Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Nicci on 03/07/2009 13:26:46

Title: Fruit before or after a meal ?
Post by: Nicci on 03/07/2009 13:26:46
Here is another one for the great food debate. Some people believe that eating fruit after a meal is detrimental in that it “sits on top of your meal and ferments”.
To me this doesn’t make logical sense for several reasons:
1)   Define fruit. Therefore this means that tomatoes, peppers, avocados etc are included in this group of fermenters.
2)   One would surely have to take into consideration the amount of sugar and whether or not the fruit in question is acid or alkaline. Or if it becomes alkaline after
ingestion after starting life as an acid such as a lemon.
3)   Does the ph affect the ability of the fruit to ferment?
4)   One tends to think of the digestive system, specifically the intestine as a conveyor belt. However everything has to go through the stomach and gets processed with a concoction of acids, powerful enough to prevent any shenanigans form going on.
5)   Perhaps fermentation or discomfort has more to do with an imbalance of intestinal flora?
6)   If bananas are actually classified as a herb, is it ok to eat a banana after a meal? ☺
Nothing is ever that cut and dry – opinions welcome!
Title: Fruit before or after a meal ?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 04/07/2009 08:03:17
Depends what meal it is, breakfast, I like having a bit of fruit then the toast and cereal etc... If it's lunch, I go for fruit after the meal, ditto with dinner.
Title: Fruit before or after a meal ?
Post by: Karen W. on 04/07/2009 08:47:24
I usually eat my fruit just plain for breakfast and ia rarely eat toast although I do love it. but fruit with dinner is my preference yet I can eat it after as well I love fruit!
Title: Fruit before or after a meal ?
Post by: Don_1 on 04/07/2009 15:31:21
...... “sits on top of your meal and ferments”.



It always amazes me when people say this sort of thing. 'Don't eat this with that, eat them separately', 'Don't eat this after that, eat it before'. Do they think that food is digested in exactly the same order as it is eaten?

Why not mix orange juice with milk? Because the milk will curdle. So you dutifully drink your juice, then eat your corn flakes drowned in fresh cold milk!!!
Title: Fruit before or after a meal ?
Post by: Bored chemist on 04/07/2009 16:34:26
The stomach contents are so acid that most microorganisms would be killed. Yeast certainly wouldn't be fermenting anything under those conditions.
If the fruit were, somehow, to ferment what harm would that do anyway?
Title: Fruit before or after a meal ?
Post by: neilep on 04/07/2009 17:37:05
What happens if your meal consists of only fruit ?
Title: Fruit before or after a meal ?
Post by: Don_1 on 04/07/2009 21:19:52
You may find yourself in the company of a cute little Labrador for some time!!!
Title: Fruit before or after a meal ?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 05/07/2009 00:46:32
What happens if your meal consists of only fruit ?

You might be sitting on the toilet a few times a day.
Title: Fruit before or after a meal ?
Post by: Karen W. on 08/07/2009 03:02:12
I have on many occassions just ate an apple orange and or a banana or bits of each for a meal!
Title: Fruit before or after a meal ?
Post by: JnA on 08/07/2009 04:22:42

If the fruit were, somehow, to ferment what harm would that do anyway?



drunkenness... not that that's always a bad thing.
Title: Fruit before or after a meal ?
Post by: JnA on 08/07/2009 04:23:39
I have on many occassions just ate an apple orange and or a banana or bits of each for a meal!


I eat fruit salad for lunch or breakfast (or both) three or four times a week.
Title: Fruit before or after a meal ?
Post by: Karen W. on 08/07/2009 05:49:50
Yep..Fruit is marvelous!