The answer is yes, but there are certain guidelines to ensure that we get the best from this food.
Always eat fruit on an empty stomach, so that’s in between meals or half an hour before a meal. Fruit passes through the stomach very quickly and if it is eaten after a meal, which is usual in the UK, then the fruit sits on top of the other food groups i.e. protein and starch which takes much longer to digest. If fruit is left sitting on top of the harder to digest foods then it begins for ferment into something resembling alcohol and this can create bloating and gas in many of us.
Fruit can cause discomfort for some people so if this is the case please listen to your body and cut out the type of fruit causing the issue. I know a lot of people persevere with fruit because they think it is good but as with anything if it doesn’t suit you, it’s not for you. In fact, if you do experience bloating or gas then I would consider cutting fruit down to 2 pieces per day for 2 weeks to see the results and if this doesn’t help then cut fruit out completely for 2 weeks to see if there is an improvement. You can then decide what course of action is best for you on how you feel. Of course there may be other underlying reasons why you have bloating or gas but this is worth a try.
The media and health circles are telling us to be careful of the sugar content in fruit and although I agree I would rather see people eating more fruit than chocolate and cake! I think 2 or 3 pieces per day is fine providing you tolerate it and there is no health condition which limits your intake but remember, eat it on an empty stomach!