Eating the wrong fruits may cause fatty liver

Today, while shopping at the supermarket, I saw blueberries and raspberries on sale, so I bought a box of each. That evening, I carefully washed the berries and cut up an apple. My two daughters, upon seeing this, enthusiastically competed to arrange the platter. The three fruits filled a large plate. The azure blueberries and vibrant raspberries, paired with the creamy white apple slices, were a truly enticing sight. The three of us, mother and daughter, savored and praised the fruits, laughing as we devoured the entire plate in no time. My youngest daughter even opened the refrigerator to check if Dad had hidden any extra fruit.

Fruit is a strategic tool for plant reproduction

Enjoying fruit has always been a pleasurable experience, a fact that has remained unchanged since ancient times. In fact, throughout human history, competition in early societies revolved around military prowess. Agricultural technology struggled to achieve significant breakthroughs, and the primary purpose of farming was simply to satisfy hunger. Fruit was merely a byproduct of the crop. Coupled with poor preservation techniques, fruit had only a seasonal economic value. As a plant organ, fruit evolved to attract animals to graze, allowing them to carry seeds elsewhere, thereby promoting species reproduction. As for its "delicious and sweet" flavor, that wasn't the original purpose of fruit.

Modern Fruit: Sweetness Created by Technology

After World War II, global competition shifted its focus to the economic sphere. With the conflict confined to a few regions, most countries were able to fully develop various technologies. Agricultural technology also made significant strides during this period. Through a series of technological improvements, including seed selection and propagation, grafting and cultivation, scientific planting, pest control, and preservation, fruit production has significantly increased, sweetening, and numerous new varieties have emerged. Coupled with improved transportation efficiency, people around the world can now enjoy delicious fruits from all corners of the globe. In the past, human activities on Earth, including our relationship with food, were shaped by millions of years of adaptation to create a harmonious and healthy ecosystem. However, the explosive growth of human technological capabilities over the past century has disrupted this balance. Humans not only produce food through farming and animal husbandry, but have also developed the food industry and genetics to "manufacture" it. From a certain perspective, modern fruit can be considered a sweet treat "manufactured" by technology.

Excess fructose: A driving force behind obesity and health concerns

Fruit is often touted as rich in nutrients and enzymes, a claim often attributed to commercial marketing. This is because most of the nutrients and enzymes found in fruit can be found in vegetables. However, the key difference between fruit and vegetables lies in its high concentrations of sucrose and fructose, which impart the properties of both sugars. These sweet, simple sugars stimulate the nucleus accumbens, producing an excitatory response. This nucleus accumbens controls emotional responses such as reward, pleasure, laughter, addiction, aggression, and fear, making eating fruit pleasurable. However, as my daughters and I experience with fruit, the craving for more is a sign of addiction.

Of course, the bigger problem with excessive fruit consumption is the excessive fructose intake. While fructose doesn't directly raise blood sugar, the sucrose contained in fruit does, making it a less than ideal food choice for those trying to lose weight or those with diabetes. Even less sweet fruits like guava, lemon, and grapefruit present this problem.

Potential harms of fructose in the body

The more serious problem with fructose is that no cells in the human body can directly utilize it; it must be metabolized entirely by the liver. In the liver, only a small amount of fructose enters the energy metabolism process. The vast majority is converted into very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs). These are then transported out of the liver and into adipose tissue via the bloodstream, where they are converted into triglycerides (commonly known as fat) and stored, leading to obesity. Excessive fructose intake (such as from excessive consumption of fruit, fruit juice, or sugary beverages containing high-fructose corn syrup or carbonated drinks) leads to the rapid production of VLDLs. If these nutrients are not readily transported out of the liver, they accumulate there, forming fat particles. Over time, this can lead to fatty liver disease. In recent years, fatty liver disease has become a common occurrence in outpatient clinics, even among adolescents and children. Many experts speculate that this is closely linked to excessive consumption of fruit, fruit juice, and high-fructose beverages. Therefore, relying on fruit for weight loss is rarely a wise strategy.

When fructose is metabolized in the liver, it not only produces fat but also uric acid. This uric acid not only can cause gout but also damages the vascular endothelium, preventing it from producing important substances that relax vascular smooth muscle, ultimately leading to high blood pressure. For this reason, I personally never recommend consuming large amounts of fruit.

Will I be deficient in vitamins if I don’t eat fruit?

The answer is no. As long as you take in enough vegetables, you can getEnough vitamins, phytochemicals and minerals. In fact, even pork, beef and other meats are rich in vitamins, includingincluding vitamin CI have always emphasized the importance of a balanced diet, but I also recommend limiting the intake of starch and fruit. The reason is that excessive starch and fruit not only fail to provide more nutrients, but can easily lead to obesity.

So, should we eat fruit? There's no absolute "yes" or "no." Fruit, while sweet and delicious, can bring a sense of pleasure, but it has never been an essential part of the human diet. I must emphasize again that modern fruit is as sweet as farm-grown candy. If you don't have weight problems, blood sugar issues, fatty liver disease, gout, or high blood pressure, then you can enjoy it and it will also boost the fruit farmers' economy. But if you have any of these metabolic issues, I strongly advise: Savoring a little is the only way to appreciate the full flavor!