Fruit is very sugary, which is acceptable for two reasons: One, the fibrous material that holds the fruit together makes it more difficult to digest and slows down insulin production by keeping the glycemic index low. Two, the deep, dark colors that make fruits so nice to look at indicate generous amounts of nutrients, vitamins, and cancer-fighting antioxidants. Removing either of these characteristics negates the nutritional value of fruit, which can too easily become of little more nutritional value than candy. Fruit juice does exactly this: by juicing a whole raw apple, the liquid sugar is separated from the solid fiber and what is left is basically sugar water. Yes, there are nutrients in this sugar water, but the flood of sugar into the bloodstream and the ensuing insulin spike all but cancel out the benefits by exposing the body to harmful levels of insulin and glucose. The best fruit has deep, dark colors, a low glycemic index, and minimal naturally occurring sugar.
- Berries: blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, huckleberries, salmon berries, and gooseberries
- Cherries
- Apples and Pears
- Grapefruit
- Apricots and Peaches
- Figs
Non-Organic Fruit
If you find yourself with non-organic fruit in your kitchen, don't panic and certainly don't throw it away. Make sure to wash your fruit thoroughly with soap or a special solution for washing fruits and vegetables. Obviously, organic fruit is preferable to conventional fruit. By growing in the absence of pesticides and herbicides, "organic fruits must manufacture high levels of antioxidants to defend themselves against pests and disease." ***(From The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson). These beneficial protective qualities are passed on to the eater.
Some conventionally grown (non-organic) fruits carry a greater risk for pesticide residue than others. *** (From The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson.)
Low risk: Fruit with inedible skin, including bananas, avocados, melons, oranges, tangerines, mandarins, pineapples, kiwis, mangoes, and papayas.
High risk: Fruit with soft, edible skin, including apples, apricots, cherries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, and tomatoes.
Make sure to wash your fruit thoroughly with soap or a special solution for washing fruits and vegetables.
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