Fruit | Common News Update

Apr112018 by adminNo Comments

What Is Monk Fruit Sweetener and Is It a Healthy Option?

Health

Find out more about monk fruit extract, the low-calorie sweetener that is actually sweeter than sugar. You’re probably super familiar with Stevia, the popular sugar substitute derived from the Stevia plant. but what about monk fruit extract, another calorie-free sweetener that’s become trendy among health-conscious eaters over the last few years?According to the FDA, monk fruit extract can taste up to 250 times sweeter than standard table sugar—thanks to chemical compounds called mogrosides, which give the fruit its characteristic sweetness. But where does monk fruit come from, and is this sweetener actually good for you? We reached out to a nutritionist for the facts.RELATED: What is Manuka Honey—and Why Is It So Good...

Is It Possible to Eat Too Much Fruit?

Health

You've been told since you were a kid how important it is to eat fruit. But is there such thing as too much? As a nutritionist, I've worked with clients on both ends of the fruit-eating spectrum: Some shunned fruit completely due to its carb and sugar content, while others loaded up on fruit because it's rich in nutrients. The reality is, the ideal amount lies somewhere in between these two extremes, and it varies from person to person. To help you figure out your own sweet spot when it comes to fruit, here are four important things to keep in mind.Stick with two to four servingsAs a general rule, you probably need somewhere between two to four servings of fruit a day. What's a proper serving? Either one cup, or a piece of fruit about the size of a baseball. But if your activity level vari...

Fruit and veg farmers facing migrant labour shortages

Business

Media playback is unsupported on your deviceUK summer fruit and salad growers are having difficulty recruiting pickers, with more than half saying they don't know if they will have enough migrant workers to harvest their crops.Many growers blame the weak pound which has reduced their workers' earning power, as well as uncertainty over Brexit, according to a BBC survey. About 80,000 seasonal workers a year pick and process British fruit and veg. Most of them are from the European Union, mainly Romania and Bulgaria. Are you an EU seasonal worker planning to work in the UK this summer to pick fruit and vegetables? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk and include your telephone number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. One in five growers says they already have fewer pickers than t...