Does Eating Fruit Slow Weight Loss?

One of the most common question from people starting the paleo diet or other another low carb meal plan is whether or not they should eat a lot of fruit. Fruit proponents say that it contains healthful vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. Detractors claim that the sugar content, which includes varying levels of fructose, is bad for your health and causes weight gain.

A new study would seem to refute the weight gain argument, at the very least. The research from the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez in Mexico City, published in the May 2011 issue of Metabolism, found that patients on a strictly controlled diet with moderate fruit intake lost weight more quickly than those on a similar diet with low fruit intake.

So, what does that mean for you? Unless eating fruit makes you feel unwell (as may happen for people with fructose malabsorption), you should feel free to combat those sugar cravings by grabbing an apple, kiwi, mango, or banana-- with no worries that you may be sabotaging your weight loss goals.