DO YOU TAKE FRUITS WITH MEAL?
Do you take the fruits with meals? Do you know the health benefits of taking fruits in the right way?
A fruit a day keeps the disease away. Fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals, natural sugars, fibre and antioxidants. Having a plateful of fruits give us enormous energy all day long. We can get optimum benefits if we take them at the right time and in the right way.
GOOD TIME TO HAVE FRUITS
The Ancient Ayurvedic system suggest not to have fruits just after the meals or along the meals. This would directly disturb the continuing digestion of the food taken. Having fruits with meals can lead uneasiness in your belly that cause acidity and indigestion.
Ayurveda suggest not to have cooked food with uncooked food. Since fruits and vegetables digest at different pace eating them together is not a good idea.
The good time to eat fruit is right in the morning. Except citrus fruits, most of the fruits can be eaten on an empty stomach. It is good to take bananas, pear and peaches in the morning that works great for the healthy digestion.
Experts says that fruits are best absorbed on an empty stomach in the morning and between two meals. It is best to have fruits in between meals so that it prevents you from binge eating. Fruits are good source of energy to your body if taken before or after a workout.
REASONS TO AVOID FRUIT WITH MEALS
CREATE DIGESTION PROBLEMS
According to nutritionist, fruits are high in antioxidants expel toxins from the body, fibre is good for the digestion, vitamins are basic for life and boost the immune system. This dietary center protects us from high blood pressure, heart disease, digestion problems and chronic diseases. Taking fruits immediately after the meals or with meals causes heaviness and digestive problems.
MINIMIZE NUTRIENT ABSORPTION
If you want your body to absorb maximum vitamins and minerals avoid taking fruit with meals. The vitamins and minerals in fruits are not absorbed properly when taken with meals. It leads to nutrient deficiency.
INCREASES ACIDITY
Taking citrus fruits with meals will increase the acid formation in the stomach. It is good to take fruits two hours after the meal and one hour before the meal.
HAVE FRUITS IN THE RIGHT WAY
Canned juices available in the market contains added sugar and preservatives. It is best to have fresh cut fruits. You can also take fresh juices without storing them as storing juices makes them acidic and lose their nutrition.
Fruits with acidic content in them should never be added with milk as it leads to indigestion. Ayurveda suggest not to mix bananas with milk as it is heavy for digestion.
At times replacing entire meal with fruit salad is also good. It can be done in breakfast or lunch, rather than dinner. As night time is obviously influenced by Kapha Dosha, excess sweet fruit is not good at night.
EXCEPTIONS
Ayurveda consider exceptional cases, if one takes spicy meal and feels excess thirst sweet fruits such as banana and mango can be taken at the end of the meals. The spicy foods would activate the digestion system to digest sweet fruits.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Fruits play an important role in our daily diet. The diabetes should check proper medical guidance to take fruits.
The importance of taking fruits in the right way was explained in the Indian ancient literature ‘Charaka Samhita’.