JJ Virgin explains that whole fruit in moderation, about one to two servings daily, provides fiber and antioxidants without the sugar spike of juices or dried fruit. Frozen or fresh fruit is fine; skip the concentrated versions like jams and fruit leathers, which are sugar bombs.
Questions this episode answers
One to two servings a day (about one cup per serving).
Juices, dried fruit, jams, syrups, and fruit leathers.
Eat half of a frozen green banana for resistant starch; riper bananas have more sugar.
Free shipping for any order over $35.
Up to 40% off plus free gifts on the first order (earthbreeze.com/virgin).
Chapters
Hey, J.J. here. Can you believe how fast the holidays are knocking at the door this year? One minute it's pumpkin spice season, the next you're getting your guest room ready and wondering where their wrapping paper went. And that's when I turned to Wayfair. From bedding and towels to holiday decor and last minute stocking stuffers, Wayfair has everything you need to get your home and holidays together fast. And for way less. With Wayfair, I know I can refresh my guest room in no time. Maybe I'll add a soft new comforter or a few holiday throw pillows. With Wayfair, it's so easy and everything arrives super fast. Plus, there's free shipping for any order over $35 easy and total peace of mind. So whether you're hosting, gifting, or just adding those final festive touches, Wayfair has your back. And when the holidays wind down, Wayfair has everything you need to tuck it all neatly away. Smart storage solutions for every room from the kitchen to the closet. Get organized, refreshed and ready for the holidays. For way less head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair Every style, every home. That's W-A-Y-F-A-I R.com hey, it's JJ here.
You know, I've been talking about environmental toxins forever, and laundry detergent is a sneaky one.
A lot of them contain harsh chemicals.
Like dyes, preservatives, and even UV brighteners.
Those brighteners don't actually clean anything.
They just coat fabric so your eyes think things look whiter or brighter. That's more chemicals I don't want on my family sheets or skin. And if you've got sensitive skin or allergies around the house, this can be a big problem. That's what got my attention about Earth Breeze.
It looks like a dryer sheet, but.
It'S actually laundry detergent. You toss one in the washer and that's it. No pouring, no mess, and no heavy plastic jug. Their packaging is lightweight cardboard, which helps reduce plastic waste. And if you choose the fragrance free option, it's gentle, hypoallergenic, non irritating, and non sensitizing. I really like how simple it is and how fresh and clean everything comes out without those unnecessary chemicals. Right now you can try Earth Breeze for up to 40% off with free gifts@earthbreeze.com virgin that's earthbreeze.com virgin for up to 40% off plus free gifts on.
Your first order the holidays are all about family, but at the Chrysler Wrap up of the Year sales event, it's all about you. Enjoy every mile in the most awarded minivan in America, the Chrysler Pacifica with the most standard safety features in its class, available Stow N Go seating and the available Stow N Back built in vacuum. Make the most of the holidays with a great deal at the Chrysler Pacifica Wrap up the Year sales event based on Ward's small van segment. Based upon the latest available competitor information, Chrysler is a registered trademark of FCA US llc.
But what about the Sugar and Fruit? This is JJ Virgin, four time New York Times Best selling author, celebrity nutrition expert and Fitness hall of Famer. I've been on a lifelong quest for answers to the toughest health questions and now I'm sharing what I found with you. Welcome to Ask the Health Expert. Today's question comes from Julianne Andrews on Insta. She asks, what about sugar and fruit? Is it okay to eat? Well, yes and no. Julianne, I'll be right back with the answer.
Hey JJ Virgin here.
Okay, real talk. So often the holidays sneak up on me. Travel, gifts, hosting, you know, all the things and suddenly it's like, wait, who.
Spent what and where?
And I know I'm not the only one who's looked at a bill in January and thought, wow, that escalated quickly. If you want to keep your finances under control this holiday season, you need to be using Monarch and it's rated the Wall Street Journal's best budgeting app of 2025. Monarch is the all in one personal finance tool that brings your entire financial life together in one clean interface on your laptop or on your phone. Monarch lets you link everything and gives you real time visibility so you're not shocked later. Right now, I've been checking the holiday spending category so I don't accidentally start the new year with that dreaded debt hangover. And honestly, just seeing everything laid out is already helping me stay more aware. This season, Monarch does the heavy lifting. It links your accounts in minutes, gives you smart categorization and super clear visuals. Yes, that end of your reset could be a real goal this time. Don't let financial opportunity slip through the cracks. Use the code virgin@monarch.com in your browser for half off your first year. That's 50% off your first year@monarch.com with the code Virgin.
Some people think nature is like this, but actually it's like this. That's why Columbia engineers everything we make for anything nature can throw at you. Columbia engineered for Whatever.
As the author of the Sugar Impact diet. I literally wrote the book on sugar. Now fruit can be a double edged sword. On the positive side, if you're eating whole fruit in moderation, that means one to two servings a day of a piece of fruit or basically a cup, you get a lot of goodness, including vitamins, antioxidants and fiber. Plus, frozen berries make your smoothie amazing. And another little hack, I love half of a frozen green banana. Remember, when they're greener, they're higher in gut, soothing fat, burning resistant starch, but when they get riper, they become sugar bombs. And speaking of sugar bombs, let me tell you, when you make a good thing bad, that's when you unwrap the fruit and turn it into juice. I think of fruit like that as a soda. And case in point, apple juice actually has more high fructose, more fructose content than a soda. Next up, how do you turn that fruit into a candy? You dry it. So dried food's another one you want.
To get out there.
Little sugar bombs. And then finally, those apple butters and jams and then the syrups, they're just what they sound like. They're syrups, they're condensed sugar. So go for the fresh or go for the frozen because often the frozen is picked at the peak of season. And avoid the sugar bombs of dried fruit, fruit, syrups, jams, leathers and juices. All right, there you go. This is JJ with Ask the Health Expert. I do this five times a week, so make sure you never miss a show by going to subscribetojay.com.
Foreign. Hello listeners, this is Anne Bogle, author, blogger, and creator of the podcast what Should I Read next? Since 2016, I've been helping readers bring more joy and delight into their reading lives. Every week, I take all things books and reading with a guest and guide them in discovering their next read. They share three books they love, one book they don't, and what they've been reading lately. And I recommend three titles they may enjoy reading next. Guests have said our conversations are like therapy, troubleshooting issues that have plagued their reading lives for years and possibly the rest of their lives as well. And of course, recommending books that meet the moment. Whether they are looking for deep introspection to spur or encourage a life change, or a frothy page turner to help them escape the stresses of work, school, everything, you'll learn something about yourself as a reader and you'll definitely walk away confident to choose your next read. With a whole list of new books and authors to try. So join us each Tuesday for what Should I Read Next? Subscribe now wherever you're listening to this podcast and visit our website. What Should I read next? Podcast.com to find out more.
