Is dried fruit healthy?

Hello,

We all know that fruit is good for you—but what about when it’s dried? Is freeze-dried fruit healthy…and is there a best dried fruit?

The short answer is—yes, dried fruit is good for you…but only in moderation. Here’s why…

To answer these questions, I contributed this piece for Bottom Line Health. You can also read it below.

Concentration. An apple fresh from the tree contains about 95 calories, 1 gram of protein, 19 grams of naturally occurring sugar, 3 grams of fiber, 8 milligrams of vitamin C and several beneficial phytochemicals, including quercetin and anthocyanin.

But what happens if you freeze-dry that apple? You remove most of the water content and the fruit shrinks. But nutritionally, nothing changes. You still have the name amount of fiber, vitamin C, phytochemicals, sugar and calories…just in a much smaller (and less filling) form.

Double-edged sword. The nutritional concentration of dried fruit can cut both ways. Because it is so much smaller—and generally less filling—than fresh fruit, you’re likely to eat much more dried fruit. Eating four dried fruits instead of one fresh fruit is going to deliver the same nutritional value—both good and bad—as eating four fresh fruits. Example: There’s a reason that people eat prunes (dried plums) instead of plums for fiber. One prune has exactly the same amount of fiber as one fresh plum—so to load up on fiber, it’s much easier to eat four prunes than four plums.

To continue reading my piece in Bottom Line Health, click HERE. 

Have a healthy week!

Warmly,

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