When is the best time to eat fruit? This question has puzzled many people. Some say it's best after meals, others say before meals; some say it's not good before or after meals and should be eaten on an empty stomach; while others say eating fruit on an empty stomach (especially at night) is not good. In reality, it's fine to eat fruit at any time. The benefits of eating fruit at different times vary, and people can completely eat fruit according to their own habits and convenience—as long as it doesn't cause any gastrointestinal discomfort.
Eating fruit before a meal can help control calories and aid in weight loss
Fruit is bulky but low in calories. Eating fruit before a meal fills you up, reducing the intake of other foods (which contain far more calories than fruit), thereby reducing total calorie intake. Additionally, eating fruit before a meal allows for better digestion and absorption. Since being overweight has become a common problem, eating fruit before a meal has become a mainstream recommendation.
Of course, for people who are not obese and have no pressure regarding their weight, the aforementioned benefits of eating fruit before a meal don't apply, and they can eat it after a meal. For those who are underweight, eating fruit after a meal is even better. Some people with stomach conditions may experience discomfort when eating fruit before a meal (on an empty stomach), in which case they should avoid it.
To control calorie intake, eating fruit during a meal is also effective. Westerners, in particular, view fruit much like vegetables, using it in salads or desserts and consuming it with their meals. Eating fruit-containing foods during a meal, using fruit as an ingredient in dishes, or simply serving cut fruit on the table are all perfectly fine. There are no rules that say fruit must be separated from your three main meals.
Since you can drink juice and eat fruit salad with your meal, and use cherry tomatoes in stir-fries, there's no reason you can't eat fruit. Besides reducing calorie intake, eating fruit during a meal can also reduce salt intake, aid digestion, and enrich the dining experience.
Eating fruit after a meal aids digestion
As long as you don't feel bloated, meaning you haven't overeaten beforehand, it's perfectly fine to eat fruit after a meal. Although fruit is raw, firm, and uncooked, it has a high water content and its main components are water-soluble, so it can also be digested well after a meal.
Some worry that fruit eaten after a meal will be blocked by the food that has already arrived in the stomach, preventing normal digestion and causing it to ferment in the stomach, leading to bloating and diarrhea. This usually only happens when a large amount of fruit is eaten after a very large meal. If you eat fruit after a meal and don't feel bloated, have diarrhea, or any discomfort, then there is no problem at all.
What you should really be concerned about is that eating fruit after a meal might add extra calories, which is not conducive to weight control, so you can also choose to eat fruit between meals.
In summary, there are no special taboos regarding the time to eat fruit. As long as you don't feel any gastrointestinal discomfort, it's fine to eat it at any time. Sometimes, for specific purposes (like weight loss), it's best to choose a specific time (like before a meal) to eat fruit. People with sensitive stomachs can also choose to eat fruit at any time, as long as it doesn't worsen their gastrointestinal symptoms.
So, what taboos should we pay attention to?
1. Fruits not recommended to be eaten on an empty stomach: Persimmons, bananas, tomatoes
Bananas are rich in potassium and magnesium and are not suitable for people with arrhythmia to eat on an empty stomach, as it can easily cause adverse reactions; bananas are considered "cold" in nature, so people who are sensitive to cold should also avoid eating them on an empty stomach.
Persimmons contain a large amount of persimmon gum, especially in unripe persimmons and their skins. When a large amount of persimmons is eaten on an empty stomach, it can easily form stones.
2. Fruits recommended to be eaten after a meal: Pineapple, papaya, hawthorn
Papaya and pineapple contain certain proteases and enzymes that aid digestion and can be eaten half an hour to an hour after a meal. Hawthorn is sour and also has the effect of strengthening the stomach and aiding digestion.
3. Avoid eating fruit without rinsing your mouth
Some fruits contain various fermentable sugars that are highly corrosive to teeth. If you don't rinse your mouth after eating, fruit residue left in the mouth can easily cause cavities.
4. Avoid eating too much fruit
Excessive fruit consumption can lead to copper deficiency in the body, which in turn increases cholesterol in the blood and can cause coronary heart disease. Therefore, it's not advisable to eat too much fruit in a short period.
5. Avoid eating unhygienic fruit
Eating fruit that is starting to rot, or fruits like strawberries, mulberries, and sliced watermelon that are not protected from dust and flies and not thoroughly washed and disinfected, can easily cause digestive tract infections such as dysentery, typhoid, and acute gastroenteritis.
6. Avoid disinfecting fruit with alcohol
Although alcohol can kill bacteria on the surface of fruit, it will change the fruit's color, aroma, and flavor. The reaction between alcohol and the acids in fruit will reduce the fruit's nutritional value.
7. Avoid eating raw fruit without peeling it
Some people believe that the peel contains more vitamins than the flesh and therefore eat the fruit with the peel on. What they don't realize is that when fruits have pests or diseases, pesticides are often used to kill them. These pesticides can penetrate and remain in the waxy layer of the peel, meaning the pesticide residue in the peel is much higher than in the flesh.
8. Avoid using a kitchen knife to peel fruit
Kitchen knives often come into contact with meat, fish, and vegetables, which can bring parasites or parasite eggs to the fruit, causing parasitic infections. Moreover, the rust on the knife and the tannic acid in apples can react chemically, impairing the apple's color, aroma, and flavor.
9. Most fruits are "cool" in nature and are more suitable for eating in the afternoon
Some people are accustomed to eating fruit right after waking up. In fact, most fruits are considered "cool" or "cold" foods, and eating them immediately after waking up can irritate the stomach. It's best to eat fruit in the afternoon, around 3 or 4 o'clock, as this is beneficial for the absorption and utilization of nutrients.