Should fruit be eaten before or after meals? Nutritionists recommend eating this way to get the best value for money

Some people say that eating fruit before meals can cause stomach ulcers, and eating fruit after meals can cause cancer. Can eating fruit at the wrong time really lead to such serious consequences? When is the "right time" to eat? In fact, there are pros and cons to eating fruit no matter when. Let the nutritionist answer your questions one by one!

Eating fruit before meals can increase satiety and help iron absorption

For those who are trying to control their weight and want to slowly develop a smaller stomach, it may be helpful to eat fruit before meals to increase the feeling of fullness and thus control the amount of food intake during the main meal.

In addition, eating fruit before or between meals can make vitamin C better absorbed. In addition to promoting collagen proliferation, anti-oxidation, and maintaining skin moisture and elasticity, vitamin C can also help the absorption of plant iron. If you have an iron deficiency problem, you might as well try eating fruit before meals.

However, it should be noted that people with weak digestive function, prone to gastroesophageal reflux and other sensitive stomachs are not recommended to eat fruit on an empty stomach, so as not to stimulate excessive secretion of gastric acid, which will aggravate the discomfort symptoms.

Eating fruit after a meal helps digestion

It is not without reason that many people are accustomed to having a plate of fresh fruit after a meal. Fruits such as papaya and pineapple are rich in digestive enzymes, which can help digestion and absorption and avoid indigestion, bloating and discomfort. If you happen to have eaten a lot of meat and fish, whether you eat it after the meal or add it to a dish, it can help to reduce greasiness and aid digestion.

No matter you eat first or later, remember to eat 5, 7, 9 of fruits and vegetables.

In fact, fruit has its benefits whether you eat it before or after meals. However, eating enough fruit in a day is more important than the timing. You can get adequate dietary fiber as well as vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that cannot be replaced by health foods. How many servings are enough? The line you heard on TV commercials, "Fruits and Vegetables 579", is the answer! As long as they consume according to this amount, both adults and children can get enough fruits and vegetables every day to maintain a balanced nutrition.

[Children] 5 servings per day = 3 servings of vegetables + 2 servings of fruit

[Healthy adult women] 7 servings per day = 4 servings of vegetables + 3 servings of fruit

[Healthy adult male] 9 servings per day = 5 servings of vegetables + 4 servings of fruit