What is the Fruit Diet?

The Fruit Diet has gained much popularity over the last few years. Especially in this new age of detox and cleansed living. Many celebrities have carried the fruit banner, boasting the diet’s uses in shedding those unwanted pounds.

Sonal Chauhan reportedly used her love for pineapples to get her bikini body ready for her film 3G:

“I got to know that pineapples cut the fat, so that’s what really helped me,” she said.

During her diet, Sonal ate pineapple daily along with fresh juices to stay in perfect shape. Pineapples contain a good source of vitamins and Calcium. It is also a powerful detoxifying agent, which cleanses the stomach and digestive system.

The fruit diet is mostly thought to improve health by encouraging the consumption of purely natural ingredients. It is already commonly used in facial cleansers, scrubs and creams to promote healthy, glowing skin. Fruits that are high in Vitamin C and Citrus acid are powerful detoxifiers.

Fruits also contain antioxidants which protect the body against free radicals. Free radicals are harmful molecules that can come from pesticides, pollution, smoking and radiation. They also occur naturally in the body. They are known to damage the body’s cells and can result in cancer and heart disease.

Antioxidants are usually found in vitamins and minerals, so many fruits are a natural source of them.

The diet actually stems from a centuries old tradition of eating only that which naturally falls from a plant. This is a custom followed by some sects of people across the globe. Jains for instance refuse both meat and plants, and live only off fruit produce. Steve Jobs was also a famous fruitarian.

Fruitarians are people who only each food that falls naturally from a plant, and any food that can be naturally or safely harvested from a plant without killing it.

The fruit diet typically revolves around the consumption of seven basic fruit groups:

• Acid fruits, mainly citrus fruits, pineapple and cranberries
• Sub-acid fruits such as cherries, raspberries and figs
• Sweet fruits including bananas, melons and grapes
• Nuts like hazelnuts, pistachios and cashews
• Seeds including sunflower, squash and pumpkin
• Oily fruits like avocados, coconuts and olives
• Dried fruits such as dates, prunes and raisins

Of course, choosing the right fruits for your diet are essential. We’ve listed 10 of the best fruits and their benefits:

Papaya

• Papaya is a rich source of minerals and fibre
• Rich in antioxidants
• Contains papin which improves digestion
• Good source of Vitamin C and Folic acid

Apple

• Good for diets because they satisfy your sugar cravings while staying low on calories
• Contain antioxidants called flavanoids which helps with diabetes and asthma
• Helps reduce the risk of colon cancer, prostate cancer and even lung cancer
• The skin peel is high in fibre, both soluble and insoluble, which is good for regular bowel movements
• Most of the vitamins lie just beneath the skin

Grapefruit

• Eating grapefruit daily can help you lose weight because it reduces insulin levels
• It also reduces blood cholesterol levels
• Grapefruit juice is great for the skin too
• Red grapefruit contains the antioxidant, lycopene, which protects the skin from UV rays

Banana

• Rich in vitamins and Potassium
• Excellent source of energy, because of its digestible carbohydrates
• Low in Sodium so will reduce high blood pressure and stroke
• Also releases protease inhibitors which prevent stomach ulcers

Blueberries

• Rich in antioxidants which fight cancer and macular degeneration
• They also contain compounds that protect your body from urinary tract infections
• Also lower the risk of developing age-related diseases including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

 Kiwis

• Contain more Vitamin C than oranges
• Contains Magnesium and Potassium
• They are also known to lower the risk of cataracts
• Can protect DNA from damage
• Also help in the maintenance of bones, cartilage, teeth and gums.

 Strawberries

• Eating strawberries can help control type 2 diabetes
• It also helps prevent heart disease and inflammation
• Prevents atherosclerosis (hardened arteries) and can stall the progression of cancerous tumours
• They are also a good source of Vitamin C and other antioxidants

Avocado

• They have a high source of Vitamin E and Folic acid
• They help lower cholesterol and can be a great replacement for harmful saturated fats
• You can replace avocado with butter in a sandwich for a much healthier lunch

Cantaloupe

• Good source of Vitamin A, Folate and Potassium
• High in beta-carotene, an antioxidant which reduces the risk of cataracts
• Perfect for dieting because it contains less than half the calories of other fruits
• Cantaloupe also helps relieve stress levels as it contains high levels of Potassium
• Potassium encourages oxgen to the brain, making you feel more relaxed

Goji Berry

• Rich source of Vitamin A and other antioxidants
• They are a ‘nutrient powerhouse’ with 6 vitamins and 21 minerals
• They are known to prevent diabetes and cancer
• Also thought to protect against age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s

Of course, when it comes to healthy eating, the quality of the ingredients is just as important as the ingredients themselves. Always make sure you buy the best quality of fruits.

Frozen fruits retain the same level of nutrients as fresh fruits so you can easily store them for longer.

Eating fruits as a whole have less calories than juices. This is because the digestive system does not shut down, which can lower your metabolism. Therefore, you can keep eating whole fruits regularly and lose weight at the same time.

But with some celebrities like Hollywood’s Ashton Kutcher ending up in hospital, the fruit diet might not be for everyone.

Dietician, Dawn Jackson Blatner says:

“There is no one magic bullet. No magic food or food group that will keep us healthy. Variety is more than the spice of life. It’s the basis of optimal health.”

That being said, the fruit diet can be a great short-term solution to lose weight while still retaining all the nutrients and vitamins that your body vitally needs. Even swapping one meal for fruit can do wonders for both your health and body. The main thing is to ensure that whatever diet you choose, you are able to maintain a healthy balance of protein, nutrients and carbohydrates.

But if you like the sound of our fruits listed above, Fruitarianism might just be for you! We recommend that you consult your doctor or a dietician before you jump right in.