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Thread: Is there such a thing as too much greens?

  1. #1
    Breadman In Aus
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    Post Is there such a thing as too much greens?

    Well, I'm new to this forum but I've been reading it for awhile and I am a TC on The Yahoo Answers Vegetarian and Vegan forum so I just thought I'd join.
    My question is, is there such a thing of too much greens?
    OR fruit and vegetables for that matter?
    I am consuming in the vicinity of 20 serves of fruit and vegetables daily and am wondering if you think this is too much, my personal favourite is spinach.
    So, tell me what do you think?

  2. #2
    baffled harpy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is there such a thing as too much greens?

    Hello - I know some raw foodists eat a huge amount of greens and I haven't read about them getting problems as a result, though I wonder if too much oxalic acid could be a problem if you ate massive amounts of spinach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxalic_acid includes a section on "physiological effects" - the usual Wikipedia provisos apply but perhaps you could follow up some of their references)

    Do you feel well on your current diet? I wouldn't have thought a large quantity of fruit and veg was problematic provided you could handle all the fibre. I would think it's a good idea to vary the veg and fruit as much as possible, rather having than a lot of servings of the same thing, to ensure you're consuming a wide range of nutrients.

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    Default Re: Is there such a thing as too much greens?

    well my nutritionist - who i have to say was increadibly anti-vegan - would argue that there is such a thing as too many servings of fruit and veg. I ate about 8-10 servings a day which she disagreed with on the basis that eating so much fruit and veg meant your body was too full from those for you to fit in other things such as carbohydrates, etc.

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    Default Re: Is there such a thing as too much greens?

    I suppose also there's a potentially negative effect of lots of fruit acid on tooth enamel?

    I think you might make a case for there being issues with eating too much of one particular fruit or vegetable (too many carrots turning your skin orangey - though I don't know if this is apocryphal) or if the exceptionally high levels of fibre irritated the lining of your gut or discouraged you from eating other foods with necessary nutrients (such as fats from nuts and oils)?

    But 20 servings a day doesn't seem on the massively extreme end of the spectrum to me - after all, I seem to recall hearing that the original recommendation from the WHO was 10 a day, then reduced down to 5 a day because they thought Joe Public would be put off by too high a target...
    Last edited by Ruby Rose; Jan 11th, 2009 at 05:26 PM. Reason: sorry, Harpy, just realised my post repeats many of the same points as yours

  5. #5
    baffled harpy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is there such a thing as too much greens?

    Your nutritionist sounds a bit unusual, veganprincess. I've read that many experts think the ideal is a lot more than the official five servings but that they say five because most people don't even manage that. Other countries already have higher recommendations as mentioned here:

    http://www.brighamandwomens.org/heal...d_pyramids.pdf

    Also I don't know what she meant about not getting enough carbohydrates when vegetables contain carbohydrates. Whole grains contain some important nutrients so perhaps she was worried you weren't eating those?

    ETA Ruby Rose, my turn to duplicate your points! I think you're right about carrots - people may have OD'd on the ?beta carotene - or vitamin A? in them although I believe that's usually from drinking carrot juice as they can consume more that way.

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    Default Re: Is there such a thing as too much greens?

    I guess its because my nutritionist is an ed specialist and to be fair eating only 8-10 servings of fruit/veg a day and very little else doesnt really fit in with most peoples idea of a healthy balanced diet.

    Essentially i think you cant eat too many as long as your eating a variety of fruit/veg as well as all the other essential food groups.

  7. #7
    baffled harpy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is there such a thing as too much greens?

    Hmm, I probably eat about 10 servings of fruit and veg and then a lot of other stuff, such as nuts, seeds, grains and other essential food groups like chocolate .

    I can see an e.d. specialist would have a different perspective but as you say it might be better to focus on making sure the person's getting enough of everything, including calories of course.

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    Default Re: Is there such a thing as too much greens?

    Absolutely. And i'd definately say 10 wasn't too much. And while you were 'joking' i think chocolate and carob bars are definiately an essential food group, if not THE essential food group lol.

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Is there such a thing as too much greens?

    Potential problems with lots of greens (LOTS)

    1. Too much fiber in the diet, can cause digestion issues and interfere with some mineral absorption.
    2. So many filling greens means you don't have room for necessary fats and protein in the diet.

  10. #10

    Default Re: Is there such a thing as too much greens?

    This thread inspired me to include a big salad with my lunch, because to date I haven't been getting much fruit and veggies! (more veggies than fruit though, think I'm OK with veggies on the days that I eat enough) <-I thought, I have to do this legendary "vegan eats a salad" thing.

  11. #11
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    Default Re: Is there such a thing as too much greens?

    I just read in a magazine, that especially too much fruits can cause e.g. headaches because of too much vitamines.
    Actually I eat so much fruits and vegs and never felt sick because of it. Like the others say it's important to eat other foodgroups as well.

  12. #12
    mango woman
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    Default Re: Is there such a thing as too much greens?

    I've been wondering about something lately and this thread seems like a good place to post it:

    Whenever I try to get my eating in check I tend to go insane and end up eating everything I'm trying not to eat or I end up eating larger portions of things than I should be. For some reason limiting things just makes me feel weird and deprived. If I am making sure to get essential fats, whole grains and sources of protein, in your opinion, do you think it'd be fine for me to pretty much eat as many vegetables as I want? I would still limit my intake of things like avocados, nuts, bananas, dried fruit and fruit in general [though I do enjoy having a fruit salad at some point during the day] and I normally don't eat junk food. Unfortunately junk food for me is stuff like nuts, dried fruit.. etc. Sigh.

    I'm not sure if I've worded my concern well or not but hopefully someone can help me out! This thread has given a little bit of information but I decided to ask about this anyway. Basically I like my meals to be full of veggies, I like to snack on fruit throughout the day [and I like fruit as dessert] and I love my salads to be huge and full of veggies and low in fat. I just want to be able to tell myself that plain veggies are OKAY no matter what.. ?

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    Default Re: Is there such a thing as too much greens?

    Quote theashleybeyer View Post
    Whenever I try to get my eating in check I tend to go insane and end up eating everything I'm trying not to eat or I end up eating larger portions of things than I should be. For some reason limiting things just makes me feel weird and deprived.
    To be honest, Ashley, I think this is normal! Why don't you try a bit of reverse psychology... try thinking "f*ck it, I'm gonna eat all I want" - you might find your mindset starting to shift..

    Quote theashleybeyer View Post
    If I am making sure to get essential fats, whole grains and sources of protein, in your opinion, do you think it'd be fine for me to pretty much eat as many vegetables as I want?
    I think most of us don't eat ENOUGH vegetables, so as long as you are getting all the nutrients you need, I think you can eat as many as you want.
    Obviously it's HOW you eat them that matters - veggies are naturally low in fat, but if you start smothering them in haigh-fat dressings, or deep frying them, this obviously changes.

    But you know that... I think plain veggies are the biz

  14. #14
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    Default Re: Is there such a thing as too much greens?

    Anything that is taken in ridiculously large quantities is potentially harmful - an overdose of water can cause diabetes insipidus (nothing to do with the diabetes we are all familiar with).
    I don't think it sounds like you have a problem though.
    Born to Lose - Live to Win!

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    Default Re: Is there such a thing as too much greens?

    Not that I'm in any position to comment on someone else's food choices - but tAB, are you sure you need to limit your food? The things that you write that you eat are a healthy diet - why the heck would you need to limit your food? Forgive me for saying that it sounds a little bit like the issue is more psychological than nutrition-based - almost like you're setting impossible rules for yourself and then rebelling against those rules. Have you read any books by Geneen Roth, or Gillian Riley about getting into a more normal relationship with your body and your food needs - learning about being in a position to trust yourself to know when you're hungry and when you're full?
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eating-Less-...7727637&sr=8-1

    When you say that fruit, nuts, avocados are junk food to you, I want to say - WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT??? These are healthy foods with essential nutrients in them. Junk food means foods that has no nutritional value and usually has a negative impact on your health. The objective truth about your food intake is that you aren't eating junk food! So eat as much veggies and fruit as you want, hon, but do it because you want to eat them not because you feel you should or because you're trying to stop yourself eating the things your body really wants you to eat.

    OK, lecture over - now I'm heading for the kitchen to start searching for some proper junk food! RR x

  16. #16
    mango woman
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    Default Re: Is there such a thing as too much greens?

    haha, thanks for the great post RR. Thanks everyone else who's responded as well. I'm going to try journaling more about how I feel and stuff. I've been falling deeper into eating disordered habits and I feel like absolute shit. It all started with me trying to count calories. Now it's worse than I've been in a long time.. and I'm certainly not starving myself. It's the opposite.

    I am going to look into that book too. Thank you so much for the link.

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