Healthy Life: Should I avoid fruit and olive oil?

Each individual fruit and vegetable has a different amount of nutrients. For example, blackberries have lots of fiber, while strawberries have less fiber but more Vitamin C than blackberries. It's best to get a variety of fruits and vegetables to make sure you get a good balance of nutrients.
Each individual fruit and vegetable has a different amount of nutrients. For example, blackberries have lots of fiber, while strawberries have less fiber but more Vitamin C than blackberries. It's best to get a variety of fruits and vegetables to make sure you get a good balance of nutrients.

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Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/KAREN E. SEGRAVE --11/7/12 -- Johnny Vandergrift, an employee at Inside Effects applies a layer of mud to the back of a piece of tile while installing new tile work in the foyer of Holy Souls Catholic Church in Little Rock on Wednesday. The tile in the foyer and around the Baptismal was replaced due to a water leak.

Recently, there were multiple articles published about a professional athlete who avoids eating fruits and olive oil. I have been asked multiple times for the dietitian's opinion on the healthfulness of this. Here it is!

Fruit is where we'll start. Fruit is a food group. This means foods in this group contain necessary nutrients that are difficult to get enough of from other food groups. Yes, fruit contains sugar. It is naturally-occurring sugar, which is not harmful to your health as long as fruit is not the main part of your diet. Plus, fruit is a package also containing fiber and lots of vitamins and minerals. So overall, fruit is good for your health.

Of all the plant oils, olive oil is arguably the best for you. It is full of monounsaturated fats, which are healthful for your heart. The main fatty acid found in olive oil is an omega-9, which is anti-inflammatory. When possible, I recommend replacing butter, margarine and/or coconut oil with olive oil.

You can eat healthfully without following the same diet as a celebrity. Simply consider the foundations of a healthy diet: adequacy (consuming enough of each food group), balance (ensuring you include each food group), moderation (not consuming too much of any food or food group) and variety (choosing a variety of foods within each food group). Including these principles in your daily eating will help you remain in your best health.

Lynn Grant R.D., L.D., CDE is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator. She works at Capital Region Medical Center and provides outpatient nutrition counseling and diabetes education by appointment. She also writes a weekly blog, which you can view at nutritionnotions.wordpress.com.

Summer fresh fruit salad

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Makes: 10 cups (10 servings)

cup lime juice

cup water

1 large banana, sliced diagonally

2 cups (1 pint) blueberries, washed

2 large nectarines, washed and sliced

2 cups (1 pint) strawberries, washed, sliced and stems removed

1 cup seedless green grapes, washed

1 kiwi, peeled and sliced

In a bowl, stir lime juice and water. Add bananas and set aside.

In a large (glass) serving bowl; layer blueberries, nectarines, strawberries, banana and grapes. Garnish with kiwis.

Pour lime-water mixture over fruit. Cover loosely and chill before serving.

Substitute other fruit as desired.