We all know that fruits are good for us. Doctors say that adults should include about 1 1/2 to 2 cups of fruits to their diet on a daily basis. Who are we to argue? However, there is one question that could be bugging you right now, and that’s should you eat fruits in between meals or after having meals?
Many of us are accustomed to having a piece of fruit or two after a meal as fruits actually do make wonderful desserts. But the fact is nutrition experts say that it’s something that we have all been doing wrong!
You see, sugars and nutrients present in fruits are very much eager to get to the bloodstream once they’re in your tummy, and that’s wonderful news — your body is immediately supplied with energy, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. This highlights the obvious fact that fruits are undeniably good for us.
Here’s the problem when you consume fruits after meals when your stomach is full: instead of all the energy- and health-giving contents of fruits going straight to your bloodstream, they linger in the stomach together with food that you have just consumed, which requires time to be digested by your stomach.
This means that all of the amazing nutrients in fruits have no choice but to stay in the stomach until such time that all the rest of the stomach’s contents are ready to be sent to the small intestines for absorption.
Such is a problem because by the time that the fruits you have eaten get to the small intestines, many of the vital nutrients in them have already been destroyed in the stomach, rendering them useless. Some of those vitamins A and C, potassium, magnesium and other nutrients are long gone!
If you want to ensure that your body can fully take advantage of the many different nutrients present in fruits, see to it that you consume them before having your meals and not after.
When you eat fruits in between meals, your stomach is completely empty. This allows sugar, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals in fruits to get to the bloodstream without delay, enabling them to get to the various cells of your body. In other words, an empty stomach boosts the nourishing properties of your favorite fruits.
You may be wondering about having hyperacidity since most fruits are acidic and consuming them on an empty stomach may only leave you experiencing that burning sensation in the chest.
Actually, scientists say that all fruits, including acidic ones such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits and strawberries, end up being alkaline once they are in your stomach. However, since different people have different reactions to food, it’s a good idea for you to conduct an experiment — if acidic fruits such as citrus ones tend to give you a bout of heartburn when they’re eaten on an empty tummy, then simply reach for fruits that are not acidic like bananas, guavas or pears.
Don’t forget to repost this article on your different social media accounts to let your loved ones know why it’s a much better idea for them to consume fruits on an empty stomach!