Fruit Myths

• “If I drink one glass of apple juice and one glass of orange juice that counts 2 servings of fruit” – A glass (200ml) of 100% fruit juice only counts once towards the 5-A-DAY target for fruit and vegetables, regardless of how much you drink – this is because fruit juice has very little fibre.

• “Some fruits are healthier than others” – Different fruits contain different amounts of vitamins, mineral and phytochemcials. The best way to make sure you get the full range of all these beneficial compounds is to eat a variety of fruit. When you’re planning meals aim to fill your plate with colour – think of the colours in a rainbow and try to eat at least one serving of fruit or vegetables from each of the colour bands each and every day.

• “Organic fruit contains more vitamins than fruit grown with pesticides” – While some studies show that organic fruit does contain higher levels of vitamins and minerals, others show there is no significant difference. All fruit, however it is grown, provides useful amounts of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals.

• “Pesticide residues in fruit increases the risk of cancer” – Experts agree that health benefits associated with eating more fruit and vegetables far outweighs any potential risk from pesticides.

• “Some fruits such as watermelon and tropical fruit have a high Glycaemic Index (GI) so they are best avoided” - The GI is only one measurement of what makes a food healthy. Other factors, such as the vitamin content and the amount of fat it contains are also important. Watermelon actually has an intermediate GI value (as does pineapple and paw paw) and it is an excellent source of anti-oxidants.

• “Bananas are fattening” – Bananas contain slightly more calories than many other fruit (1 small banana contains 76kcals) but they are not high in calories and are certainly not fattening. Bananas make a great snack and are a rich in vitamin B6 and potassium ( which helps control blood pressure).