Evening Snacking on Fruits - What's the Deal?
Dispelling the Myth: When Fruits Might Do More Harm Than Good
It's common knowledge that fruits are a health powerhouse, but gastroenterologist Victoria Zimina has challenged this notion, explaining certain scenarios where fruits can potentially harm even the healthiest among us.
According to Zimina, the key lies in understanding each individual's stomach acidity levels. For those with low acidity, consuming fruits 30 minutes before meals can stimulate the production of stomach juice. On the contrary, those with high acidity should wait until after meals to enjoy their fruits, avoiding an unnecessary acidity spike. Even for those with excellent digestion, it's best to skip fruits in the evening to give the digestive system a well-deserved rest.
The reasoning behind this advice is simple: if the digestive system is loaded with fruits (especially those rich in sugar) while it's supposed to be resting, food might stagnate in the intestines, resulting in gas, fermentation, and a heavy feeling upon waking up. Furthermore, consuming fructose at night can convert into fatty acids, leading to liver fat accumulation and visceral fat, which are detrimental to heart and blood vessel health.
Even athletes should be cautious about consuming fruits in the evening. Fruits stimulate the nervous system, and this can negatively impact sleep quality and increase appetite.
So, Dr. Zimina suggests enjoying your fruits during the first half of the day, ideally up to 16-17 hours, to maintain good health andshape.
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- In some cases, consuming fruits in the morning, when digestive systems are more active, may be beneficial for individuals with low stomach acidity, as it can stimulate the production of stomach juice.
- Individuals with high stomach acidity should consider waiting until after meals to eat their fruits to prevent an unwarranted increase in acidity levels.
- Even for those with excellent digestion, it's advisable to avoid fruits in the evening to give the digestive system a chance to rest and prevent food from stagnating in the intestines.
- Consuming fructose, especially sugar-rich fruits, at night can lead to liver fat accumulation and visceral fat, which negatively impacts heart and blood vessel health.
- Athletes should be mindful of consuming fruits in the evening, as the stimulation provided by fruits can affect sleep quality and increase appetite.
