Does the Time of the Day Even Matter to Eat Fruit?
For reasons unknown, there are a lot of unfounded rumors on the internet about what foods to consume and when. But the notion that your body would decide, “Okay, the waiting times are over for these foods,” after glancing at the time. Well, that’s not how things usually operate.
Accordingly, no scientific evidence supports the claims made in articles such as “no fruit after 2 PM” and “fruit is healthiest in the afternoon.” That concludes our discussion. Article’s conclusion? Hold on! There are some worthwhile topics to investigate today. Now, when it comes to eating fruit, the time of day might not matter. However, how does it taste when consumed compared to other foods and meals?
Does it matter, for instance, if you recently ate or if your stomach is empty?
Can eating fruit before, after, or during a meal increase its health benefits?
I will thus respond to the query, “Is there an ideal or best time to eat a fruit, or is that just a myth?”
Should You Eat Fruit After a Meal or Not?
We’ve heard a misconception that says you should never eat fruit after a meal. They explain that eating it with a large meal slows down the process of digestion. And your gut will start to degrade the meal. However, there are several issues with this notion. First and foremost, germs are required for anything to decay. Additionally, stomach acid eliminates the majority of microorganisms.
Your stomach’s acid is extremely potent; its pH can be as low as 2 or even 1. When it is full of food, this can climb to approximately 6, but it will soon return to its acidic state.
Can Particular Bacteria Cause the Food to Rot?
Certain bacterial strains, like the well-known salmonella, can thrive on the food bits. This explains how food poisoning may occur. However, the vast majority of bacteria are eliminated rapidly. Food cannot decompose in your gut, therefore.
The other issue is that stuff in your stomach is rapidly broken down. It takes 4 to 5 hours for most meals to fully exit the stomach, so there is not sufficient time for any form of rotting. It ought to have gone through the small intestine in eight hours, and it can take up to forty hours to transit through your big intestine. Now that we have dispelled a few illusions, how about the real story behind the optimal times to consume fruit?
The BEST TIME to Eat Fruit
It would appear that eating fruit is best done during mealtimes. Whether it occurs before, during, or after is most likely not significant. The fruit’s sugar might cause you to create extra insulin to regulate your blood sugar if you consume it in between meals. And after that, it can make you feel ravenous once again.
However, that only occurs in low-fiber fruits. Fiber slows down the entire digestive process. Consequently, there won’t be a blood sugar increase that encourages the synthesis of insulin. Most fruit in cans has little fiber, even ripe bananas and melons. In the process, a lot of fiber is also eliminated from most fruit juices.
Therefore, choose fruits with more fiber content while you’re snacking on them, such as berries, passion fruit, coconut, and anything dried.
Citrus Fruits With Meals and the Advantages
Certain citrus fruits, particularly those with a high citric acid content, including grapefruit, lemons, and limes, are not the best choices when consumed empty-handed. They are especially harmful if you have acid reflux since there is nothing to neutralize the acid you are adding.
However, eating citrus fruits with a meal does provide many advantages.
- To start with, they have a lot of vitamin C. This alone offers a plethora of advantages.
- It is an antioxidant, aids in the fight against heart disease and excessive blood pressure, and strengthens immunity. However, vitamin C also facilitates iron absorption.
- Iron may be found in food in two different forms: heme iron and non-heme iron. Meat, fish, and shellfish are examples of animal flesh that contains heme iron, which is highly absorbable.
- For example, cereal, vegetables, and beans contain non-heme iron. Your body has a tougher time absorbing it, though. However, vitamin C changes the form of non-heme iron and can increase your absorption by more than 60%.
The Flavonoids in Citrus Fruits
- Citrus fruits also have the added benefit of containing two flavonoids termed naringin and hesperidin. These two behave like hunters when you consume bad food.
- Because they are antioxidants, they guard against the allergic reactions that some junk food items may induce. Because this trash is viewed by your body as an illness.
- Both naringin and hesperidin have some anti-cancer properties and aid in protecting the lining of your blood vessels. Thus, there are a few clear advantages of having citrus fruit with your dinner.
My Ultimate Suggestion
To wrap it all up, don’t stress too much about the timing of when you eat fruit. The most important thing is to ensure you’re getting a healthy variety of fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Whether you eat fruit before, during, or after meals, you’re still reaping the benefits. The key is to eat fruit regularly, focusing on fiber-rich options when possible. There’s no perfect formula, like eating a banana at exactly 11:13 AM, but as long as you eat fruit consistently, you’ll enjoy the health advantages. Just make sure to eat fruit in a way that fits your lifestyle!