10 Fruits you are eating that could be making you fat

Belly Busters: 10 Fruits that could be making you gain weight

Angela Goh

13 Jul 2016

1/10
Pineapples
Tropical fruits like pineapples tend to be higher in sugar, which also gives them a very high glycemic index (GI) value. A cup of pineapple can have more than 16 grams of sugar! Pineapples also don’t contain as many nutritional benefits compared to other fruits, so it might not be worth splurging on.
Fun fact: The area closest to the base of the fruit contains a lot more sugar than the top, and therefore tastes sweeter and is more tender.
2/10
Grapes
Grapes contain a high amount of sugar in just a small serving. While the fruit is loaded with powerful cancer-fighting antioxidants, you should limit your intake if you don’t want a spike in your blood sugar levels. You will notice that grapes are much sweeter than other fruit. We suggest one handful per serving (about 80 grams).
3/10
Watermelon
A large portion of the calories in watermelon come from sugars. Unfortunately, most people tend to overeat watermelon as the fruit is easily consumed. There is a misconception that watermelon is “just full of water” and is thus a “healthy” fruit. It’s not hard to chomp away on the waterlogged fruit until you realise you’ve eaten half an entire melon. And all the sugar that comes with it.
4/10
Papaya
Depending on how ripe the fruit is, papayas generally have a medium-to-high glycemic index (GI) value, which might destabilise your blood sugar levels and make you feel hungry after a short period of time. A good way to lower the GI of your serving of papaya would be to add chunks of it to some oatmeal during breakfast, or eat the fruit with some nuts.
5/10
Mango
Half a cup of sliced mango has about 13 grams of total carbohydrates, which makes up 98% of the total calories, and sugar makes up more than 90% of this carb count. Yes, that’s just half a cup. Seeing as a single mango can amount to two cups of the fruit, this means consuming just one mango in its entirety could take up more than your entire day’s recommended daily intake (which is about 25 grams of sugar).
6/10
Nectarines
While nectarines contain a good amount of vitamin C and beta-carotene, it is also a small fruit, which might cause people to eat several instead of stopping at just one. One medium-sized nectarine contains an average of 62 calories. Imagine snacking on two or three of these…
7/10
Bananas
Need energy fast? A banana may provide you with what you need. But if you aren’t going to be burning the calories anytime soon, it may be best to skip the fruit and consume something less carb-heavy. A single medium-sized banana could add 105 calories to your diet.
8/10
Figs
Figs are very high in natural sugars, and this sugar content also extends to dried figs, which can be made up of more than 50% sugar. A mere 100 grams of figs can contain up to 107 calories, so you’d better watch your intake!
9/10
Pomegranate
100 grams of fleshy pomegranate arils (the part that contains the seeds and juices) contains about 83 calories and 14 grams of natural sugars. This sugar count is higher than other sweet fruits such as apples (approximately 10 grams of sugar) and oranges (9.35 grams of sugar).
10/10
Cherries
Tart cherries may score a low 22 on the glycemic index, but sweet cherries can have a GI of 62, which might have a moderate impact on your blood sugar levels. It is important to know which cherries to consume - glacé cherries (the type you find on cakes and in desserts), canned cherries and dried cherries are much more sugar-laden than fresh cherries.

Yes, even the seemingly innocent mango could be making you pack on the pounds.

A diet that includes a variety of different fruits and vegetables is, of course, the way to go. Fruits are not only delicious but also extremely nutritious and rich in fibre. However, it’s obvious that some fruits contain more sugar than others, and these sugars can add up quickly, ultimately resulting in the cause of your weight gain (and other health problems).

We’re not saying it’s bad to eat that lovely slice of mango or that freshly peeled banana (although, yes, these fruits contain a significant amount of sugar). No matter how many calories fruit contain, they will most likely still provide necessary vitamins and minerals to your body. All we’re saying is: moderation is key! But, of course, it would help to know which fruits out there contain the most sugars and calories.

We’ve rounded up a list of 10 fruits that could be contributing to your weight gain. They may taste great, but try not the eat them every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Angela Goh

Photos: Getty Images

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