Are fruits best eaten at the end of a meal or is it just a habit? TipsForWomens interviewed nutritionist doctor Arnaud Cocaul, who gives us his advice.
With the return of summer soon, fruits will be particularly present on market stalls, supermarket shelves but also on French tables. When should we prioritize their consumption? At the beginning or end of a meal? TipsForWomens asked the question to Dr Arnaud Cocaul, nutritionist.
Eating fruit at the end of a meal “is not a problem”
For the doctor, it is possible to eat fruit at the beginning or end of a meal. “HAS“With summer approaching, some people like to eat melon as a starter for example, it's a good alternative to the usual starters.”
In the same way, “Eating fruit at the end of a meal is also possible, because it will mix with the food bolus and be carried away by gastric emptying. considers Arnaud Cocaul. No need to worry about the possible fermentation of fruits consumed at the end of a meal, therefore, all the more “that no study mentions favoring fruit before meals” confirms the doctor.
Fruits to consume in moderation
Although fruits are good for health, they remain sweet. The recommendations are to consume two to three servings per day, each serving being equivalent to 80 or 100 grams of fruit, for an adult.
To avoid a spike in blood sugar, if it is consumed outside of a meal, the doctor recommends combining it with another food. “For a snack, it can be a fruit with a handful of almonds or with a dry biscuit: this will limit the increase in blood sugar levels.
Yes to nuts, be careful with dried fruits or fruits in syrup!
Apart from fresh fruits, there are other categories of fruits. The nutritionist also recommends nuts and oilseeds all year round. “Pistachios, cashews, almonds, walnuts… All these foods should be included in a daily diet, taking care to choose them unsalted, to avoid too much salt intake. advises the expert.
What about dried fruit or fruit in syrup? “Be careful with dried fruits, like apricots or figs for example, which are very sweet, I do not recommend eating them every day. says Dr Arnaud Cocaul. “As for fruits in syrup, in the absence of any other alternative, in winter for example, it is possible to consume them but you should not consume the syrup, in order to limit the glycemic load brought by this type of syrup. fruit and preserves” he concludes.
Slide: How much sugar per fruit?
