Relative Sweetness and Nutrients of Fruits

4 min readJan 18, 2017

Fruits and vegetables taste good, provide many health benefits, and are relatively inexpensive. They are a source of various nutrients vital for health and for maintenance of our human bodies. The core elements of fruits are: sugars, dietary fiber, and water. The energy (Calories) from fruits is also important, especially when fruits are part of a diet.

Types of Sugars in Fruits

The sweetness of foods depends on the types of sugars the foods contain. The types of sugars are shown below. The high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) percentage shows the proportion of fructose. The sweetness of these sugars and sweeteners is relative, and therefore some taste sweeter than others.

Relative Sweetness of Fruits

The composition of sugars is different for each fruit. Because fructose is sweeter than other sugars, fruits with more fructose taste sweeter.

The sweetest fruits are grapes, cherries, mangos, bananas, and apples.

Sweetness and Energy

The sweeter the fruit, the more energy it provides.

Nutrients in Fruits

Proteins are important nutrients for the human body. They are also a source of “fuel”. Proteins are needed for the growth and maintenance of the human body. They are the main structural component of all cells: body organs, skin, hair, and especially muscles.

Fructose, or fruit sugar is a monosaccharide found in fruits. It contains a lower amount of calories and glycemic index, which means that it does not boost blood sugar levels and improves blood sugar control. It is also considered the least carcinogenic sweetener.

Dietary fiber is the indigestible portion of fruit. It can (1) slow the breakdown of carbohydrates and absorption of sugar, helping with blood sugar control, (2) lower the risk of heart disease or stroke, (3) reduce the risk of acne or rashes, by helping move yeast and fungus out of the body, (4) enhance weight loss, by increasing the feeling of fullness, (5) lower the risk of gallstones and kidney stones, and brings a lot of other advantages.

Energy (Calories) is the expression of the value to the body as a “fuel”. Monitoring the amount of calories consumed as food per day, and adjusting it to the body’s necessities can contribute to an overall wellness. The general recommended limit of calories per day depends on age, gender, or physical activity.

Fruits also contain a high percentage of water. Nowadays there are many campaigns which promote the benefits of water, to be consumed daily, from 1.5 to 3 liters per day. But it may not be best to just drink water to hydrate our bodies. Dr. Howard Murad, associate clinic professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles argues that water stays much longer in our bodies and is better digested if we consume it in fruits and vegetables. “Healthy hydration is about the water you hold in the body, not the water you drink that passes straight through”.

Nutrients and the Prices of Fruits

The Higher the Fiber, The Lower the Sugar Content

The higher the fiber, the lower the sugar. Cranberries, blackberries and raspberries have the most fiber. Consuming a 100g serving of blackberries or raspberries supplies approximately 25% of the daily fiber requirement.

Fruit Prices Depend on Harvesting Costs

Fruit prices depend on harvesting labor costs. The smaller the fruit, the more meticulous the harvesting techniques, in order to keep the fruit unbruised. This is why small and delicate fruits like blueberries, raspberries and blackberries have higher prices. Cranberries are an exception, because harvesting is automated. The cranberry beds are flooded, above the vines. A harvester is then driven through the water, to remove the fruit from the vines.

The larger the fruit, the easier the harvest. They have a thicker peel, and are tougher. This is why watermelons and cantaloupes have a lower price per weight than other fruits.

Fruit Prices and Supply

Fruit prices are also affected by international supply and demand. Demand for dried figs, for example, is continuously increasing. This leads to a higher price for all types of figs, including fresh figs.

About 61% of the fresh figs come from just four countries: Turkey, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco. Because local demand cannot be satisfied with local production, fresh figs have to be imported to the US, resulting in high transportation costs.

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Originally posted from https://gettreatment.com/blog