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Can You Eat Fruit on a Keto or Low-Glycemic Diet?

Many people think fruit is off-limits for a keto diet, but select fruits can add nutrition and pleasure, making it easier to maintain the diet over time.

“Wait… no fruit?? No way can I do this diet!”

Maybe you thought this when first starting out on keto. Or surely you’ve heard others say it. Fruit is a controversial topic for those living a keto lifestyle.

You can see why — we’re told our whole lives to eat our fruits and vegetables. An apple a day, after all, keeps the doctor away.

How, then, could a diet that tells us to cut out fruit and replace it with fatty foods be good for us?

The simple answer is that it’s all in the net carbs — and most fruits just have too many.

So the question we all ask — Can you have fruit on keto? — is often answered with a resounding no.

But maybe that’s the wrong question to be asking…

Maybe the better question is: Which fruits can we enjoy on keto?

And maybe in the quest to avoid carbs at all costs, we’ve thrown the baby out with the bath water.

Today we’ll show you how fruit can fit into a ketogenic diet — and why cutting it out completely might be a bad idea for your health and well being.

Ready? Let’s do it.

Can You Have Fruit on Keto?

The always insightful — and ever-entertaining — Amy Berger, a leading low-carb nutritionist, posted this on Twitter recently:

And how true that is. As we continue to learn about the dangers of too many carbs and too much sugar, the way we talk about fruits and vegetables needs to change.

But we can take it further. Even within the fruit category, there are huge metabolic differences to be found.

There are fruits you can — and should — eat on keto. Then there are fruits where a single serving will blow your entire daily carb allowance — and send your blood sugar to the moon.

So the good news is you can have fruit on keto. You can even eat it every day.

You just have to know which fruits to eat. And learn how to portion effectively (easier said than done).

How Fruit Fits Into Keto

The reason you’d cut fruit out is to avoid carbs. To stay in ketosis, you need to limit your carb intake to 5-10% of your daily calories. For a standard 2,000 calorie diet, that’s 25-50g of carbs per day.

And when a single apple has 25g of carbs… see how fruit can be troublesome?

Now, to be clear, we’re talking about net carbs which is defined as:

Net carbs = total carbs – fiber

This is good news for many fruits — especially berries — which are high in fiber and thus lower in the net carbs.

So, to fit fruit in, you just need to understand your carb tolerance and find fruits that work in that.

Simple enough, right?

To help with that, let’s look at some common fruits ranked lowest net carb to highest:

Fruit Net Carbs (per 100g)
Avocado 2
Tomato 3
Starfruit 4
Blackberry 4
Raspberry 5
Strawberry 6
Honeydew melon 6
Coconut meat 6
Lemon 7
Watermelon 7
Cantaloupe 7
Peach 8
Cranberry 8
Orange 9
Apricot 9
Plum 10
Cherries 10
Clementine 10
Kiwi 12
Apple 12
Pear 12
Pineapple 12
Blueberry 12
Mango 13
Grapes 16
Banana 20

As you can see, there are BIG differences across the category. The highest-carb fruits have 5 times the carbs as the lowest carb fruits.

In general, the sweeter the fruit, the more carbs it has. But not always — strawberries have a bright, sweet flavor, yet rank among the best fruits on the list.

You can easily see which fruits to avoid (looking at you, bananas). Now let’s look closer at the 3 best fruits you can eat on keto.

The Best 3 Fruits to Eat on Keto

1) Avocados

A fruit made from fats instead of sugar? Avocados are a dream for the keto diet. Here’s why:

  • High in heart-healthy plant-based fats
  • 10g of fiber for digestive support
  • Loaded with potassium – twice as much as bananas! Potassium is a common nutrient deficiency on keto (more on that later)

Skip the apple and have an avocado a day.

2) Tomatoes

Yes, tomatoes are a fruit. And they’re a delicious way to satisfy your cravings. Here’s why tomatoes top our list:

  • Great source of Vitamin C
  • High in powerful antioxidant Lycopene
  • Vitamin K for bone health

Try using tomatoes to flavor your meals or keep a package of cherry tomatoes on hand for snacking.

3) Raspberries

Okay, you may say… avocados and tomatoes aren’t really fruits.

Fair enough, but raspberries definitely are. Sweet, tart and beautifully complex, they’re the go-to berry for keto. Here’s why:

  • 8g of fiber per serving for gut and digestive health
  • Antioxidants that fight inflammation
  • Just 5g of net carbs per serving

Raspberries are great by themselves to satisfy sweet cravings. With a dollop of whipped cream or greek yogurt, they make a perfect keto dessert.

Honorable Mention

Sick of eating avocados? Here are 3 more fruits to try incorporating into your low-carb diet:

  • Blackberries. While you may never crave blackberries, they are the lowest-carb berry out there. Plus they’re loaded with nutrients like Vitamin C, K and manganese.
  • Strawberries. Far sweeter on the tastebuds than raspberries or blackberries, yet barely more carbs, strawberries are perfect to satisfy cravings without the guilt.
  • Blueberries. Blueberries fall in the “sparingly” category with 9g of net carbs per serving. Eat them for their lush flavor and antioxidants — but try to enjoy only on occasion.

3 Reasons to Eat Fruit on Keto

You have people on both sides of the fruit debate. Here are 3 reasons why fruit belongs in the keto diet:

1) Fruit helps prevent common nutrient deficiencies on keto

The keto diet is, by definition, limited. And with a limited diet comes risk of vitamin & mineral deficiencies. These may not be felt at first, but over time they can have you feeling crummy on the diet.

Here are 3 big ones fruit helps address:

  • Fiber. You need fiber for healthy digestion. Unfortunately for keto, fiber usually comes from carb-rich foods. Low-sugar fruit is the perfect solution to keep you regular on keto in addition to green leafy vegetables.
  • Potassium. This vital electrolyte controls everything from your blood pressure to heartbeat. Your body depletes potassium when you transition to keto, and fruits — especially avocados — are a great way to stay in balance.
  • Vitamin C. This immune-boosting vitamin is also often found in fruits. Low-sugar berries are a great way to get Vitamin C on keto.

2) Fruit satisfies cravings

On keto, at some point, you will crave something sweet. Cravings happen to everyone.

But in an effort to avoid carbs, many people turn to sweetened creations loaded with monk fruit, stevia, and erythritol — sweeteners that are up to 200x sweeter than sugar. These sweeteners can intensify cravings and leave you feeling worse than a handful of berries would have.

Try a serving of fruit next time you want to reach for a keto cookie or fat bomb.

3) Fruit makes keto more sustainable

People love fruit for a reason. It’s delicious!

And the more you can effectively bring fruit into your diet, the less limited you will feel. Feel less limited, and your low-carb or keto diet becomes more sustainable.

Which means more time to enjoy the many health benefits that brought you to the diet in the first place.

3 Reasons to be Careful with Fruit on Keto

Here’s why you should be careful eating fruit on the keto diet:

1) Fruit can spike your blood sugar

Fruit does contain sugar. And that sugar will spike insulin, possibly enough to kick you out of ketosis.

And, for some people, when that happens, it starts a nasty cycle of increased hunger, more carbs, and ultimately weight gain.

Stick to low-sugar fruits and always go by how you feel.

2) Fruit is easy to overeat

We’ve read a few keto resources that recommend eating 2-3 berries at a time on keto. Can we ask… when have you ever eaten just 2 raspberries?

We haven’t either.

One reason this happens is the fructose in fruit doesn’t trigger the hormones in your brain that tell your body it’s full. And suddenly the whole package is gone…

A simple solution to this problem? Eat snacks with fruit pre-portioned to support balanced overall macros, like our Keto Snack Mixes.

3) Fruit can be less than filling

Most fruits lack fat and protein (except for avocados). These are the nutrients that curb appetite and keep you nourished.

So if you’re snacking on just fruit, you may find yourself hungry again in an hour or so. And that can lead to more snacking — and yes, more carbs.

High-fiber fruits are best for feeling satiated. We also recommend eating your fruit alongside other nourishing foods like nuts and cheeses.

Our Keto Snack Mixes make it super easy to eat your fruit — and stay full for hours on end.

Bottom Line

You don’t need to feel limited on keto. A whole category you were told to avoid — fruits —can give you the enjoyment and nutrition you’ve been missing.

You just have to know which fruit to look for, and how to portion effectively.

You might even find you feel better with fruit added in moderation. And no doubt your taste buds will thank you for it.

To your health,

Ben & Brandon, Keto Farms.

Here for a discount on Keto Farms products

Here for a Brain-Boosting Coconut and Salmon Soup recipe

Here for Keto and The Quest for Longevity

See medical disclaimer below. ↓

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The ideas expressed here are solely the opinions of the author and are not researched or verified by AGEIST LLC, or anyone associated with AGEIST LLC. This material should not be construed as medical advice or recommendation, it is for informational use only. We encourage all readers to discuss with your qualified practitioners the relevance of the application of any of these ideas to your life. The recommendations contained herein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. You should always consult your physician or other qualified health provider before starting any new treatment or stopping any treatment that has been prescribed for you by your physician or other qualified health provider. Please call your doctor or 911 immediately if you think you may have a medical or psychiatric emergency.

Ben and Brandonhttp://ketofarms.com
Ben & Brandon are the founders of online food company, Keto Farms. They are revolutionizing the keto movement by using the cleanest, keto-friendly ingredients and a 'from-the-Earth' concept which excludes sweeteners, preservatives or additives of any kind. Keto Farms provides more than just keto-approved products – they promote a healthy, sustainable and well-rounded keto lifestyle.

 

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