Why Fruits Are The Ideal Source Of Carbohydrates

7. Why Fruits Are The Ideal Source Of Carbohydrates

Fruits are the ideal source of carbohydrates because they are the foods humans are physiologically and anatomically adapted to eating. (These adaptations will be discussed in greater depth in a later lesson.) Humans have a natural “sweet tooth” because that’s our inherent nature. We’re supposed to eat fruits, mostly sweet fruits. Incidentally, we can enjoy some nuts, seeds, vegetables and sprouts. But sugar-containing fruits should be the primary items in our diet.

The sugars in fruits, being mostly monosaccharides, pass through the stomach and are absorbed through the walls of the intestine without undergoing any digestion. This leaves a great surplus of body energy available for living and all the activities that make living a joy. We should not waste our precious energies digesting complicated, heavy foods unless it’s a matter of life or death. Instead, we should eat simply of our natural foods—fruits—and use our energy for higher-level pursuits of life.

Fruits, except for dates and dried fruits, contain significant amounts of water in its purest and most delicious form. Therefore, they supply most, if not all, of our needs for water. Cooked starches, on the other hand, are water-deficient and make us thirsty, especially if they’re eaten with added salt or soy sauce and/or in very large amounts. Water is an extremely important need of life, and pure water as is in fruits is the only kind we should have. (Distilled water is also acceptable and is, in fact, the only kind of water we should obtain from nonfood sources. The subject of water will be treated in depth in a later lesson.)

Fruits do not have to be cooked or seasoned to taste great. In fact, they should never be cooked, though they can be dried for storage purposes. It is easy to make a meal on fruits, even mono-meals (just one fruit type at a meal), for other foods added to the fruit meal do not enhance it. Fruits are so delicious that they don’t need enhancement and they digest so easily and quickly, eaten with each other or alone, that fermentation and the resulting toxicity of fermentation is unlikely to occur.

Since carbohydrates, quantitatively speaking, are the greatest nutrient need we humans have, it follows that fruits, loaded with sugars, should comprise the bulk of our diet. Fruits, besides being replete with ample carbohydrates, have relatively small amounts of proteins, vitamins and minerals—in just the right amounts for the specific needs of humans. If (anything other than fruits are eaten, it should be small amounts of nonsweet fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and sprouts.

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Classifications Of Carbohydrates
• 3. The Role Of Carbohydrates In The Body
• 4. How Carbohydrates Are Digested And Used By The Body
• 5. Sources Of Carbohydrates
• 6. Why Starches Are Less Than Ideal Sources Of Carbohydrates
• 7. Why Fruits Are The Ideal Source Of Carbohydrates
• 8. Amounts And Variety Of Carbohydrates Needed By Humans
• 9. Disease Conditions Related To Carbohydrate Consumption
• 10. Questions & Answers
• Article #1: Carbohydrates By Dr. Herbert M. Shelton
• Article #2: Digestion Of Foods By Dr. Herbert M. Shelton
• Article #3: Starches Are Second-Rate Foods By Marti Fry
• Article #4: The “Staff Of Life” By Marti Fry
• Article #5: What’s Wrong With Wheat By Marti Fry
• Article #6: Fruit – The Ideal Food By Dr. Herbert M. Shelton
• Article #7: Are Humans Starch Eaters? By Dr. Herbert M. Shelton