Is it Bad to Eat Lots of Dried Fruit?
- As with all produce, fresh is the way to go if you're concerned about nutritional value. Sweet and satisfying, dried fruits are not as healthy as their fresh counterparts. The drying process used to remove water content from fruit simultaneously removes many of its nutrients. The sugar content of dried fruit is more concentrated; therefore it contains more calories than fresh.
- Dried fruits do have certain benefits. They are high in fiber and can be purchased in individual packages that are convenient to keep on hand. They also have a fairly long shelf life. While not as nutritious as a fresh apple or banana, dried fruits are better for you than a candy bar or bag of chips when a snack attack hits.
- While not necessarily bad for you, eating a lot of dried fruit can result in weight gain from the extra calories and cause you to miss out on the health benefits of fresh fruit. Still, because fruit in any form is a better choice than high-fat, high-calorie snacks, you can enjoy dried fruits in moderation.
