Mangoes
Fruit is good for you! It has fiber and other nutrients you need. But it also has natural sugar, and some have more than others. For example, one mango has a whopping 45 grams of sugar -- not your best choice if you're trying to watch your weight or how much sugar you eat. Maybe enjoy a couple of slices and save the rest for later.
Grapes
A cup of these has about 23 grams sugar. That's a lot for something that's so easy to pop in your mouth. You might eat them more slowly if you slice them in half and freeze them. They'll be waiting for you as a refreshing summer treat that takes a bit longer to eat.
Cherries
They're sweet, and they have the sugar to show for it: A cup of them has 18 grams. If you fill up a large bowl with them, you can lose track of how many you eat. Measure your snack beforehand so you know exactly how much sugar you'll get.
Pears
One medium pear has 17 grams of sugar. If you're trying to cut back, don't eat the whole thing -- just put a few slices in some low-fat yogurt or on top of a salad.
Watermelon
A medium wedge of this summer treat has 17 grams of sugar. As its name suggests, it's loaded with water, and it has special minerals called electrolytes that are just what your body needs to recharge after some time in the sun. Just keep it to a slice or two.
Figs
Two medium-size ones have 16 grams. If you're trying to keep an eye on your sugar, maybe slice a couple and spread some goat cheese on them for a protein-rich treat, or use some in a sauce to add some zip to lean meats like skinless chicken.
Bananas
One medium banana has 14 grams sugar. If that seems like more than you bargained for, slice half of it into your morning cereal or smash a small piece in the middle of your peanut butter sandwich.
Less Sugar: Avocados
Not all fruits are loaded with the sweet stuff. A whole avocado -- yep, it's a fruit -- has only half a gram of sugar. Put it in a salad, spread it on toast, or make some guacamole. But while they're low in sugar, they're high in calories, so it might not be a good idea to make them a daily habit.
Less Sugar: Guavas
Each one has 5 grams of sugar and about 3 grams of fiber, too -- more than you'd get from a serving of brown rice or a slice of whole-grain bread. You'll get even more fiber if you add guavas with the skin on to your smoothies.
Less Sugar: Raspberries
These pack a serious punch of fiber with 8 grams per cup -- and only 5 grams of sugar. The fiber is good for digestion and can help you feel fuller with fewer calories. They're the perfect size to savor one at a time, and they're not bad with some fresh whipped cream and a spoon, either.
Less Sugar: Cantaloupe
It's kind of amazing that the flavor and satisfaction packed in a single medium wedge can come from only 5 grams of sugar -- and only 23 calories. Try it with some cottage cheese and a sprinkle of salt.
Less Sugar: Papayas
Here's a good one to add to your shopping list: Half of a small one has 6 grams of sugar. Even a small one is pretty big, so half is plenty to eat at one time. You can add a squeeze of lime and a sprinkle of sea salt -- or a dollop of frozen yogurt for a tropical treat.
Less Sugar: Strawberries
A cup of whole strawberries has only 7 grams. Add them to a salad for some vibrant color and a touch of summer.
Reviewed by Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, LD on 6/7/2017
Sources: © 2005-2019 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
Tropical Fruits: 8 Exotic Fruits for Your Everyday Grocery List
Tropical Delights
Move over, apples and bananas. It's time to try other tasty fruits, like acai, guava, and papaya. They've got a lot going for them.
Passion Fruit
Highly fragrant, egg-shaped, and purple, red, or yellow when mature, the passion fruit is also called the purple granadilla ("little pomegranate" in Spanish). It tastes a lot like guava. Rich in vitamins A and C, potassium, and fiber, you'll get just 16 calories per fruit. Slice it in half, and scoop out and eat the seeds and pulp. Serve in fruit salads, or with chicken, pork, or fish. Strain the pulp and use it in juices, cocktails, desserts, and sauces.
Star Fruit (Carambola)
A waxy, golden-yellow fruit tasting of citrus, apple, and plum, star fruit hails from Southeast Asia. Sweet-tart, each fruit has 40 calories and is a great source of vitamin C. Wash, slice, and eat the entire star-shaped treat. You don't need to peel or seed it. Add it to salads or savory dishes, or use as a garnish. Don't eat it if you have kidney problems, since star fruit naturally has kidney stone-forming oxalic acid.
Acai
Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) berries stem from a palm tree in the rain forest of Brazil. This tiny, dark, round fruit is about the size of a blueberry (with a large, inedible seed) and tastes like chocolate and wild berries. You can find acai in smoothies and other drinks, or dried and mixed with granola. Acai is rich in anthocyanins (responsible for its purple color) and essential fatty acids.
Mango
Originally from Southeast Asia, mangoes range in color from green to yellow to red. Packed with antioxidant vitamins A and C, potassium, and fiber, mangoes are easy to enjoy. Peel away the skin, cut away the large seed, and enjoy the rich, orange flesh, bursting with a sweet, tropical taste. Available fresh, frozen, or dried, versatile mangoes can be found in dishes from sweet to savory.
Papaya
The pear-shaped papaya is native to Central America and has soft, buttery flesh with peppery, edible seeds. This sweet, musky fruit can be as big as 20 inches but is typically about 7 inches long, with 118 calories, lots of vitamin C, and a good amount of folate and potassium. Papaya contains the enzyme papain, used in meat tenderizers and useful in protein digestion. Enjoy papayas fresh or baked, with a squeeze of lemon or lime.
Pomegranate
Loaded with antioxidants and fiber, pomegranates are available fresh in the fall. About the size of an apple, the deep red fruit is filled with jewel-toned seeds held in place with a spongy membrane. Only the seeds -- sweet-tart and crunchy -- are edible. Squeeze for ruby red juice, or eat the seeds plain, with fruits, on salads, or atop low-fat yogurt and desserts. One-half cup has 80 calories.
Guava
Juicy, sweet, and acidic, the guava's taste might remind you of strawberries and pears. The edible rind may be white, yellow, pink, or red, and may be seedless or filled with pale, edible seeds. Round, oval, or pear-shaped, guavas tend to be 2-4 inches long and are an excellent source of vitamin C. Guava also gives you vitamin A, fiber, potassium, and phosphorus, and you can use it in juices, jams, and desserts.
Kiwifruit
Grown on a vine, these egg-shaped fruits are known for their fuzzy brown skin and sweet-tart flesh. With only 70 calories, kiwis are a great source of potassium and fiber, with twice the vitamin C of an orange. Peel with a vegetable peeler (though the skin is edible) and enjoy the delicious green or golden flesh and tiny, edible seeds. Use kiwis in salads, smoothies, juices, or on low-fat yogu
