'Not all sugars are equal': Expert says sugar in fruit DOESN'T make you fat... and you're less likely to be obese if you eat it
- Many celebrity diets encourage the elimination of sugar to lose weight
- But experts say that people shouldn't cut out fruit if they're trying to slim down
- Dr Katherine Livingstone says that you're less likely to be obese if you eat fruit
- The key difference is cutting out added sugars but not natural ones
As children, many of us were told that you should eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day, drilled into us by government sponsored health advertisements.
But now many health 'gurus' claim that we shouldn't be eating fruit, as it contains too much sugar and glucose.
So what's the truth? One expert claims to have the answer, with science backing her up.
Five a day: Many diets now say you shouldn't eat a lot of fruit, due to its high sugar content, if you want to lose weight (stock image)
Wrong: But experts say that people who eat fruit daily are less likely to be obese than those who don't
Dr Katherine Livingstone, from the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN) at Deakin University, in Victoria, said you should eat fruit.
In a paper, published in the British Journal of Nutrition , she said people who eat fruit daily are less likely to be obese than those who do not.
'Not all sugars are equal. Fruits, which have natural sugars, are linked to lower obesity, while chocolate and fruit drinks, which have added sugars, are linked to higher obesity,' Dr Livingstone explained.
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'Not all sugars are equal': Dr Katherine Livingstone said that while you should avoid added sugars, natural sugars in fruit are good for you
This is in contrast to a number of nutrition and diet plans which encourage people to not eat too much fruit.
But the key difference, according to Dr Livingstone's paper, is avoiding added sugars in meals, as opposed to those that occur naturally in food.
'With fad and celebrity diets encouraging nutrient-focused strategies, such as elimination of carbohydrates, these findings show the importance of how foods and food patterns contribute to health in the total diet, rather than just focusing on nutrients,' the paper explained.
'Don't fixate': Dr Livingstone advised that a balanced diet is the key to weight loss
Ultimately Dr Livingstone said that if people are trying to lose weight and be healthy, a balanced diet is key.
'Our key message is the importance of the overall quality of the diet for maintaining a healthy weight and blood pressure, and not fixating on single foods or nutrients,' she said.
'This is topical given that the new year is characterised by people trying weight loss diets that have limited success.
'The public should be reminded that eating a balanced diet, rich in fruits and vegetables and low in high added sugar and salt foods, such as soft drinks and chips, will have important health benefits.'
