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Which fruits raise blood sugar?

Some commonly eaten fresh fruits may raise your blood sugar more quickly than others. These include figs, grapes, mangos, cherries and bananas. Eat them in moderation and in the suggested serving size of one small fruit or 1/2 cup.

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Your body transforms the food you eat into fuel that helps it run smoothly. Its preferred fuel is glucose, a type of sugar that comes primarily from carbohydrates. Over time, too much sugar in the diet can trigger health problems, so it’s best to limit your sugar to natural sources like fruits, which also provide vitamin C and a wealth of other nutrients. Some fruits can raise blood sugar very quickly, however, and others have a more gradual effect.

Blood Sugar Levels

Processed foods with lots of added sugars – sodas, candy, desserts and baked goods – have the most immediate impact on your blood sugar levels. But even on what seems like a healthy diet, some of your food and beverage choices may negatively affect your blood sugar levels, causing them to peak and crash. When this happens, you might feel a brief burst of energy – a sugar rush – followed by a low point where you become tired and need to refuel. Keeping blood sugar levels on an even keel is key to overall good health, even if you aren’t diabetic or prediabetic. A balanced diet of regular meals that include some protein, carbs and fat helps you stay on track and avoid blood sugar levels that swing between being too high and too low.

Dried Fruits

Packed with minerals like iron and health-promoting phytonutrients, dried fruits are a smart addition to your diet. Because all the water is removed from them though, these fruits are concentrated bites of natural sugar. Pay attention to portion size when choosing dried fruits. A small box of raisins (1 ounce) looks like a modest serving that's super-convenient to bring with you to work, but it contains 20 grams of sugar. Apricots, currants and pineapple are other commonly dried fruits that may elevate your blood sugar. Another issue with dried fruits is that manufacturers may add sugar to an already high-sugar food; this is especially common with cereals containing raisins. Even in the bulk section of the supermarket, some dried fruits like blueberries or cranberries may have a fruit-juice sweetener. Check the ingredients list on the packaging to make sure your dried fruit is free of added sugar.

Canned Fruits

Canned fruits may be convenient because you can enjoy peaches at any time of the year, but those canned in syrup are notoriously high in sugar. Fruit cocktail may seem like a healthful, refreshing end to a meal, but brands packed in syrup contain 44 grams of sugar in a 1-cup serving. That’s more sugar than in a can of soda. When choosing canned fruit, look for brands packed in water. Better yet, help yourself to 1/2 cup of fresh berries – or a frozen variety without added sugar – for your dessert.

Fruit-Based Beverages

Fruit juices don’t have the benefit of fiber that fresh fruits provide. Fiber is an indigestible form of carbohydrate that slows the digestive process and helps keep your blood sugar steady. Without the fiber, fruit beverages turn to glucose quickly in your bloodstream. Like dried fruits, some brands may also have sugar added for flavor and to preserve them on the supermarket shelves. As a better option than a glass of orange juice, have fresh orange sections with your meal.

Other High-Sugar Fruits

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Does cranberry juice affect the heart?

It has also been found in recent research to have benefits on heart health, with a recent trial showing that a cranberry extract reduced stroke outcome, and is therefore increasingly prescribed for patients after a heart attack or heart surgery.

Heart disease patients in the UK taking the blood thinning drug warfarin have been warned to avoid cranberry juice, after reports that the drink increases the drug's potency. The UK's Committee on Safety of Medicines says it has received five reports since 1999 showing that the juice had a significant effect on the drug. One man died from a gastrointestinal haemorrhage after his blood clotting levels changed dramatically six weeks after starting to drink the juice. Cranberry juice is often used by women to prevent cystitis. It has also been found in recent research to have benefits on heart health, with a recent trial showing that a cranberry extract reduced stroke outcome, and is therefore increasingly prescribed for patients after a heart attack or heart surgery. However, the flavonoids in the fruit are known to inhibit cytochrome P450 activity, the enzymes used to break down warfarin. They have previously been found to interact with many other drugs too. "Until this possible interaction between cranberry juice and warfarin has been investigated further, it would be prudent for patients taking warfarin to be advised to limit or avoid drinking it,"​ the committee said. This week has seen reports from both sides of the Atlantic warning of the potentially dangerous interactions between natural remedies and prescription medication. Research presented at the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Harrogate revealed that a lack of consumer and health professional knowledge of herbals was putting people at risk. In the US, a study​ published in JAMA​ found that the herb St Johns wort, taken to treat depression and anxiety, could interfere with up to 50 per cent of medications taken by Americans, owing to its effects on CYP3A4 enzymes.

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