Does Sweeter Fruit Contain More Sugar?

The sweetness of a fruit is not solely determined by its sugar content. There are multiple factors that contribute to how sweet a fruit tastes, including but not limited to, the fruit’s acidity level and the type of dietary fiber it contains. For instance, a watermelon, despite only having a 6% sugar content, tastes sweeter than oranges which contain 9.5% sugar. The reason being, oranges have a higher acid content which can mask their sweetness. Another example can be seen in apples – the tart green apples have an equal amount of sugar as their sweet red counterparts, however, the difference in taste is primarily due to the varying levels of acidity between the two.

But does a higher sugar content in fruits mean they are less suitable for individuals with diabetes?

The answer is no. There isn’t a direct correlation between the amount of sugar in a fruit and its glycemic index. To elaborate, the glycemic index measures how quickly a food’s sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream. A fruit like watermelon, despite having a relatively low sugar content of 6%, has a high glycemic index. This means the sugars from the watermelon are rapidly absorbed, making it a less suitable fruit for individuals with diabetes.

On the other hand, cherries, which contain a higher sugar content of 13% (more than twice that of watermelon), have a low glycemic index. This translates to the sugar from the cherries being absorbed more slowly, making them a more suitable fruit for individuals with diabetes. Plums also have a low glycemic index despite their sugar content.