How to Choose Fruits That Are Lowest in Sugar
Fresh fruits are loaded with antioxidants, vitamin C, and are a rich source of soluble fiber; but if you're diabetic, obese, or watching your sugar intake, you don't want to eat too many fruits that are high in natural sugar. Although natural sugars found in fruits are superior to processed sugars, eating too much sugar, even the natural kind, can raise blood sugar levels and promote weight gain. The solution is to choose fruits that have a lower sugar content. This will allow you to get fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants without causing insulin spikes. Which fruits are lowest in sugar?
Lowest sugar fruit: Melon
When it comes to low sugar and high nutrition, you can't do much better than a slice of fresh cantaloupe. It has one of the lowest sugar contents of any fruit around with one cup containing only three grams. Plus, you can enjoy a full cup of this delicious fruit at only fifty calories. Watermelon is another good choice with nine grams of sugar per cup. Not a bad trade off for all of those healthy lycopenes.
Lowest sugar fruit: Berries
When it comes to low sugar berries, strawberries stand apart form the crowd at only seven grams of sugar per cup. The deep red color of these berries means they're a good source of anthocyanins which help to protect the body and brain against free radical damage. Strawberries also have anti-inflammatory properties related to their high phenol content. Raspberries and blackberries are also good choices if you're looking for a fruits with lower sugar contents.
Lowest sugar fruit: Citrus
Believe it or not, one of the best low sugar citrus choices is the lemon. Why? Because it's lower in sugar than the orange and is still a good source of vitamin C. The acidity of the lemon also helps digestion when enjoyed with a meal. An average lemon contains around two grams of sugar. Compare this to a medium orange with fourteen grams of sugar and grapefruit with eleven grams. Limes are another good low sugar citrus alternative. How about some old-fashioned limeade?
Lowest sugar fruits: Other good choices
Other fruits that are low in sugar are plums and kiwi fruit.
What fruits should you avoid?
If you're watching your sugar intake, steer clear of bananas, grapes, and sweet cherries which are between ten and fifteen percent sugar. Dried fruits, particularly figs and raisins should be avoided since their sugar content is between a quarter and half.
Enjoy these low sugar fruit options without guilt.
Learn more about other Superfoods.