Ask Dr. Gourmet

Will eating fruit on an empty stomach cause bloating and make my hair turn grey?

You have written in one of your articles that fruit should be eaten on empty stomach, but I read somewhere that eating fruits on empty stomach can lead to flushing out of good acids from body which can lead to greying of hair and bloating.

Dr. Gourmet Says...

I believe that you might have misunderstood this Ask Dr. Gourmet question about fruit myths.

If you read to the bottom of the page my answer to the question is:

Thanks for your kind words about the Dr. Gourmet website.

The email that you received about fruit is quackery and not true at all. Plain and simple. The "doctor" referenced in the email was a quack and not a doctor at all.

Here's information from a reliable source about this silliness:

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/natural_hygiene.html

There are many quacks today that pretend to be physicians but are quite simply dangerous.

To answer your specific question about the "flushing out of good acids," that is quackery as well.

There is no reason to not consume fruit, whether with other foods or on an empty stomach. Eat at least three pieces per day and fruit makes a great snack when you are hungry for something sweet.

Thanks for writing,

Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS
Dr. Gourmet