By Penelope A. Domogo, MD
Perhaps you have noticed that there are a lot of fruit being sold nowadays- in markets, along highways, whether it is Halsema or Marcos Highway or Naguilian road. Meaning there are many buyers. But can you eat as many fruits as you like? The answer is NO!
A lot of people are surprised when they are told that you cannot eat as many fruits as you like. Bakit? Di ba sinasabi ninyo na “Eat fruits and vegetables.”? Confusing nga naman. There is no qualifier. So as long as people have money, they will buy and eat fruits and forget the vegetables. Let us see why this becomes a problem.
Well, fruits contain a lot of sugar, a simple sugar called fructose. Of course, they also contain water, vitamins and minerals but the fact is, they have a lot of sugar. And for your information, fructose is a disaccharide and is considered a simple sugar. We say “simple” living is great but when it comes to sugars, the term “simple” is bad. Confusing? Now you know why the English language is crazy. Language aside, I know more than one person who developed diabetes from eating too much fruits. We should not only worry about diabetes. Eating a lot of sugar is a risk factor for all the diseases that the world is experiencing in these modern times – high blood pressure, high triglycerides, cancer, arthritis, kidney failure, migraine, etc. Kakain ka pa ba ng isang kilong mangga?
Actually, nature already controlled our sugar intake. If you, like me, believe in a loving God, a loving Supreme Being, you will love him more when you see how he designed nature for our happiness and well-being. Here is how God controls our fruit intake. Number 1, God gave us fruits in season, in certain climates and soils. In summer, we have melons, sineguelas, kayomito, mangoes. This time, we have guavas, rambutan, durian, mangosteen. Later in the year, we have oranges and persimmon. I think only bananas are all year round. That is in lowland Philippines. Here in the highland Cordillera, God gave us less fruits but with global warming, some lowland fruits are thriving.
Number 2, many fruit trees have alternate bearing, meaning that this year, they produce a lot of fruits. We call it “nanamyos” in Kankanaey. The next year, only very few fruits. Some have observed that in certain mango trees, one side bears fruit this year and in the next year, it is the other side that bears fruit.
Number 3, God gave fruits sparingly. The sweeter and yummier it is, the lesser is given. I remember our orange trees had just a few so we had to split one with my adings. Our problem now is that people tamper with the natural cycle of fruits. If we give people contraceptives so that they will not have a baby, we give the opposite chemicals to plants so that they will be more fertile and produce more fruits and produce more often. Thus we have a lot of oranges, apples, pears, mangoes, watermelons, etc. – and anytime, in the market. City people would not know if the fruit is in season or not. They will just buy what they like. It’s a pity because they are deprived of the joy of seeing a new “face” (fruit).
Number 4, God made fruits rot easily, like meat. So kahit maraming manga, if you think you can keep them so you can eat raw ripe mangoes everyday, well, hindi puede. Same with bananas and all the other fruits. Some are preserved by adding sugar but that doubles your risk.
So there, you CANNOT have all the fruits you like. “But I need potassium” you would say. Oh yes, we all need potassium and all the other minerals but in so minute amounts which are present also in vegetables. How do you think people live in the rural areas where there are no commercial markets? You think you are healthier than them? I suggest that you walk the distance that they walk so you will know the answer.
The Supreme Being gave fruits in nature for variety in our food. I repeat, for variety, not for staple. You don’t need to experiment with unnatural eating and living. Marami ng nag-experiment (at nagkasakit) and we should learn from them. Don’t wait to become diabetic or have a lowered immune system before you to limit your fruit intake. And don’t crave for fruits that are not natural in your place. If you can’t have apples every day to keep your doctor away, take heart. The loving Supreme Being gave you bananas and chisa and guavas and alumani and a lot more- just eat them when they are in season and if grown naturally. You don’t want to ingest those toxic chemicals along with your potassium, do you?***
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“All creatures look to you to give them their food in due season.” Psalm 104:27
