How much fruit should you eat per day?

To ensure you’re getting enough fruit, aim for roughly five servings of 1 cup each day. A serving is about the size of a tennis ball.

Fruit plays a crucial role in a balanced diet.

Indeed, high-fruit diets have been linked to various health advantages, including a lower risk of many diseases.

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However, some individuals worry about the sugar content in fruits and are concerned that consuming too much could be detrimental.

So, how many daily servings of fruit are ideal for maintaining good health? And is there such a thing as too much fruit? This article delves into the latest studies on the subject.

In this article

Fruits are a great source of essential nutrients

The nutrient content in fruits can vary widely depending on the type, but all kinds offer essential nutrients.

Fruits are generally rich in vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, potassium, and folate, which many people often lack in their diet.

They’re also a great source of fiber, which has numerous health advantages.

Consuming fiber can help lower cholesterol levels, increase your sense of fullness, and may even help you lose weight over time.

Additionally, fruits are packed with antioxidants that combat free radicals, which can harm cells. A diet rich in antioxidants may slow down the aging process and lower your risk of various diseases.

To get the most health benefits, it’s important to eat a diverse range of fruits.

Summary: Fruits are rich in essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. It is recommended to consume a variety of fruits to reap maximum benefits.

Incorporating fruit into your diet can aid in weight loss

The form in which you consume fruit can make a significant difference in how your body metabolizes it, and consequently, how it impacts your weight.

Whole fruits are rich in fiber and water, both of which fill you up more effectively than juices or dried fruits. The act of chewing also signals your brain to feel more satiated, which can help you eat fewer calories overall.

Fruit juices and dried fruits can be high in sugar and calories and low in fiber, which means they are not great for satiety and can easily contribute to weight gain if consumed in excess. Many studies have indeed shown a link between high fruit juice consumption and increased calorie intake, raising the risk of obesity and other related diseases like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular issues.

Additionally, whole fruits have a lower glycemic index compared to fruit juices, meaning they have a lesser impact on blood sugar levels. This is particularly important for weight management and for those who have or are at risk for diabetes.

So, if you’re trying to manage your weight or get the most health benefits from your diet, it’s best to consume fruits in their whole form rather than as juices or dried fruits.

Summary: Eating whole fruits may aid in weight loss by reducing calorie intake, whereas fruit juice may have the opposite impact.

Eating fruit may lower your risk of disease

Regularly eating fruits and veggies has been proven to lessen the chances of getting severe illnesses like cancer, diabetes, and heart problems.

Most of the research looks at the health perks of eating both fruits and vegetables together, but some studies focus just on fruits.

One analysis of nine different studies showed that eating one more serving of fruit daily could cut your heart disease risk by 7%.

Another piece of research indicates that fruits like grapes, apples, and blueberries can help in reducing the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.

Particularly, citrus fruits can increase citrate levels in your pee, which can decrease the chance of having kidney stones.

Eating more fruits also aids in lowering high blood pressure and lessening oxidative stress, both of which contribute to heart health.

Including more fruits and veggies in your diet can also help manage blood sugar levels for those who have diabetes.

Are fruits safe for individuals with diabetes?

Dietary advice for those with diabetes often includes eating a lot of fruits and vegetables.

Current health guidelines suggest that if you have diabetes, you should eat 2-4 servings of fruit each day, just like everyone else.

However, some people cut back on fruits because they’re concerned about the sugar in them.

But research indicates that the sugar in whole fruits doesn’t really affect your blood sugar much.

Additionally, fruits are rich in fiber, which slows down how quickly sugar is digested and absorbed, helping to keep your blood sugar steady.

This fiber can also make your body more responsive to insulin and may even help prevent type 2 diabetes from developing.

Fruits also have compounds called polyphenols, which are proven to help control blood sugar levels.

Plus, eating more fruits and vegetables has been connected to lower amounts of oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetics.

However, it’s worth noting that not all fruits impact blood sugar the same way. If you have diabetes, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your blood sugar after eating to figure out which fruits you may need to limit.

Summary: Fruits contain sugar, but their fiber and polyphenols improve long-term blood sugar control and protect against type 2 diabetes.

What about people following a low-carb diet?

Some view eating 100–150 grams of carbs daily as a “low-carb” approach, while others aim for even lower levels, below 50 grams, to achieve nutritional ketosis. This more extreme approach is known as a ketogenic diet and is stricter than your average low-carb plan.

Given that a typical piece of fruit has between 15–30 grams of carbs, the amount of fruit you can eat really depends on your daily carb goal.

Suggested read: Diabetes diet: Foods for diabetics

Obviously, if you’re on a ketogenic diet, you won’t have much room for fruit.

That said, ketogenic diets aren’t unhealthy. They can actually help you shed pounds and may even combat certain diseases.

If you’re watching your carbs, berries like blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries are your best bet, as they’re lower in carbs compared to other fruits.

At the end of the day, while fruits are packed with nutrients, they don’t offer any essential nutrients you can’t get from other food sources like vegetables.

So, if you’re on a ketogenic diet with very limited carbs, it’s okay to skip fruits as long as you’re getting those essential nutrients from other sources.

For everyone else, including fruits in a balanced, low-carb diet is a good idea.

Summary: Fruits are healthy for low-carb diets but not recommended for very low-carb ketogenic diets.

Can consuming an excessive amount of fruit be harmful to one’s health?

Is there such a thing as eating too much fruit? Well, it’s pretty hard to go overboard when you’re eating whole fruits. This is because they’re filled with water and fiber, making them incredibly satisfying. Often, you’ll feel full after just a single piece of fruit.

Because fruits are so filling, it’s tough to eat them in large amounts. In fact, less than 10% of Americans even reach the daily recommended amount of fruit.

Though it’s unlikely you’d consume a lot of fruit, some research has looked into the effects of eating up to 20 servings a day. One study had 10 participants eat this amount daily for two weeks and found no negative consequences.

Another slightly larger study involved 17 people eating 20 servings of fruit a day for a few months, and again, no harmful effects were reported. Researchers even noted some potential health benefits. While these studies are small, they suggest that it’s safe to eat fruit in any quantity.

So, the bottom line is, if you eat fruit until you’re full, you’re almost certainly not eating “too much.” However, it’s good to remember that fruits should be part of a diverse and balanced diet that includes other whole foods as well.

Summary: Unless you have an intolerance or follow a low-carb or ketogenic diet, there’s no need to limit fruit intake for most people.

How much fruit is optimal?

While it is possible to maintain a healthy diet with varying amounts of fruit, the optimal intake is moderate.

The general recommendation for fruit and vegetable intake is at least 400 grams per day, or five servings of 80 grams.

One 80-gram serving is equivalent to a small piece about the size of a tennis ball. For fruits and vegetables that can be measured by the cup, a serving is roughly 1 cup.

This recommendation stems from the fact that eating five servings of fruits and vegetables daily is associated with a lower risk of death from diseases like heart disease, stroke and cancer.

One large analysis of 16 scientific studies found that eating more than five servings per day provided no added benefit.

However, another systematic review of 95 scientific studies found the lowest disease risk at 800 grams, or 10 daily servings.

Keep in mind that these studies looked at both fruits and vegetables. Assuming half of these servings come from fruit, you should consume somewhere between two to five servings of fruit daily.

Recommendations from different health authorities vary slightly, but generally seem to align with the current research.

For example, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines recommend the average adult consume two servings of fruit per day, while the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends adults eat four to five servings of fruit per day.

Summary: Most studies suggest that consuming two to five servings of fruit per day is beneficial for health. However, there appears to be no harm in exceeding this amount.