The basis of every weight-loss journey is a fundamental change in diet, which instead should be a lifestyle that can be sustainable in the long run. Though fruits and vegetables are essential in all regimen, it is vital to be aware of those really help lose weight and those actually do not. In order to clear up the myths, now we list five fruits to avoid if we want to lose weight.

1. Banana

While banana is really healthy, it is a fruit that should be taken in moderation. One banana is generally 150 calories containing about 37 grams of carbohydrates, thanks to the excessive natural sugars in it. Eating too much of it can be one of the reasons of weight gain, thus it is recommended to consume one banana per day in total, for instance, as a healthy snack.

2. Watermelon

Watermelon can be super refreshing on hot, blazing summer days but it is important to know that in fact, it consists of water and mostly sugar, in higher amount than most fruits. Its glycaemic index (GI) is 72, which is considered to be a high score on the glycaemic scale. According to this, mixing it with other fruits in a fruit salad is just even worse and works like a huge plate of candies.

3. Dates

Though dates are mainly available in dried version, they are popular ingredients in vegan desserts and granolas, as sweetener. It is not a coincidence, dates contain the highest amount of sugar of any fruits, even more than pure glucose. The glycaemic index of them is 103, while the glucose is 100. In light of this, dates should be replaced with raisins or dried apricots if possible, which both has GI around 50 but moderation is recommended.

4. Pineapple

Since pineapple basically has a very sweet taste, it may not be surprising that it is also a fruit with high level of sugar. Its glycaemic index is 66 which is not extreme but it should possibly be replaced with peaches that have a lower glycaemic score of 42. On the other hand, always keep in mind that canned version of fruits usually packed in a super sweet sugary syrup that increase the fruit’s GI.

5. Grapes

Despite the fact that grapes are great for overall health, they actually comprise sugar and fats, hence not the best choice for a determined weight loss diet. 100 grams of grapes normally contain 16 grams of sugar and 67 calories that is enough to impede weight loss and instead promote gaining some pounds

Naturally, if you crave something sweet and delicious, the fruits mentioned above are still better choices than having chocolate, cookies or candy. Balance is key for a healthy lifestyle; the most important thing is only to know what really works and always keep the moderation.