The fruits with the highest sugar content include mangoes, pomegranates, oranges, and pears. If someone has diabetes, they can still have these fruits, but they may wish to ask their doctor if they should eat them in smaller portions.
The ones you might not even think of as fruit! Olives and avocado naturally contain no sugars. Rhubarb, lime and starfruit have some sugar, but only a half gram per half cup. Lemons, cranberries, raspberries, strawberries and watermelon offer only about 2 to 3 grams per half-cup serving.
On its own, one medium apple harbors only 19 grams of sugar, whereas a cup of unsweetened apple juice has about 24.
Kiwis. This small exotic fruit has become a grocery store favorite. Not only are these little greens low in sugar, kiwi is packed with vitamin C, which can improve your immune system.
With so few carbohydrates, a high fiber content, and healthful fat, people with diabetes can enjoy an avocado in moderation without the stress of raising their blood sugar levels. Pairing an avocado with other foods may help reduce blood sugar spikes too.
While all fruits are healthy, registered dietitian nutritionist Danielle Crumble Smith recommends one nutrient-packed fruit in particular – wild blueberries. Blueberries contain lots of fiber, which keeps you fuller for longer. They also rank among the fruits and vegetables with the highest antioxidant content.
Avoid mixing your watermelons, muskmelons, cantaloupe and honeydews with other fruits. Try not to mix acidic fruits, such as grapefruits and strawberries, or sub-acidic foods such as apples, pomegranates and peaches, with sweet fruits, such as bananas and raisins for a better digestion.
Some commonly eaten fresh fruits may raise your blood sugar more quickly than others. These include figs, grapes, mangos, cherries and bananas. Eat them in moderation and in the suggested serving size of one small fruit or 1/2 cup.
Blueberries: A whole cup of blueberries contains 15 grams of sugar. Not bad, considering these berries are packed with antioxidants and fiber!
Seafood, pork, beef, and chicken are all sugar-free. They're also an important source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. If you don't eat meat, soybeans, lentils, beans, nuts, and seeds are great sugar-free, high-protein foods.
Examples of low sugar foods
More examples of healthy food options include naturally low sugar foods, such as: Vegetables: carrots, onions, mushrooms, asparagus, celery, broccoli. Grains: brown rice, crackers, quinoa, oats.
Tangerines (Mandarins)
They provide only 47 calories and 12 grams of carbohydrates per single serve of fruit (1 medium tangerine). They're also relatively low in natural sugars at 9.3 grams (23).
A banana a day is not too much sugar. There are two types of sugar: natural and refined, and since bananas have fructose (a naturally occurring sugar), it's a good source of carbohydrates.
Mangoes are a sweet fruit with high levels of natural sugar. They also contain fiber and a variety of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins C, A, E, and K, as well as a range of B vitamins.