Fruit Is Too Sweet

advisedwang•about 23 hours ago

I personally agree, but I wish the article would lay out some kind of problem.

Is the sweetness causing health issues? Do sweet varieties have less other nutrition?

overtone1000•about 22 hours ago

Much has been written on dietary simple sugar. It's controversial, so I can understand why the author may have skirted the topic. I thought the bit about tooth decay in chimps was a good hint that there are probably _some_ health effects.

I think what's interesting about this article is that one common bit of advice about limiting dietary sugar is that there's a big difference in the rate of absorption of simple sugar between fruit juice and raw fruit because the fiber content of raw fruit offers a natural means of limiting the rate of simple sugar absorption. But, if we are breeding extremely sweet fruit, it's a reasonable hypothesis that if such a "natural balance" of fiber and fructose exists, perhaps it has been undermined.

D-Machine•about 21 hours ago

It is reasonable to presume that balance has been undermined. In general "eat your fruit and veggies" should probably be modified to "eat your veggies", which generally have fiber and better nutrient density, without the unnecessary sugar. Modern fruit really is basically plant candy. And sure, that's better than actual candy or junk food, but I no longer think it is really scientifically tenable to call most fruit "healthy".

littlexsparkee•about 10 hours ago

by 'most', do you mean by those grown/consumed or by variety? because there's a vast array of fruits incl. savory (cucumber, tomatoes, avocado) as well as less common - soursop, cherimoya, mulberry, jackfruit, durian, so much more beyond the fructose bombs.

michaelmrose•about 21 hours ago

" but I no longer think it is really scientifically tenable to call most fruit "healthy"."

This doesn't appear to be even slightly tenable. The amount of sugar one consumes in a normal serving of fruit if not added to the massive amount we actually consume wouldn't be even slightly unhealthy.

Walf•about 19 hours ago

It discusses clearly, and concludes with, lamenting the loss of complex flavour in favour of sweetness. Also mentioned is people's assumption that fruit's inherently healthy, but the sugar increase is changing that. The link between excess sugar and poorer health is assumed knowledge by now. Type II diabetes is on the rise for a reason.

advisedwang•about 23 hours ago

https://archive.is/NDsER

t0mpr1c3•about 22 hours ago

People rave about Cosmic Crisp apples, but to me they are bland. I prefer a balance between sweet and tart.

olyjohn•about 13 hours ago

I just want tart. Give me a Granny Smith any day. They also make the best pies.

D-Machine•about 21 hours ago

Wait what? Cosmic Crisp is like the clearest example of a balance between sweet and tart. What would you consider a balanced variety?

CharlieDigital•about 21 hours ago

Pink Lady, Snapdragon, Sweetango are all probably closer to alanced compared to Cosmic Crisp. Cosmic Crisp being more tart than Sugarbee, but still definitely more sweet than tart in flavor profile IMO.

Sweetango and Pink Lady are probably what I would consider balanced sweet and tart.

D-Machine•about 21 hours ago

Interesting. Pink Lady is a favorite for me, and Sweetango is great too, but I'd consider Cosmic Crisp very, very close to Pink Lady in overall balance (I do agree Pink Lady is better though). I'm in Canada and Cosmic Crisp is special / protected and seems to always have to come from the States, whereas I can get the others fresher and grown locally, so perhaps that is a factor.

kylecazar•about 20 hours ago

I'm a honeycrisp fanatic (and it's a good balance of sweet/tart for me). This is the first I've heard of Sweetango, I don't think I've seen them in the grocery stores. Will be keeping my eyes peeled.

t0mpr1c3•about 18 hours ago

Cox's Orange Pippin cannot be beat. Goldrush, best apple I've had in the USA.

Fruit Is Too Sweet

⚡ Community Insights

Discussion (19 Comments)Read Original on HackerNews