Fruits are commonly regarded as nutritious when consumed as part of a well-balanced diet. Some fruits, however, may be more appropriate for people with certain health problems or dietary limitations than others.

For certain people, whole fruits may be part of a balanced diet. Whole-food diets, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, promote good health and can help prevent certain chronic diseases. Fruits contain nutrients that may be missing in the average diet, as well as other plant compounds that are beneficial to the body, such as antioxidants. Certain types of fruit can be more appealing to some people than others. Certain fruits may be considered unhealthy by certain people or diets, but there may be better alternatives to consider in certain instances.

This article examines why people with certain dietary restrictions or health problems may want to avoid certain fruits, as well as which fruits they can avoid and some healthier alternatives.

Why do some people think those fruits are bad for them?

While fruit is generally a healthy staple in any diet, certain factors can make certain fruits unhealthy by a person's standards, depending on their health conditions, dietary restrictions, or weight loss goals. Some people on low carbohydrate or ketogenic diets, for example, can limit their fruit intake.

The glycemic index (GI) is a scoring system for carbohydrate foods like fruit that determines how they affect blood sugar levels after consumption. Foods with higher GI scores have a greater impact on blood sugar levels after consumption, so they may not be the healthiest choice for people who need to keep their blood sugar levels under control, such as diabetics.

Even if GI scores aren't a factor, some people may want to exclude higher sugar sources from their diet. Fruit is a good source of dietary sugars in general. Because of the extra sugar, the individual may consume more calories than they intended. For others, sugar may be the thing they want to stay away from.

Some people will also want to avoid such fruits because they are high in fat. Avocado and coconut, for example, are naturally rich in fats. People on a low-fat diet may not find these fruits to be nutritious, or they may want to avoid the extra fat calories that these fruits provide.

Which fruits are considered to be "less nutritious" by some?

It's important to remember that most whole fruits are safe if consumed in moderation and as part of a well-balanced diet. In and of themselves, no fruit is completely unhealthy. Other people, on the other hand, may choose not to eat such fruits because they contain more sugar, fat, or calories, which may conflict with their weight loss goals, current diet, or dietary restrictions. Others, such as those who have diabetes or allergies, may need to limit their fruit consumption for health reasons. The parts that follow examine some fruits that some people might consider unhealthy.