How many fruits can I eat a day without harming my diet? – GOOD SHAPE

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Fruits have sugar, but a different kind. “It is less concentrated than sweets and its absorption is slower because it is accompanied by fiber, which fruits also offer”, says functional nutritionist Cristina Martins, director of Espaço CM Nutrição, in Rio de Janeiro. As they are rich in minerals and vitamins, don’t even think about taking them off your menu for fear of getting fat. It is better to control other carbohydrates, such as bread and cookies, and stick to five servings of fruit a day. If your goal is to lose weight, drop that number to three, but no less. “There are only restrictions in cases of diabetics and people on very strict diets for health reasons”, says the specialist. Also remember that it is always better to eat the fruit than to drink its juice, because by straining the liquid you throw away a lot of fiber.