Sweet spot: Thai fruits ranked by sugar content for diabetics

ThaiHealth has released information on the sugar content of various Thai fruits, identifying which ones have the highest and lowest amounts. This information is particularly important for individuals with diabetes, who need to consider both the type and amount of sugar in their diet.

The Thai fruit with the highest sugar content is tamarind, containing 58.28 grammes of sugar per 100 grammes. At the other end of the spectrum, the water caltrop has no sugar, making it the fruit with the least sugar content among the ones listed.

The top five Thai fruits with the highest sugar content are as follows:

• Tamarind: 58.28 grammes of sugar per 100 grammes
• Dates: 55.30 grammes of sugar per 100 grammes
• Dried Chinese jujube: 51.35 grammes of sugar per 100 grammes
• Namwa banana: 23.67 grammes of sugar per 100 grammes
• Egg banana: 21.83 grammes of sugar per 100 grammes

Conversely, the five Thai fruits with the lowest sugar content are:

• Water caltrop: 0 gramme of sugar per 100 grammes
• Ginkgo: 0 gramme of sugar per 100 grammes
• Fresh lotus seeds: 1.7 grammes of sugar per 100 grammes
• Thai melon: 2.5 grammes of sugar per 100 grammes
• Young coconut meat: 2.8 grammes of sugar per 100 grammes

When it comes to diabetes management, the type of sugar is just as important as the quantity. Fructose, a type of sugar found in many fruits, is preferable to glucose for individuals with diabetes, reported KhaoSod.

This is because fructose has a lower glycemic index, meaning it has less of an impact on blood sugar levels. However, it is also crucial to account for the sugars that break down from sucrose, which contains both glucose and fructose, said ThaiHealth.

“Diabetics should focus on fruits with higher fructose content over those rich in glucose and must consider the overall sugar composition, including sucrose-derived sugars.

“Understanding the sugar content in fruits helps in making better dietary decisions. It is not just the quantity that matters but also the type of sugar.”