It is very common to eat fruit at night, after dinner or during this last meal of the day. But do you know that it is actually not suitable? We explain why it is not so recommended.
That fruits are a healthy food, whose consumption is recommended in any healthy diet and in any varied and balanced diet, there is practically no room for doubts about that. In this sense, there are many nutritionists who recommend the consumption of between 3 to 5 servings a day of fresh fruit. An excellent option is to have the so-called seasonal fruits, which are fruits that we can only find at certain times of the year, because they are at their optimal time of ripening and consumption.
Regarding the moments in which we can eat fruit, it is true that it is a healthy option to eat at any time of the day, especially at breakfast or as a snack between meals. In fact, they are extremely interesting when our appetite enters but we are not yet in our usual hours of food or snack, so it is a wonderful way to refresh our body and provide it with a whole set of essential nutrients fundamental for our health and in short for its correct operation.
When it comes to habits and customs, there is no doubt that there are something for all tastes: there are those who prefer to eat fruit after meals, others before or even substitute meals for them (a complete mistake from a nutritional point of view). But, is it appropriate to eat fruit at night?
Why you shouldn’t eat fruit at night?
Although it is a deeply ingrained habit in many homes, the reality is that it is not advisable to eat fruit at night or with dinner. Here we explain why.
The fruit is very rich in simple sugars:
As you surely know, the fruit is rich in fast-absorbing simple sugars. If we take into account that during the night our body consumes less energy than during the day, the sugar from the fruit will be stored in our body, which will cause us to gain weight.
Increase sugar levels:
Due to its fructose content, the consumption of fruit increases blood sugar levels, especially at night. For this reason, it is not such an advisable option for people with diabetes, who in fact have a more recommended specific time to ingest them.
The reason is that fructose is stored in different ‘depots’ of the liver, so that if the levels of glycogen in the liver are full (which is especially the case at night), it will eventually accumulate as fat.
They can cause digestive problems:
Due to its composition, the fruit tends to slow down digestion, producing gases, especially due to its high fructose content. When the fruit is consumed during the day this is not usually much of a problem, but it can become a serious discomfort if the fruit is consumed at night, as it can cause flatulence and bloating.
Therefore, the best time of day to eat fruit is between meals, because our stomach is empty and the fruit will not slow down digestion.
So what is the best time of day to eat fruit?
There is no doubt that the best times of the day to eat fruit are breakfast and between meals. Why? We explain it to you below:
- At breakfast: Eating fruit at the beginning of the day is an ideal option because it is the optimal way to provide energy to our body. In addition, since the metabolism works faster, we are able to burn the calories that they provide us earlier.
- Mid-morning: It is an excellent option to eat when we have an empty stomach, although in some people with a sensitive stomach it can cause the appearance of annoying and uncomfortable gas. If we eat it in the middle of the morning, it is an ideal food to eat between meals as a snack, since in addition to satiating the appetite, we will be providing our body with a whole set of essential nutrients.
- The snack: In the same way as in the middle of the morning, one or two pieces of fruit are also ideal to eat as a snack.
