Knowledge Base > Deb Kennedy, PhD - Culinary Medicine: Ask Me Almost Anything

Culinary Medicine: Ask Me Almost Anything

Deb Kennedy, PhD - Culinary Medicine: Ask Me Almost Anything

This event was on Thursday, May 01, 2025 at 11:00 am Pacific, 2:00 pm Eastern

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Recorded

Question:

Regarding fructose in agave syrup, what about fructose in fruit? Is that a concern? Are there recommended limits to fruit intake?

— Steve Lefler

Answer:

Yes. Uh, agave syrup has, because it's a syrup and it's concentrated, has a lot more fructose than what is found in fruit. You don't have to concern yourself with the fructose in fruit. Uh, what comes in nature is helpful for us, right? As long as we don't abuse it, overuse it or, or put things on it that don't belong there. Um, it depends on what you're dealing with. And if you're looking at how much fruit can I take in, if you have diabetes or pre-diabetes, I have a different answer for you. If you are looking at not spiking your sugar levels for metabolic syndrome, um, if you are trying not to eat FODMAPs, I would have a completely different answer for you. A lot of people with irritable bowel syndrome can't do fructose oligosaccharides. Each one of those stands for something and you would eat a lot less fruit. But in the general population, three fruit, when we look at the varying amounts of recommendations for fruits and vegetables, five fruits and vegetables a day is, is literally, um, at the, at one end of the spectrum. But if you're looking at cancer prevention and heart disease, you're looking at more like 10 fruits and vegetables a day. Not each. So it would be about five vegetables, three fruit I would say. And your body never lies. So your body will tell you when what you're eating does not work anymore. If you're eating too much fruit, your body's gonna let you know you're gonna get maybe a bit of gas and a some diarrhea and then, you know, that was a little too much.
Deb Kennedy, PhD

Deb Kennedy, PhD

PhD Nutritionist

drdebkennedy.com