Is Fruit Healthy?
Is Fruit Healthy?
We’ve been told ad nausem – without question – that we should eat our fruits and vegetables.
They are loaded with antioxidants and heart-healthy fiber. Right?
But what if this advice wasn’t so good?
In some writing that I’m working on, I titled a section “The Fruit Fallacy – An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Paid” that addresses this long held unquestionable advice.
Here’s the tweetstorm short-version of it (and under my saved instagram highlights under “Fruit” I talk a bit about this):
“The Fruit Fallacy – An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Paid”
This is a chapter in the book i’m working on. Here’s the gist:— Kevin Stock (@kevinstock12) March 27, 2018
Fruit seeds develop a protective hull around them as they ripen.
In an unripe state they have a high lectin load (toxic)
This prevents predators from preying too soon
— Kevin Stock (@kevinstock12) March 27, 2018
When they are ripe they signal predators by changing color, decreasing toxic load, and increasing sugar (fructose) content
— Kevin Stock (@kevinstock12) March 27, 2018
In the past fruit was only available seasonally.
Generally, once per year in the summer.
— Kevin Stock (@kevinstock12) March 27, 2018
Today, fruit is available year round.
It is picked unripe (high lectin/toxic load), treated with chemicals – like ethylene oxide to make it appear ripe, and transported long distances
— Kevin Stock (@kevinstock12) March 27, 2018
To make matters worse, fruit produces fructose not glucose as its sugar.
Fructose does not stimulate leptin – a hunger hormone that tells us we’re full.
— Kevin Stock (@kevinstock12) March 27, 2018
This use to be a win-win.
The animal would eat large quantities of fruit without getting full, thereby storing up for winter famine.
The tree would spread it’s offspring through the animal to distant locations where it wouldn’t have to compete with the parent for space and sun
— Kevin Stock (@kevinstock12) March 27, 2018
The losers today are us.
We are eating fruit with high lectin loads, fattening up all year, with no famine in sight.
Oh, and we think this is healthy.
— Kevin Stock (@kevinstock12) March 27, 2018
The combination of chemical treatments including those related to GMOs, year-round access, unripened, unlimited, fructose loaded fruit has made a food that was once a seasonal treat that provided some extra calories for famine, into an option most people would be far better without.
Just like agriculture moved us further and further away from what we are designed to eat fruit has gotten more and more unatural. The changes in modern food is a reason why i experimented with the carnivore diet.
By the way, come join me on twitter for the next tweetstorm ?
Or better – I also email these out every Saturday at 7…