Veggies and Friuts - Are they all they say they are?

I found a lot of interesting information concerning what I was really putting into my body. What does "healthy" actually mean?

Disadvantages of Different Vegetables & Fruits

Vegetables and fruit provide you with natural sugars, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and other important micronutrients. Although vegetables and fruit are essential foods in a healthful nutrition plan, certain types of produce have some potential disadvantages. Portion control and other simple measures, however, typically make it easy for you to overcome these disadvantages and enjoy the many flavors and benefits of eating vegetables and fruit daily.

Blood Sugar Spike

Starchy vegetables, such as white and sweet potatoes, release large amounts of sugar when digested in your small intestine. These vegetables have a high glycemic index, meaning they are likely to cause a significant uptick in your blood sugar level after eating. This response may be problematic if you have diabetes or prediabetes. You can potentially blunt the effect of white or sweet potatoes on your blood sugar level by eating some protein or fat in the same meal with these vegetables.

Increased Intestinal Gas

Many types of fruit and vegetables contain sugars that do not break down in your digestive tract. When these sugars reach your colon, bacteria feed on the undigested carbohydrates, releasing gases. If your diet includes several types of gas-producing vegetables and fruit, you may experience increased intestinal gas. Vegetables that commonly increase intestinal gas include cabbage, broccoli, Swiss chard, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, asparagus, mustard greens, collard greens, kale, turnips, parsnips, onions, bok choy, radishes and rutabaga. Vegetables in the bean group, such as lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans, navy beans, black-eyed peas and soybeans also increase gasiness. Types of fruit that commonly increase intestinal gas include apples, plums, pears, peaches, cantaloupe, watermelon and grapes. Nonprescription alpha-D-galactosidase capsules or tablets taken before eating gas-producing vegetables or fruit help prevent excess intestinal gas. The enzyme breaks down the sugars responsible for increased gas production before they reach your colon.

Diarrhea

Some people have a low tolerance for the fruit sugar fructose, a condition known as dietary fructose intolerance. If you have this condition, eating fruit may cause abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Among people who do not have dietary fructose intolerance, overindulgence in fruit such as prunes, plums, cherries, apples, pears and peaches can also cause diarrhea. These types of fruit contain a high concentration of sorbitol, which is a natural laxative.

High Calorie Content

Some types of fruit and vegetables contain a large number of calories in a small volume of food. Examples of high-calorie fruits and vegetables include dates, raisins, figs, grapes, sweet cherries, avocados, corn, white potatoes and sweet potatoes. Although these fruits and vegetables have high calorie counts, you can work them into your nutrition plan if you control portion sizes and keep your daily calorie intake within target range.

The important thing to remeber here is to pay attention to what you are eating, how much you are eating, and how your body reacts to the food you are consuming. Be body and food conscience. Paying attention to how your body repsondes to certain food and how you feel helps you eat better. I know the skin on an apple will upset my stomache, so I peel apples and eat them skinless.

Watermelon is a perfect example of a "healthy" food that is full of sugars and lots of it - so not really all that healthy. Instead ave a Grapefruit. It boosts yur metabolism and tastes yummy! Its a good option to eat for breakfast because it fills you up and helps your body in many good ways.