How Much Sugar is in Your Favorite Fruit?

By , SparkPeople Blogger
Fresh fruit boasts a high amount of fiber, water, and a slew of other vitamins and minerals--but it can also come with a good amount of sugar. Even though fruit contains only natural sugars and is a healthy choice in moderation, it's a good idea to watch how much sugar you're taking in regardless of where it comes from. Have you ever wondered just how much of the sweet stuff is found in nature's candy? If you were to choose the fruit with the least amount of naturally-occurring sugar, which would be your best bet: Bananas, apples, or oranges?
 
The Winner: Oranges!
Per 100 grams of edible fruit, juicy oranges contain 9.35 grams of natural sugars. Apples are a close second at 10.39 grams, and bananas weigh in at 12.23 grams. Want to know how some of your other favorite fruits stack up? Check out the chart below!

Fruit (100 grams of edible portion) Sugar Grams (4 grams = ~1 tsp)
Raspberries 4.42
Strawberries 4.66
Blackberries 4.88
Papaya 5.90
Watermelon 6.20
Grapefruit (pink) 6.89
Cantaloupe melon 7.86
Honeydew melon 8.12
Peaches 8.39
Kiwi 8.99
Apricots 9.24
Pineapple 9.26
Oranges 9.35
Pears 9.80
Plums 9.92
Blueberries 9.96
Apples 10.39
Bananas 12.23
Cherries (sweet) 12.82
Mango 14.80
Grapes 16.25
Figs 16.26
Pomegranate 16.57
 
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

One last note about fruit and sugar: Don't let those numbers scare you too much! Keep in mind that all fruit is great for you in moderation, just like any other food. Plus, a piece of fruit is always a better choice than a candy bar that's packed with processed sugars and additives. Aim to enjoy 2-3 servings of fruit per day to reap the sweet benefits of vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants!

What's your favorite fruit? Do you monitor your sugar intake, even from natural sugars?