We all know it’s important to have a varied diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, but many people don’t realize that some fruits and vegetables are much better nutritionally than others.
Some fruits are loaded with sugar.
Mangoes can have 45 grams of sugar, which is more than the 39 grams of sugar in a 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola.
A cup of cherries, a single pear and a medium-sized wedge of watermelon each typically has about 20 grams of sugar, and a single banana has about 15 grams of sugar.
That doesn’t necessarily mean that these fruits are bad for us, but we should be mindful of how our bodies process all that sugar and make sure to eat those foods in moderation.
Many fruits are naturally low in sugar, making them a better choice for people with diabetes or pre-diabetes, or anyone who is trying to lose weight or limit their calorie intake.
There are two kinds of sugar in most fruits: glucose, which raises blood sugar and requires insulin for metabolization, and fructose, which doesn’t raise blood sugar and is processed by the liver.
One excellent choice is apples. Some varieties such as Granny Smith apples and Ida Red apples are naturally low in sugar yet high in dietary fiber and other vitamins and minerals.
That’s why we chose Granny Smith and Ida Red apples to make Happy Hearts dried apple chips. Each bag has just 100 calories, and there are no added sugars, oils or other artificial ingredients. In fact, Happy Hearts are made with just one ingredient: apples.
Another fruit that is naturally very low in sugar is rosehips.
The berries of the rose bush have very small trace amounts of sugar, and they are one of the best naturally occurring sources of Vitamin C — as much as 25 to 40 times more Vitamin C by weight than citrus fruits like lemons and oranges!
When we use rosehips to make our NADI Wild Rosehip Original drink, the beverage has zero sugar and just 9 calories per bottle.
If you are trying to embrace a healthier lifestyle and eat more fruits and vegetables, be sure to consider how much sugar you are consuming. Choose fruits that have lots of vitamins, minerals and fiber, but are low in sugar. Your body will thank you.