The Worst Fruits You Can Buy For Your Health

Fruits are some of the best foods you can eat for your health, right? Well… not always. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there are some fruits you should avoid if you’re trying to lose weight and improve your health.

While fruits are generally very healthy due to their high nutrient and antioxidant content, not all fruits are created equal. Here are some of the worst fruits you can buy if you’re watching your weight or your health.

Dates

This one is hard for me to put on this list because I love the taste of dates. They almost have a caramel-like flavor that I adore in pies and other recipes. But the truth is, dates are extremely high in calories and sugar when compared to most other fruits. A single cup of dates contains 451 calories and 101 grams of sugar! You might as well go eat a donut!

Even though dates also contain antioxidants and micronutrients such as magnesium, copper and potassium, the extra sugar and calories may cancel out those benefits. If you’re trying to drop pounds, you should definitely scratch dates off your meal planner.

Candied Fruit

Candied fruit is delicious. But, like many other sinfully tasty things in life, it’s not a wise dietary choice for health-conscious people. As the name suggests, candied fruit is soaked and heated in a sugary syrup. This is what gives it that super-sweet flavor and impressive shelf life.

Just one serving of candied fruit contains as many as 322 calories and 81 grams of sugar. You’re much better off reaching for a cup of fresh berries.

Dried Fruits

If you’re a fan of trail mix, you’ve probably enjoyed your fair share of dried fruits in your lifetime. Unfortunately, dried fruits do not have the same nutritional profile per serving as fresh fruits. Dried fruits generally contain a higher number of calories and sugar per serving than their fresh counterparts. A single handful of dried fruits contains more calories and sugar than the same amount of fresh fruit.

Instead of reaching for a handful of dried fruit, keep slices of fresh fruit in your refrigerator so you can grab it when you want a refreshing, healthy snack. If you’re going on a hike or trip and worry about keeping fresh fruit safe, you can take dried fruit with you as long as you consume it in moderation.

Other than the culprits on this list, most fruits are incredibly good for you. So don’t be shy about sinking your teeth into a plump red apple or a juicy orange.