Fruit vs. Greens?

by David Smith

Hi Andrew.

You wrote the following: "A totally fruitarian diet with no greens will also likely fail over the long run without the important nutrients in greens."

My question: What nutrient, that humans need to consume, is present in leafy greens but is not present in sweet fruit?

I look forward to your answer.

Sincerely,

David Smith

Andrew's Answer:

Hi David.

Fruits have the greatest number and quantity of vitamins of any of the foods available to us on a raw food diet, but vegetables simply dominate when it comes to mineral content.

While fruit does contain minerals, in terms of variety and quantity, greens take the cake (or the mango?).

Study after study in recent years has pointed out the life-saving and anti-aging benefits of the phytonutrients and carotenoids available in leafy green and cruciferous vegetables.

Fruits Vs Vegetables

Many of the phytonutrients function as antioxidants, and neutralize free radicals that otherwise cause cancer.

One great example of cartenoids in action is macular degeneration, a common cause of blindness as people get older.

Studies have shown that low carotenoid levels are a risk factor for macular degeneration.

A person can reduce their risk by 86 percent if they eat greens five times a week, however.

Simply put, there is simply too much research showing the fantastic benefits we receive from greens to decide that we don't need them.

Additionally, our closest genetic relatives, the bonobos and the chimps, while fueled by fruit, consume a quantity of greens that make out own efforts look pathetic. We share a very similar digestive anatomy with these primates. There are no examples of closely-related primate species which do not eat plenty of greens. It's unlikely that we break the mold.

Learn more about the fruit vs vegetable debate here.