this could be the reason because of all the sugar. They said that this often happens when people switch to what they think is a healthy diet.
Haha it’s funny to think that people actually believe this crap. It’s not funny however that you go around calling yourself a nutritionist as it’s clear from your article that you have no idea how the human body works.
Your only redeeming point was about whole fruit being superior to juice due to the fibre. 2 apples a day as a maximum however, you need to go back to wherever you obtained your ‘nutritionist’ qualification that made you believe carbohydrates hinder weight loss.
To the people worried if they’re eating too much, ask yourself 2 questions; why do humans have hands like the great apes and not hoofs or paws like herbivores and carnivores respectively? To pick fruit?
Why do junk food companies make the packets of sweets with bright reds and oranges? To spot ripe fruit?
A chimp eats 60% fruit in their diet and they are perfectly healthy in the wild and we share 97% of their DNA. So whatever your diet choice, I highly doubt you’re eating anywhere near enough fruit for it to be problem.
Hi I drink lots of hot water with lemon, as well as loads of fruit! I will cut fruit right down as doing intermittent fasting with what I Thought a really healthy diet but not losing any weight. I exercise at least twice a day too (swim and gym) plus walking 7 miles. As I said I am going to cut down to 2 portions a day but should I cut down on lemon in water?
hell, I identify with all of them except the juice/smoothie one. Thank you; will try something else.
Yes , I munch on fruit all day!! No wonder I’m constipated always and can never lose weight!! I bike, drink lots of water, and make everything homemade, but can’t lose!! This makes a whole lot of sense!! I always blame it on meds or age!! I’ll be changing my diet!!
My situation exactly Anonymous! Lily may have changed our lives…
Hi Lily,
I think you just solved my biggest mystery!! i am constantly bloated, a painful bloat, and I eat on average two apples a day, a cup of fruit for breakfast and more fruit after work. I don’t eat junk food or much sugar and I exercise daily. I could not figure out for the life of me why I’m bloated all day every single day! I’m going to cut back on my fruit and see if this makes all the difference. Thank you!
Very helpful. Thanks. I am a fruitaholic. Normal workday includes about a half cup blueberries on oatmeal, smoothie for lunch with banana, strawberries, POM juice, chia seeds and fat free yogurt. And sometimes also an apple as a snack. Sounds like I should cut back. Healthy but really do feel bloated and having trouble losing weight.
Hi Lily,
Your words of wisdom have really helped open my eyes!! I’ve reached a point in my diet where I am struggling to loose weight, I have cut out all of the rubbish from my diet, but I eat probably around 5 portions of fruit a day (I’ve always taken the calories into account but never really thought too much about the sugar content!).
Going to try and swap out some of the fruit I have for vegetables or something similar – if you have any hints on what I could use as a substitute that would be great.
Thanks!!!
I’ve been trying to tell my sister
I’ve been trying to tell my sister she is eating too many strawberries. She consumes at least a quart per day and is having very bad diarrhea. She also eats a lot of ice cream. She doesn’t believe her diet choices are to blame. I’m going to share your article with her. Thank you!
Lily….thank you for this. I LOVE summer fruits and eat mango, paw paw, banana, passionfruit, blueberries, sometimes nectarine and peach. Sometimes a huge bowl of the lot. Consequently I have a marvellous reaction as I also have IBS. Disastrous ! Doctor has told me a fructose overload. Happens mostly all the time but sometimes I can get away with it. Also I eat about 10 veggies smashed together down to one serving which I freeze into separate containers so there’s a good variety but I can manage that every night. It’s the fruit AFTER that that does the damage.
Again many thanks for very clear explanation.
Glenda.
I definitely eat to much, think I’m addictive to fruit
Hi Lily. My son has been taking Juice Plus for about 1 and 1/2 months now and since then he’s been burping constantly, and even had to go to the E.R. with excruciating pain in his upper abdomen and middle back. Do you think J.P. is causing this. The product says that they take out the carbs. They are in pill form. He is also taking Omega 3 in pill form.
Having been to the Gastric Clinic this week with all of the symptoms in your article, it was discussed at the Clinic whether I was eating too much fruit, veg and salad. Already being a coeliac, it is difficult to know what to eat and I am being referred to a dietician. Your article has been very helpful in confirming what we already thought.
I don’t really eat much fruit at home and I don’t have any problems, but being in hospital for the last 2-3 weeks we have fruit with our meals, and due to thirst another apple or orange. Also we have fruit purees. Over the last couple of days I have had severe bloating and pain, so maybe eating maybe 3x the amount of fruit I normally have has caused the symptoms described. Thank you for your imput very helpful.
Beautiful article and really nice website, Lily!
Hi lily,
I totally agree with everything you have said. I believe as a culture we are eating and feed out children way too much fruit. I look after lots of children and the ones who eat a lot of so called healthy food are overweight and often ill whereas the ones who eat more normal type meals with lots of protein, carbs and veggies are healthy and slim and also not so hyper either. On a side note I don’t have Ibs but have ibd (crohns and colitis) and strictures in my small intestine and no large intestine at all. I would love to be able to eat some fruit or veg but struggle with anything. I wondered if you knew which things if any I could try. Maybe there are fruits and vegetables with a very low fibre level?
Thanks
Lillie
The more fruit I consume the better I seem to do. I will add to my diet greens and protein a few times during the week but I truly benefit from fruit. I find that mixing fruit with other foods tends to bloat me. Especially dairy. I can’t do yogurt or milk with any fruit whatsoever. But by themselves no problem at all. I can’t do smoothies however, they can bloat as well whether its fruit or greens. But chopped or sliced in a bowl over a few days and I’m doing really well. It took me most of my life to realize how bad I was feeling from eating the other carbs like bread and rice etc. Is this a situation of how everybody is different and/or how our make up is different. I find that I can’t even eat spinach. Tendancy to bloat and a feeling of wanting to up chuck. I must say lily you look healthy(cute too) so what your suggesting sure does you justice. The diet topic is in my mind one of the most confusing and controversial hings I’ve ever had to deal with in my life. I appreciate the hashing and brainstorming that goes on. Thanks lily.
thanks,ive joined slimming world and have eaten sooo much fruit. last night i was so bloated and very gassy.today ate more fruit and actually feel sick. im also type 2 diabetic,just didnt realize how bad this was for me. i was believing i would wake up and see the benefits instead i feel fatter. i will definately cut back on the amount.thank you.very helpful xxx
Hi Lily. This article was so informative. It actually scared me a bit because I live in the Caribbean and we have so many species of mangoes. I have been eating so many per day. I realize the more I eat the more I want until I became full. I do IF and had been losing weight until I started my mango binge thinking it was a healthy thing to do until I noticed the pounds creeping back on. Thank you for your candor and factual information. I would definitely reduce my intake based on this information.
I disagree with this article in many ways. I eat 3-5 (sometimes more) servings of fruit per day and it has helped me enormously during my weight loss journey. 6 months ago I was about 55 pounds heavier and replacing junk food with fruit has helped keep me full and satisfied. It is an awesome snack and since overhauling my diet by eating more fruit instead of junk food as well as eating Non-processed foods my digestive issues have almost completely disappeared. Maybe others have noticed different reactions by high fruit consumption but I’m going to keep eating tons of fruit!! 🙂
I have been overdoing all the dark fruits for months This might be why very soon after eating them (unless with a natural organic porride oats) I get warm and I itch.
I will sart to go easy and take up the tip about combiing the fruit with a fat of some kind I do not need to diets as I am right for my hight and age Thank You
Someone else told me this years ago, and it changed my life. You just hear “fruit and veggies are good” for much of your childhood and no one tells you that even good things should be moderated! Now I only eat 2 servings of fruit per day, usually one with breakfast and one as a snack, along with a protein/fat like peanut butter or nuts or an egg or something. It’s made me feel far less bloated and helped me slim down a bit, just with that small change! (I was eating tons of fruit and smoothies before… like a fruit with every meal, a smoothie for breakfast, fruit for snacks, it was too much.) I also mostly avoid bananas and melons except for a little treat. This is all thanks to my mother’s nutritionist’s advice to her, and it’s working for me too! I wish this was more widespread knowledge.
Thanks for this article!
Absolutely enjoy fruit but just like any sweet do so as a treat especially if you have digestive and sugar sensitivity like I do! I stick to blueberries which I add with walnuts to my organic oatmeal on a daily basis. The rest of the day I load up on vegetables, nuts, seeds and some protein. It is struggle to stay focused on what works for me even though I wish I could eat more goodies!!
And not over do!
Hi
Yesterday I ate a whole red grapefruit followed by cereal with fresh strawberries for breakfast as I always do. Later in the day I ate about 30 big cherries cos I love them. However I woke up 3 times in the night for a poop and have been going every few hours this morning. Could it be the fruit. .?
So i went to china, and ate a TON of fruit, and i feel sick….which is probably the fruit, but could be something else. It’s likely the fruit because i Haven’t eaten anything risky. Ex: multiple dragon fruits,or half of a watermelon, etc a day or more
In all honesty, I see the truth in this article, but only when contrasted against the other factors that could possibly be playing a role here.
Let’s not forget, the type of fruit you eat together is just as important as anything. Mixing the wrong fruits, or even mixing fruits with veggies can cause some undesirable effects on your body.
Meat, as well. If your eating meat, even dairy, and other foods that are just not good for the vitality of a human, you can’t expect the fruit to do the work it needs to. Even the level of hydration someone is at can have a terrible impact on your digestion and overall ability to do anything properly.
Nonetheless, we are all very different in bodily functions. For me, the fruit does wonders on my body in every aspect and is definitely a super strong healer and hydration tool.
Much love.
I want to know is fruit really bad for u I usually eat like 3 or 4 apples a day is that bad will I get fat someone plz answer
What do you say about Dr. Fuhrman’s ideology? His books say to eat AT LEAST 4 servings of fruit/day, but that there really is no limit. He says the same about non-starchy vegetables as well.
I was wondering why weren’t I losing weight and this article answered my question. #1 AND #3 spoke to me! So, thanks for such an excellent article. I know now to cut my fruit by half at least. I can’t wait to see and feel the difference.
Wow, this really speaks to me.
Can excess fruit also cause loss of appetite?
This is a testimonial:
Yes, this information was really helpful.
I had what drs. described as ABS, and other stomach issues for over 40 yrs. .I decided to go SMOOTHIE. I started with Mango and bananas. onto Kale and spinach, added to the same mix. Experimenting on flavors, like pear and peaches.
Yet , I did consume quite a few bananas and mangos, I lost weight and the bloating. The symptoms of ABS disappeared.
All in 3 weeks of starting the smoothies.
I don’t know how much weight I’ve lost, but my clothes are swimming on me.
Now, that I’ve read the article, I will cut back on bananas and add more veggies.
I must add, I only use water and protein powders. No dairy.
I hope this info. is helpful to someone else.
No More IBS…
I just moved back to the states from a few years in the Caribbean and I’ve been going hog-wild for all the stone fruits I couldn’t get in the tropics (not that mango, passion fruit, guava, and papaya are all that bad). And I’ve been scratching my head why I bloat up a pants size by midday, at which point I’ve already had 2-3 servings of of cherries, plums, peaches, and/or nectarines. It’s a scarcity motivator—I know their season will end soon so I must dive in now. Meanwhile, all I want to wear are elastic waistbands.
I have been eating between 4 & 7 pcs. Of fruit every evening for some time now. I do recognize that the hunger pangs or a desire for a cookie is there an hour after the fruit. No digestive problems, still losing weight, have good bowel movements. I do this thinking I would lose more weight and it is healthier. Your article is very interesting…
Everyone of your comments are true for me, I’ve started eating lots of fruits in my diet but am constantly bloated and not losing weight
Huh, that’s interesting. I’m 33, 5’5, and only weigh 99 lbs. The majority of my diet consists of fruit (maybe 75%?). Mostly strawberries, kiwis including Sungold kiwis, grapes, pineapple, oranges, watermelon, bananas, blueberries, blackberries, well, basically I love all fruit, except cantaloupe and raspberries, lol. Anyways, I’m not exactly a healthy eater per say, I’ve never dieted in my life, and have always ate whatever sounds good. Fast food, chocolate, pretty much any sweet, you name it, but luckily, I also love healthy food like fruit, veggies, salmon, avocados, sweet potatoes, etc. and eat them as often as I can, just because I think they’re delicious. I don’t exorcise like I should or drink water like I should (or practically at all), which I often wonder if that’s the reason I crave fruits all day, everyday, and am currently trying to work on drinking more water. But no matter what I eat, I cannot gain weight for the life of me! I’ve been underweight for at least a few years, and am wanting to see a doctor or a nutritionist, but need to get my insurance straightened out first. Thoughts? Thanks for reading this! Sincerely, Angela Miller
I recently went from a 8 oz berry smoothie to a 32 oz berry smoothie per day and my body is reacting in very strange way. When I am finished eating my smoothie I start sneezing. Watery eyes and runny nose that last about 3-4 days. Crazy, I was doubtful that a berry smoothie, although very large, could cause these symptoms so I stopped and went back to my 8 oz smoothie and I no longer have this issue. Who would of thought, I never had any allergies to fruit before, but I guess in such large quantity, my body was telling me to knock it off.
It’s amazing how many people will tell you it’s ok to eat fruit as much as you want. The fiber slows the absorption, they say. Meanwhile I’m downing apples, oranges and bananas almost all day long and start wondering there really must be something not so healthy about it, and here we are.
Here’s to trying to get more greens instead.
Cheers
Holy bloaty,
This was a MAJOR wake up call.
Wait? I want to eat more fruit when I’m eating fruit.
Hold up? This is why I want to cut a slit in my stomach and let the air out like a balloon?
holy crap?? So this is why my man doesn’t want to sleep in the same bed same bed as me afternoon I’ve eaten a bucket of fruit?? (flatulence. )
Wait UP!? a serving should ONLY be 1/2 a cup!?
ANSWERS TO EVERYTHING ON THIS ARTICLE YOU’VE MAPPED OUT FOR US!
Thank you so much, I don’t know why I didn’t google these specifics before. Knowing how’s BADLY I sometimes would feel. Yes I knew about how high the sugars could be, but after reading all this information, I was basically clueless. (As if!)
Ok I’m done.
Thank you so much again!
There were so many grammatical errors in my last comment! *facealm*
My apologies!
Came across this when I googled ‘can you eat too much fruit’ apart from smoothies I can identify with every point and the link to cereal for breakfast! Thanks for explaining it all so well
Hi Lily
This definitely sounds like me. I’m always on one diet another trying to lose weight and get through a lot of fruit (as diets direct) – I suffer from frequent diarrhoea and wind with energy plummeting an hour or so after I eat. Am going to cut out fruit altogether for a bit to see how that goes. Thanks for explaining it so clearly 🙂
I came across the article and thought I would comment. I’m a 49 year old male in pretty good health – I’m not currently on any meds, eat a pretty balanced die, have a normal BMI, and exercise most days. However, I have been noticing I have been getting diarrhea lately. I guess it’s likely due to the fact that since it’s summer I’ve been eating a Peach, Nectarine and Apple every day. I eat vegetables as well, but do love fruit – especially the summer ones. Guess should cut out one of the fruits eh?
I’ve adopted a very healthy lifestyle in the last 6 months. I work out everyday and weigh everything I eat. My caloric breakdown is 40% carbs, 30% fat, and 30% protein. I’ve lost 60 lb and my body fat is below 10%. I was doing great and felt great until the last few weeks. I bought a Vitamix 2 months ago and have gone overboard with the smoothies. My carbohydrate intake has steadily shifted away from vegetables, quinoa and brown rice. I finally realized what has been causing my fatigue. I’m going to cut back on the fruit. Thanks for the info.
Ok so after reading this I’m realizing I’m probs a fruit addict…. It’s I’ve half my diet and I certainly exceed in enormous ways the recommended amount . I’d always eat them because I found that they were the only things that could quench this undying “thirst” I have, however now I’m realizing that it’s possible that the more fruits I’ve had, the more dependent I’ve become. So, hopefully by laying low in the fruit and trying to eat more vegetables I’ll be less dehydrated… let’s see what happens .-.
stomach bloat and pain, and headache
Thanks Lily, you rock ! I have tried to go vegan, and it never worked for me. When I eat a big fruit meal, I get bloated very quickly and it lasts for a few hours. Not painful…but uncomfortable. I feel the need to eat some fruit meals just to clean myself out though. It’s tricky finding the right amount of everything. Blessings.
Thank you for this post. I always felt at my best when I have 2 servings of fruits a day. This post affirms that it is perfectly fine to just have 2 servings of fruits and not feel guilty that I am unable to have more. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
Hi
It is rather strange with me because I asked my personal trainer the day before Christmas how many kgs he thought I weighed.
He said 60 kg and I fit in size small or 10 top and 12 lower body. I have not been 60 kg for a very long time.
I weigh min 75 kg.
My basic food was fruit. Until I read your advice here.
I got the wrong message.
I usually had fruit for breakfast and eat some lunch.
I don’t eat much and I have a down to earth diet but not organic.
I look 60 to 65 kg but I do feel heavy. I feel my weight.
I’ve been trying to lose weight for very long time. My weight is stuck at 75. I did intermittent fasting from dinner 12 to 14 hours without food or water.
My weight was getting close to 80 kg so I stopped that.
I am so happy I found this article by asking google
could I be eating too much fruit.
It all makes sense.
My New Year resolution is to lose 11 kg.
You may be my saviour.
I started this 1 Ian. 21
Thank you so much
God bless you
Happy New Year
I love what I learned from your site today.
My due date is Aug 18. I’ve been conscientious about carbs, trying to avoid GDM, since pre-pregnancy. I’m wondering how I’m gonna handle my last trimester in the throws of fruit season here in southern California. Pray for me
If you have Real Food for Gestational Diabetes, it explains how to balance your macronutrients to avoid blood sugar spikes. Fruit doesn’t necessarily need to be cut out, just needs to be consumed in portions that work for your unique carbohydrate tolerance.
Hi Lily,
I’ve developed digestion problems and mild constipation after drinking a flavoured probiotic yoghurt drink and a tall glass of pure orange juice daily for over a year to try to get my cholesterol level down (it’s elevated due to pre-clinical hypothyroidism) but I’ve piled on 2 stones and don’t currently feel well at all. As a 95% vegetarian, I’ve always eaten lots of fruit and vegetables and loads of fibre from my diet but I’m realizing the yoghurts and juice are probably the culprit for my digestion problems and weight gain and have stopped both. Thank you for highlighting that I probably eat way too much fruit as well!!
Totally agree about the fruit.
And that’s coming from a fruit-o-holic.
After I’ve cut all the bad food choices I was still gaining weight. As soon as I cut the fruits my constant appetite/hunger disappeared.
I may feel that my guts are empty, but have no desire to eat. I still have an appetite to eat 3 times per day and still have a need for meat or eggs in small amounts.
It takes a few days to get set in this condition after the fruit is cut completely (or eating a bite or two with the meal only).
There were other significant health benefits as well.
Wow! I’m glad I found you. I eat a huge bowl of fruit a day. I have a banana, orange during day and bowl of grapes, strawberries, kiwi. Today for example I had banana, blackberries with porridge. Tea time I had a big bowl, grapes, kiwi fruit, orange, 3 strawberries.
I’ve been doing this for years. I’m 54, 15st, 6ft 2″ slender, I don’t put weight in my legs, arms other than a bloated stomach. I eat chicken, fish only drink water. Don’t exercise as I should but youthful looking.
But only my belly looks bloated like a pregnant woman. When I read your take on fruit I think it is that. It’s causing this belly fat. Too much sugar from fruit and irritating my digestion system. Going to have to print this page.
Wow! Wondered why i wasn’t losing weight! I eat so much fruit, which i thought was a good thing!
I found your tips very interesting, it has made me think about the amount of fruit I eat as I have , banana, strawberries in my breakfast, then lunch I have strawberries, grapes (red and green) and sometimes kewi, but I also have a few when making my lunch up at night for the nxt day , so I think now I will be eating less fruit
You’re right about different amounts being right for different people. We eat a rotating assortment of fruit (which always includes avocado) in the morning. It seems like the amount of fruit that barely kickstarts hubby’s system gives me diarrhea an hour later. Could I control the diarrhea by keeping the amount of avocado the same (just enough to make avocado toast), cut the fruit mixture in half and add half a banana to it? Also, he thinks slightly underripe fruit is better to start his system moving – would that be part of my diarrhea problem too?
I was tolled a story by a teacher,
he said he tried a fruit ONLY detox diet for 3 months,
and because he felt so amazing he stayed on the diet,
he kept it up for 2 years, and then got chronically sick,
doctors did a blood test,
doctors said he had a very high buildup toxin caused by eating to much fruit. tolled him not to eat fruit again for 12 months, as almost all fruit except cooked pears contain this toxin.
(but can’t remember what the toxin was called)
I had a mini stroke 3 weeks ago but i am really fine . I was never a fruit or veg lover but because of my stroke i started eating lots and lots of fruit and veg only because i think it will make me healthier . However today i took a right scunner to the fruit i was going to eat and had to forego eating any same went for the nuts i.ve been eating as well . My stomach doesnt feel right and i am full of wind . In fact going to eat the fruit today made me actually feel sick . What if any is the solution
Hi Lily
I came across your message seeking some help to understand why I react so strongly to fruit I can eat a banana and berries in the morning with my breakfast but a mid afternoon pear makes me uncomfortably hot. Like an all over hot flush. I can no longer tolerate any sugar what so ever but hoped fruit would still be my friend. Alas no.
Any advice would be so welcome please.
You failed to mention that one of the reasons people feel bloated from fruit is also because of pesticides. My family eats a lot of fruit and in the past we didn’t get bloating like we do nowadays and apparently it is because many farmers use a ton of pesticides on fruit (cherries and grapes for example, get sprayed on many times, even in the flowering stage). Washing fruit before eating helps only marginally, as the pesticides are inside the fruit itself. When I had the opportunity eat fruit that had been treated with very little pesticide, there was no bloating. Though, you might encounter worms 😉
I’ve been trying to lose weight lately. So, even though my friends can’t believe it, I’ve given up chocolate and candy (I have an ENTIRE cabinet called “Cheryl’s Candy Cabinet” LOL). Since giving up the candy and chocolate, I’ve started making smoothies. I probably drink at least 3 Venti (Starbuck’s large size). This is what I put in my smoothies: strawberries (I go through a 5 lb bag about every 2-3 days) pineapple (use a 3 lb bag every 2-3 days), pineapple juice, sometimes kiwi, honey, flax seed, coconut flakes (unsweetened), some sort of protein (like almost butter). I’ve been doing this for over a week now. Today is the first day my stomach started hurting. So I googled “can too much fruit hurt you” and your article was the only one that said yes and why (I have IBS). So I will have to cut down on my smoothie usage. It also makes sense why I’m not losing weight after cutting chocolate and candy out of my diet. So thank you! I’ll be following your website from now on for sure!
yes, i do eat a lot lately. am so surprise that fruits could be harmful. i had too many of them for two days and i could not feel calm and relax plus could not have a comfortable sleep. this article very helpful. thank you!!
I identified with 2/3/4. Since I switched to a plant-based diet this spring, the pluses were my sweets cravings backed off and I’m losing about a half pound of weight a month, but I’ve not lost any belly fat and I’ve been having increasing issues with diarrhea. I’ve had IBS most of my adult life but had it under control until this spring. I’ve been eating large portions of fruit at breakfast, lunch, and evening snack. That stops with the bowl of blueberries, banana, clementine and melon I’m eating as I read this article [lol]. Back to berries for breakfast and a clementine or a little melon with lunch. I hope this helps, because if it’s not fruit, then the other option is gluten-intolerance and after 4 years with very little gluten, it was a joy to eat whole wheat pasta and whole wheat grains again. I’ll know in a week or so. I hope the fruit, not the gluten, is the culprit.
Hi Lily,
I reckon that I am eating too much fruit….sometimes 4 or so oranges and 4 kiwis at a time, and a banana in smoothie form 2-3x a day. I had gastroparesis so was on rice cakes only for 2 years and now, and now I find myself put off by savory food. The smoothie gets protein in me, and greens powder…..but when I eat savory or even salad I feel like it sits in my gut for ages and makes me nauseous.
Just today I eat a big bunch of rambutans (a lychee-like hairy tropical fruit), two large tangerines, a handful of shantang tangerines, and 5 snakefruits. Eating fruit does makes me want to eat more fruits I love to eat fruit and veggies when I was still fat (93kg) and even more so when I already did my successful diet (now I’m 58kg). I pretty much dont really mind my fruit & veggies intake as I usually do intermitten fasting with 8 hrs window but some days when the hunger is persistent, fruit is my go to food to curb it and I found nothing wrong with it. But I definitely, definitely eat a lot more fruit than I supposed to lol living in a tropical country sure is a blessing. Half a papaya, half a watermelon, two large mangoes, thats a serving. I sure do have to check on my blood sugar but the last time I did it it was nice and quite low.
I have experienced shortness of breath when I’m done eating a kilo of mixed fruits, such as apples, ponkans, grapes, pears.
Hi. I’m really confused about this. I recently read an item about someone who tried being a ‘fruitarian’ (eating only fruit and nothing else) for a week and no matter how much fruit he ate to feel full, he lost weight. He had lost several pounds by the end of the week. Could it be said that not eating too much fruit could be a little simplistic when not considering the rest of someone’s diet? Could fruit replace something else in a diet which is less healthy and more calorific? My worry about these articles is that people will use them as an excuse not to eat fruit and other healthy things, but then sit in front of the tv with buckets of fried chicken and Hagen Das. I heard a description of bananas being ‘nature’s Mars Bar’ which I find to be completely preposterous.
Bets wishes
James
I started a “fitness journey” about two years ago.
Implemented more and more fruit and veggies into my diet, and ended up liking them so much that I cut on other foods and, thinking fruit was the best replacement, snaked on a kiwi… then another kiwi… then a pear, and an Apple and so on…. tilI ended up eating about 9 to 10 pieces of fruit per day plus veggies.
After a long time, It is now that I started to notice how my belly bloats a lot more when I eat certain fruits and veggies followed by gas, and worry if its possible that i have created a malabsortion of fructose all by myself. and if so, wonder if there is a solution.
All you have to do is reduce your fruit intake for a while. It should starve any bacteria that is loving the fruit after a few weeks. Then you can eat a moderate amount of fruit that suits your body.
i.e. – I eat about 1/2 cup of fruit once or twice a week during winter/spring when less active and 1/2-1 cup every two days during summer/fall when more active and fruit is in season in my area. Otherwise, eat in season vegetables, meats, grains and beans if all of that suits you. Fruit is nature’s candy
I wanted to add that there are ways to combine your food depending on the digestability rate. Water for instance had the most amount of water and should be eaten around breakfast time because it will go through your system quickly. If you have something heavy and greasy first or even pasta that takes longer to digest and then you eat a watermelon you may feel bloating or some of these problems mentioned above. The way we eat our food matters and in what order sometimes. If you feel certain symptoms you can try looking at a food combining chart. If you don’t then obviously you are fine with what you are doing. As long as you have good energy and great focus/clear fresh mind. Nuts I know aren’t alway the best because they have lectins I think it is which can also cause stomach upset, I think beans have these too. Since legumes and nuts are technically a seed they have more of these to help protect them and can cause unpleasant symptoms in our bodies as well. That is why eating these soaked over night or sprouted is supposed to be best.
I’m so glad you’ve written about this topic. I feel it’s not discussed often enough and it is highly controversial. Some bigger functional medicine doctors (Mark Hyman and Dr Gundry) would agree with you about portions of fruit. Everyone’s different, but I was one of those people that indulged in fruit too often (2 cups a day or so) until about a year ago. I had gas every day, bloating, indigestion and eczema far too often. Once I limited myself to fruit once every few days and only in season and a small amount (1/2 cup) all of the above issues disappeared. I still get to eat my favorite fruits, like mangos with no issues. Team vegetables 🙂
Thank you for your comment! I have the same issues you had, from eating blueberries twice a day!.
I was going to cut down to once per day, but seeing your post, I think it will be better to consume less, like you did, and give my system a longer break from the fructose, every few days.
YES I EAT LOADS OFD FRUIT IN 1 DAY, BANANAS APPLES, GRAPES, MANGO, PEARS CLEMENTINES
I’m so glad I found this post!
I’ve been on a low carb, plant based diet for several months. Blueberries and avocados are the only fruits I consume.
I recently doubled my intake of blueberries to 8 oz a day, and have become soooo bloated! I couldn’t figure out why I was so bloated, since I eat very clean, mostly green leafy salads, 5% fat greek yogurt, and nuts.
I didn’t know that blueberries can cause bloating; this makes perfect sense!
Thank you, this is so helpful!
Thank you this was really helpful,. I can see I am definately eating too much fruit. I was recently diaognosed with Ceeliac disease and started eating what I thought was healthy as so much food is not restricted to me. But I am experiencing so many upset stomachs, it is becomming a big problem. Also my cravings for sweet things has ince=rerased. I never had a sweet tooth but at the age of 75 I now have. I think I will cut out the fruit intake for a while and see what differenre it makes. I am putting on weight
Lily,
I was the person eating 3 pounds of cherries a day, half a watermelon and then some! I forgot about vegetables and wasn’t gaining weight but wasn’t losing any either. The more fruit I ate, the more I wanted . Now I have changed my diet to mostly beans and vegetables , no animal fats and just 2-3 pieces of fruit per day. I am easily losing weight and gave lost my sugar urge
So is it bad that for breakfast I tend to only eat an apple, banana and 3 mini oranges for a snack? For lunch I usually have a salad, some protein and again, more fruit? Usually a berry mix; blackberries, blueberries and strawberries with kiwi and sometimes the oranges left over from the morning that I may not finish? For dinner I usually don’t eat fruit at all. Am I still over doing it? If I could live off of fruit I probably totally would. I recently had a kidney infection, I just love fruit and can barely stomach anything else because its too heavy after my stomach shrank. The thing is I found myself using the washroom VERY often and my stool is almost never solid anymore.
I was searching about fruit and weight because I eat very healthy almost nothing processed except by me. And yet I have a little weight that is pushing my BP up.
I definitely eat too much fruit. And I grown lots of tropical fruits, which I love. Looks like I will have to moderate it. This article has confirmed my sneaky suspicions. Thanks
If I have a fruit addiction, I can’t control it. Either I give up fruits entirely or continue but with unlimited portion. Period.
Definitely. Fruit is my go to. I eat a huge fruit salad for my evening meal. I am battling very loose stools and. A very sore stomach with bloating.I am struggling to lose weight, and bring my blood sugars down.
I usually eat about three fruit a day. My breakfast go to is a Granny Smith apple with a tablespoon of all natural peanut butter (I usually make my own there). For a midmorning snack I have 85 grams of strawberries. My afternoon snack is usually either kiwi fruit or mandarin orange slices. Vegetables for lunch – usually a large salad of romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, onions, cucumber slices with turkey or chicken and a boiled egg for protein. I try and eat a sensible dinner using the FDA MY Plate guidelines. Am I eating too much fruit or too little vegetables?
Without a full nutritional assessment, it’s impossible for me to comment on an individual’s diet. On paper, those sound like healthy choices. Many people need more protein than what you’re describing, but again, individual needs vary.
Lily,
You are spot on! For years, I was successful on Weight Watchers until they made fruit points free. In the mind of a compulsive overeater and carb addict, that gave me license to eat fruit all day long with no need to be concerned about carbs or calories. It was only after gaining 70 pounds back from my original weight loss of 150 pounds that I realized how my excessive consumption of fruit had sabotaged my progress. Thankfully, I saw a nutritionist who put me on a low-carb plan to jump-start my recovery. She kept my carbs under 50 grams a day just for a 3 months, allowing only a couple of servings of berries daily for my fruit allowance. Then, I gradually transitioned to 90 grams a day which was my personal “bliss point” for continued weight loss. Thankfully, I have lost the weight I gained back, and I am comfortable keeping my overall carb limit under 100 grams daily as a permanent practice, allowing myself only 2 servings of fruit per day, maximum. Just for the record, I am a 73-year-old male with hypothyroidism and have been on Levothyroxine for 13 years. If I can lose weight, I believe anyone can. I wish all those struggling with weight issues and eating disorders every success in figuring out what is most helpful and sustainable for their individual needs.
I faced a similar challenge post-surgery. Managing fruit intake was crucial, and my nutritionist recommended a bariatric multivitamin to ensure I get the necessary nutrients. It’s been a game-changer in supporting my health while navigating the complexities of post-bypass dietary adjustments. The combination of mindful eating, smart snacks, and these supplements has made a significant difference for me.
Thank you for posting this! I had suspicions that I was eating too much fruit, and this definitely confirms it!