Are candied fruits good for weight loss and how to eat them?

People resort to various diets to get their body in shape.

In this case, the amount of sweets consumed is limited or removed altogether. However, to effectively burn weight, it is not recommended to strictly limit yourself in food.

Otherwise, the body may go into storage mode, which will further complicate the process of losing weight.

To stay in shape, it is enough to replace high-calorie sweets (chocolate, candies) with easily digestible ones (dried fruits, candied fruits).

Benefits and harms

Candied fruits are pieces of berries and fruits, boiled in sugar syrup and dried in the oven. Initially, the product was produced only from citrus fruits, but today the range has diversified significantly.

Some manufacturers supply candied nuts to the market.

Each product contains the same set of valuable microelements and vitamins as the used fruit (berry). The usefulness of candied fruits is slightly reduced due to the presence of a large amount of sugar in the composition and heat treatment.

However, the benefit to the body from consuming the product will be much higher than from candies and other sweets.

Interesting fact! The most useful are candied fruits made from oranges, apples, plums, and pears.

A properly prepared product contains a complex of vitamins C, A, B, which promote rapid weight loss by removing harmful substances and toxins from the intestines.

A delicacy made from fruit peels contains a large amount of pectin, which accelerates intestinal motility. Another important property of sweets is the replenishment of energy spent as a result of heavy mental and physical stress, as well as after illness.

Candied fruits are included in the diet aimed at preventing cancer processes in the intestines.

Not all cases can benefit from treats. If you abuse hemlock, which contains large amounts of glucose, you will not be able to lose weight.

Contraindications for consumption of candied fruit:

• diabetes;
• allergy to sugar or fruit;
• obesity.

Important! It is necessary to remember about the possible development of allergic reactions to candied fruits if there is an individual intolerance to the berry or fruit from which they are made.

Candied fruits: benefits, harm, composition and calorie content

Candied fruits, like many other sweets, came to us from the East. When you put this bright dessert in your mouth, it seems to melt, giving off the pleasant taste of a variety of fruits.

Candied fruits are used not only as a separate dish, but also as an addition to various confectionery products, cakes, pastries, cookies and as a filling in biscuits and muffins.

Let's figure out whether candied fruits are healthy, can they be consumed as a dessert, and what amount will not harm the body?

Are candied fruits good for the body? Their composition and calorie content

People have long discovered that sugar is an excellent preservative. So they decided to use it to store fruit. The preparation of candied fruits is as follows: the raw materials are cut into cubes, rings or other shapes and boiled in sugar syrup. After this, the finished product is thoroughly dried.

Interesting: often for the preparation of candied fruits we use what we most often throw away - the peel or zest of vegetables and fruits. So, some people prepare such “sweets” from lemon, orange, watermelon and even pumpkin peels.

If we talk about the benefits of candied fruits for the human body, this applies only to natural products. Most often on store shelves you can see so-called candied fruits, in which there is not a drop of fruit, but mainly flavors and dyes.

For this dessert to be truly beneficial, it must consist of 80% natural raw materials.

However, it is worth considering that most manufacturers even add a small amount of dyes to natural fruits in order to improve their presentation.

The composition of candied fruits largely depends on what fruit was used as raw material. Although many vitamins and microelements are destroyed during boiling, some of them still remain. Take, for example, candied pineapple.

Fresh fruits contain vitamins B, PP, and provitamin A. During heat treatment, up to 50% of these vitamins are lost. It is worth noting that the calorie content of candied pineapple is 91 kcal.

This is the lowest figure compared to other types, in which the calorie content can reach 400 per 100 g of product.

As for nutritional value, the composition contains almost 95% carbohydrates. Everything else is proteins and fats. It is this indicator that increases the calorie content of the product.

Good to know: if you consider yourself to have a sweet tooth, then candied fruits will be an excellent substitute for sweets. Although they are also high in calories, they contain a small amount of vitamins and dietary fiber, which are “food” for our intestinal microflora and help cleanse it.

The benefits of candied fruits for the human body

Candied ginger is an excellent aid for strengthening the immune system and fighting colds. This root is given its pungency by the substance gingerol, which is necessary for humans to speed up metabolism, relieve inflammation and reduce pain.

Candied papaya also has certain benefits. Not everyone will be able to try this fruit fresh. And according to some studies, it contains a substance called papain, which is an analogue of bromelain and promotes weight loss. Of course, it cannot be said that you can lose weight from candied fruits, but moderate consumption of this dessert will not harm the body.

What other benefits are candied fruits for women and men? Several points can be highlighted:

1. Improves mood and helps fight depression.
2. Sugar, which is found in large quantities in candied fruits, is essential for humans. A moderate amount of it will prevent the brain from suffering from a lack of glucose. On the contrary, it will stimulate mental activity.
3. When consuming candied fruits, a sufficient amount of insulin is released into the blood, as a result of which the person does not gain weight. And blood sugar is maintained at normal levels.

Harm of candied fruits to human health

This oriental sweetness can cause harm:

• Causing an allergy;
• Contributing to the development of diabetes mellitus;
• Influencing the development of obesity.

Be careful with the amount of product you consume. If you overdo it, you can damage your tooth enamel, get a stomach ulcer or even poisoning.

So, are candied fruits good or bad? It all depends on the individual characteristics of the body and the amount of sweets consumed per day. It is advisable not to exceed the norm of 50 g per day. In addition, the question of benefit depends on how the dessert is prepared and what is added to it. The best option is to make it yourself, then it will definitely not contain chemical additives and dyes.

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The most useful for weight loss

The best candied fruits for losing extra pounds are ginger and pineapple. The ingredients from which the treat is made contain components that destroy fatty tissue.

This food option is considered ideal for people who cannot live a day without sweets.

Candied ginger and pineapple are suitable for regular consumption due to their low calorie content compared to other types of products (210 kcal per 100g).

Nutritionists recommend eating no more than 50 g of this type of dessert per day.

Ginger sweets help lose weight due to the content of phenyl-like components that speed up metabolism. Candied pineapple also promotes weight loss thanks to plant enzymes that burn fat.

Expert opinion

Nutritionists advise adhering to several principles when choosing candied fruits for your diet:

1. Choose candied fruits that are light in color and odorless. This product is considered the most natural. The color of sweets should not be too bright. To improve the external characteristics of the product, manufacturers add chemical dyes that give it rich shades.
2. Pay attention to the absence of sticking between individual pieces of fruit. Also, the treat should not have a too hard structure. This indicator indicates that the product has not been properly stored or has expired.

Opinion of nutritionist Kristina Lobanova

Candied fruits, like dried fruits, are high in calories. Therefore, people who are losing weight can consume foods only in limited quantities - no more than 40-60 g per day. It’s good if the treat is eaten before 2 o’clock in the afternoon: this way it will be better absorbed by the body.

When choosing candied fruits, you need to pay attention to ensure that they contain a minimum amount of flavorings and sugar.

Opinion of nutritionist Anatoly Volkov

I advise including candied fruits in the diet during the diet only for those people who additionally engage in physical activity. The product contains large amounts of ascorbic acid, beta-carotene and tocophenol.

These components help relieve fatigue after heavy exercise and maintain a normal nervous system.

Main conclusions

When asked whether it is possible to eat candied fruits while on a diet, experts answer positively. The product is allowed to be included in the menu when losing weight. However, it must be consumed in limited quantities, because sugar is used in the production process of the delicacy.

Products made from ginger and pineapple are considered the most effective for weight loss. They contain fewer calories compared to other candied fruits (216 per 100g). The effect of these types of delicacies is based on accelerating metabolism and burning fat tissue.

What is the benefit of the product

Candied fruits are chopped fruits, vegetables and berries that are boiled in syrup with added sugar. Citrus fruits, apples, pears, pineapples, papaya, melon, etc. are suitable for their preparation. The fruits have a beneficial composition that has a beneficial effect on the body, since they contain:

• fiber, which improves food digestion and helps remove toxins from the body;
• macroelements: potassium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus;
• trace elements: iron;
• vitamins: C, PP, group B;
• beta-carotene, which strengthens the immune system and eliminates free radicals.

The fruit peel, which contains a large amount of plant fiber, is most rich in valuable elements.

The vitamin composition of candied fruits depends on the type of fruit from which they are obtained. The treats have the beneficial qualities of the original product, although to a lesser extent. For example, candied ginger or citrus peels are a natural antiseptic, therefore they are especially recommended during the cold or flu season for people on a diet to support immunity during a difficult period for the body. Candied pineapple contains elements that promote the breakdown of fat, which helps to get rid of excess weight.

During heat treatment, some of the beneficial substances are lost, but candied fruits remain more beneficial than confectionery or baked goods. The benefit of the product is the following effects on the body:

• toxins and breakdown products are removed;
• the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract improves;
• blood cholesterol decreases;
• energy balance is restored - thanks to this property, the product is recommended for people whose bodies are depleted by strict restrictions.

Experts' opinions regarding candied fruits vary: some recommend consuming the product in limited quantities, others advise abandoning it due to the fact that the benefits are insignificant and the calorie content is high.

Types of candied fruits

Candied fruits are pieces of fruits, vegetables and berries boiled in thick syrup. After boiling, the product is dried and subject to long-term storage. It is believed that the technological process of preparing candied fruits is very simple, but it requires a lot of time and some experience from the housewife. It is much easier to buy ready-made candied fruits in stores - they are presented in a wide range.

Candied fruits, depending on what source material the sweet was made from, can have different colors and tastes. The most popular among consumers are candied pineapple, coconut and papaya. In general, keep in mind that the product in question can only be prepared from hard varieties of fruit - it is unlikely that strawberries or watermelon will make a decent delicacy, although watermelon rinds are used for candied fruits.

Candied fruits also differ in their shapes - they can be round, square and even complex figured shapes. This does not affect the taste in any way, but for the use of candied fruits when decorating confectionery products, this point can play an important role.

Which candied fruits to choose

Nutritionists recommend carefully choosing candied fruits, observing the following rules:

1. The package must be tightly closed. In this case, the product is protected from dust and moisture - this is important, since it cannot be washed.
2. The composition must be indicated on the packaging: the shorter it is, the healthier the product. Preservatives, thickeners and other chemical additives hazardous to health are often used in production.
3. The pieces should not stick together or release juice when pressed. The release of juice is an indicator that violations were made during the production of the product, and solid particles or sticky mass indicate improper storage or an expired expiration date.
4. Refusal of bright colors. It is better to buy candied fruits in transparent packaging so that their color is visible. A light product without a pronounced aroma is considered the most natural: to brighten the color and smell, manufacturers add compounds that are harmful to the body. You can check for dyes at home. To do this, just put the candied fruits in warm water: if the pieces of fruit have not lost color or the water remains clean, then this product is safe.
5. No glaze. Sometimes candied fruits are covered with chocolate glaze, this makes them more high in calories and less healthy.

When losing weight, it is necessary to take into account the daily calorie content of the diet - it must be complete and balanced in proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The table below will help you determine the nutritional value of sweets and understand whether they can be added to the menu.

You can consume candied fruits without harm to your health and figure if the daily menu meets the recommended calorie intake.

How to use it correctly on a diet

Nutritionists do not recommend strictly limiting your diet in order to avoid severe stress for the body, so candied fruits are considered a good alternative to sweets, but this product must be consumed correctly:

1. Candied fruits have a high calorie content. People who want to lose weight can eat no more than 50 g in the first half of the day.
2. Choose a product made from vegetables or unsweetened fruits.
3. You can eat the delicacy in two ways: as a stand-alone dessert or adding it to various dishes.
4. The product is especially recommended for complex weight loss for people who play sports or lead an active lifestyle. Contained beta-carotene, vitamin C and E help relieve fatigue.

Recommendations for eating and use

It is recommended to consume no more than 30 grams of candied fruit per day . They can be eaten on their own, with tea or coffee, or added to various dishes.

This is a tasty and relatively healthy snack. It is better to eat them in the first half of the day - at this time carbohydrates are absorbed better and do not lead to excess weight.

In cooking

Candied fruits can be used not only as an independent sweet, but also as an ingredient in desserts . They are tasty, and also bright and beautiful, so dishes with them turn out decent.

They are added to various baked goods, creams, ice cream, and cottage cheese. Very often they become a component of Easter cakes, both butter and curd.

Easter with candied fruits has already become a classic menu item for the Resurrection of Christ.

This delicacy is added to preserves and jams . This is a natural preservative with excellent gelling properties, which is also capable of giving the preservation a unique taste.

This is especially true for candied citrus peels, which are also added to sweet and sour sauces for meat or poultry.

You can also add them to porridge - this makes them much tastier and more beautiful. A great way to make a child love hated oatmeal and semolina.

Candied fruits can be prepared at home. This way they will be no less tasty, but more healthy.

The cooking process is similar to cooking jam, but involves a very low heat and takes longer, since you need to take a break of 8-12 hours between boiling .

This will make it possible to preserve the texture of the product used and better saturate it with sugar syrup. Candied fruits boil down more than jam. The syrup tends to become viscous and thick.

The boiled pieces are transferred to a colander , where they need to be allowed to drain. This will probably also take several hours. Afterwards they are transferred to parchment and placed on a baking sheet sprinkled with granulated sugar.

The raw materials are dried in the oven at a temperature of 40 degrees . Don't overcook them or they will turn out too tough. Then the candied fruits are cooled and sprinkled with sugar or powdered sugar.

The finished product can be placed in a glass container and tightly closed with a lid or rolled up, or wrapped in paper and cellophane and placed in a dry place. It can be stored under these conditions for up to six months .

Candied fruits from cheap seasonal vegetables - recipe from “Everything will be good”:

For weight loss

Candied fruits and weight loss do not seem to be very compatible concepts , because these are simple carbohydrates that contain a lot of sugar and have a high glycemic index.

But their calorie content is half that of everyone’s favorite chocolate and chocolate candies.

Therefore, if you want something sweet, you can allow yourself a handful of this delicacy , and it is unlikely to do much harm to your figure. You can also add them to the same cereals that are recommended to be included in the diet of those losing weight.

Candied fruits are a delicious and relatively healthy dessert . Choose them carefully, or better yet, cook them yourself to be sure of the naturalness of the product.

Of course, remember to have a sense of proportion and do not overeat on them, after all, these are sweets, and not the lowest in calories .

A scattering of multi-colored pieces that, when eaten, quickly melt in the mouth and leave behind a sweet aftertaste - these are the well-known candied fruits. Many people use them as sweets - for some reason they are believed to be lower in calories. And many prepare candied fruits themselves and give them to children, considering the delicacy absolutely safe. What is generally known about candied fruits?

Contraindications and harm

Despite the natural raw materials from which candied fruits are prepared, the product has contraindications:

1. Diabetes. In case of chronic metabolic disorders, foods that contain simple carbohydrates, including sugar, are prohibited.
2. Exacerbation of kidney, intestinal, and liver diseases.
3. Pregnancy and lactation period.
4. Individual intolerance to the product. Candied fruits often contain fruits that are potential allergens: citrus fruits, pineapples. If there is an allergic reaction to a fruit, then there is a high probability that it will occur after eating the dried treat.

A tasty treat can be harmful to the health of those losing weight:

• Exceeding the daily calorie intake and weight gain are associated with excessive consumption of carbohydrate-rich foods;
• the appearance of caries and diathesis is possible due to the high sugar content and the presence of glaze;
• store-bought sweets are dangerous due to the presence of harmful components, so it is better to prepare them yourself.

Potential dangers and contraindications

Candied fruits contain a lot of sugar, so diabetes is a clear contraindication to their consumption . In addition, they are also high in calories, so they are not recommended for overweight people.

Store-bought sweets that have unnaturally bright colors can be harmful to health. This indicates the use of harmful chemical dyes. Therefore, ideally it is better to cook candied fruits yourself.

also important to be aware of the risk of an allergic reaction . If it manifests itself in you on a specific fruit or berry, it will certainly make itself felt when you eat candied fruit.

Even in the absence of contraindications, remember moderation. Abuse of candied fruits can lead to excess weight, caries , diathesis, and so on.

If you are interested in how dried apricots can be harmful and useful for women, read our article.

You can learn about the benefits and harms of tomato juice for the body from this material.

Our publication will tell you about the benefits, harms and safe dosage of carrot juice for men, women and children.

Reviews

Maria, 32 years old, Angarsk : Previously, I was on a diet and strictly limited myself in many ways, including sweets. Then she snapped and ate more than she wanted. I recently switched to healthy eating. Now I allow myself some healthy desserts that I prepare myself. For example, I bake corn or oat muffins for second breakfast, which I sprinkle with candied fruits on top. The body is happy, the weight does not increase. All I had to do was replace the candy with another treat.

Yulia, 43 years old, Chelyabinsk : I gave up sweets and sugar more than six months ago. To satisfy my sweet tooth, I decided to leave dried fruits and candied fruits in my diet. I add them to cottage cheese or porridge for breakfast - the taste of the dish gets boring over time, but thanks to this addition, a feeling of something new appears. In 8 months of proper nutrition, I managed to get rid of 11 kg, despite lax restrictions.

Elena, 47 years old, St. Petersburg : I ​​read that candied fruits are not recommended because of the sugar syrup in which they are prepared, but they contain a lot of vitamins and minerals. For myself, I decided that such a dessert is still healthier than milk chocolate or cakes. I like to eat a handful of candied fruits for breakfast: my mood improves, I have energy for the whole day, and I don’t gain excess weight. I make candied fruits myself and I know that they will benefit the body.

Natalia, 28 years old, Tolyatti : I have a sweet tooth and was almost constantly on a diet, but to no avail. Having studied the topic of proper nutrition, I revised the menu. Now I try to limit myself in tasty food - I gave up sweets, and I snack on green tea with dried fruits or candied fruits. After 1.5 months, the first results appeared: the weight is gradually disappearing, although previously it remained constant due to regular diet violations. The rashes on my face that I had after eating chocolate stopped appearing, my skin became fresher. I feel energetic and will continue to eat right.

Following a strict diet for a long time is not effective. Therefore, the question arises, what delicious food can you afford, in particular, is it possible to eat candied fruits while losing weight? Many delicacies that are conventionally undesirable for weight loss may turn out to be not only acceptable, but also useful.

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Health effects

Are candied fruits healthy? Eating treats can affect different categories of people in different ways:

• adult men and women : for adults, candied fruits, if they are natural and of high quality, can be useful due to the presence of vitamins and minerals, as well as essential oils that help fight colds. They may be healthier substitutes for regular sweets;
• Pregnant and lactating women : it is important for them to make sure there is no allergic reaction. Nursing mothers should introduce the product into their diet gradually and not immediately;
• children : if there is no allergy, children can be given this delicacy in moderation. This is a relatively healthy dessert that they will enjoy and will be an alternative to candy;
• elderly people : in the absence of contraindications, elderly people can periodically treat themselves to candied fruits. An additional benefit for them is that carbohydrates improve mental performance.

A treat and a source of vitamins

Candied fruits are one of the oldest recipes. They are considered simple and very successful. This dish was mainly prepared in the countries of the East, since, thanks to the favorable climate, a lot of sweet fruits grew there. In Russia they made jam from apples and berries, and made dried fruits. These compositions can be called similar products. Today in supermarkets you can find beautiful colored pieces of candied pineapple and special varieties of apricots.

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People were prompted to create the recipe by the need to preserve the harvest. Dried fruits with sugar, as it turns out, are perfectly stored for any length of time, while maintaining their excellent taste and nutritional qualities. Thanks to this property, the opinion arose that candied fruits can be eaten while losing weight.

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Nutritional properties of candied fruits

Essentially, the product is fruits, vegetables or berries that have been boiled in concentrated sugar syrup. After cooling and straining the sweet liquid, the fruit pieces will firm up and should not stick together or look like they've been cooked. In total, the product contains 80% dry matter.

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A number of experts do not consider candied fruits to be a healthy product, pointing to the high sugar content. However, they cannot argue that the product contains healthy fiber, which regular candies lack. It is also obvious that vitamins and microelements are perfectly preserved in dried candied fruits. Calorie content depends on the main ingredient.

How to choose a sweet product

Is it possible to eat candied fruits while losing weight, and if so, how much does this depend on their content and quality? As mentioned above, products with a lot of unnatural additives should be avoided:

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• Dyes
• Flavors
• Preservatives

An unnatural smell should alert you, so it is better to look for a product of better quality. When purchasing candied fruits, you can check how well they are processed. To do this, you need to press on the piece. Ideally, no moisture will escape from it. However, if they are too dry, this is also not good. This product will be too hard and candied. Most likely, the technological process was disrupted or the expiration date was exceeded.

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Even if the pieces are not unnaturally colored, they may contain dye. Whether it is present, and if so, in what quantity, is easy to check. It is enough to place a piece in water, or rather in boiling water, and the artificial dye will quickly dissolve and color the liquid.

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Important! If a piece almost dissolves in boiling water, it means it has no nutritional value. Apparently the fruit was too overcooked.

If the taste is too strong and the smell is deliberate, then you should suspect the presence of flavor essences. This is extremely undesirable, since during a diet the body is especially sensitive to incoming food. Chemical additives may cause allergic reactions.

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Harm of candied fruits

Doctors recommend candied fruits with caution - after all, they contain a lot of sugar. Therefore, it is worth limiting the amount of candied fruits you eat - 2-3 pieces a day are enough for children. Too much consumption of the delicacy in question can lead to the development of caries, diathesis and obesity.

Please note: candied fruits are strictly not recommended for people with diagnosed stomach diseases. Diabetes mellitus is also a contraindication - a huge amount of sugar in sweets will be “killer”.