"Dried fruit is a convenient, tasty, and nutrient-rich snack food. But a lot of variables can determine just how "healthy" it actually is. Removing moisture affects the fruit in several important ways - and there's a chance of unexpected ingredients being introduced during processing. Unless you're drying fruit at home, it's a good idea to read package labeling to check for added sugars."
"Dried fruit has its pros and cons: It prolongs the enjoyment of seasonal fruits and improves accessibility, all while providing many of the same nutrients as fresh. In fact, the drying process concentrates all that goodness into a smaller form. But the catch is that, in doing so, it also concentrates the natural sugars. Ultimately, this makes them super tasty - but likely to have a lot more sugar than you think."
"Not all dried fruits have added sugar, and some varieties have less than others. Dried apricots, goji berries, and prunes tend to be lower in sugar, with an added benefit of more fiber and nutrients. When eaten in moderation, experts agree that dried fruit can be an excellent way to infuse your diet with important nutrients, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants."
Drying fruit removes moisture and concentrates both nutrients and inherent natural sugars into a smaller form. Packaged dried fruit can include unexpected ingredients or added sugars, so read nutrition labels for total and added sugars and scan ingredient lists for honey, fruit-juice concentrate, syrups, or words ending in "ose." Dried fruit prolongs availability of seasonal produce and improves accessibility while retaining many vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Some varieties such as dried apricots, goji berries, and prunes tend to be lower in sugar and higher in fiber. Consume dried fruit in moderation and use it to complement meals rather than as sole snacks.
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