The Best Sugar Free Foods

According to the book "The Sugar Fix: The High-Fructose Fallout That is Making You Sick and Fat," the largest source of calories in the average American diet comes from sugar. The average person consumes nearly half a pound of added sugar in their diet each day (Reference 1). Excess calories from sugar can lead to obesity, which can lead to a variety of negative health conditions, such as kidney disease and heart disease. Fortunately, many sugar-free foods are available that offer plenty of health benefits.

Vegetables

Most vegetables are sugar-free foods. Choose vegetables such as celery, spinach, kale, romaine lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, and cucumbers. Some examples of starchy vegetables that do contain natural sugars are corn, squash, carrots and potatoes. Vegetables are some of the best sugar-free foods because they are loaded with healthy vitamins, minerals and nutrients. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, the many health benefits associated with eating vegetables include lower blood pressure; reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and some cancers; decreased risk of digestive problems; and help with keeping blood sugar stable (Reference 4).

Meats

Lean sources of meat are excellent sugar-free food choices as well. According to the Mayo Clinic, meat and poultry are valuable sources of nutrients and protein (Reference 5). Choose lean sources of meat like chicken, turkey, beef sirloin, bison and fish. These meats are lower in saturated fat, which you should eat in limited quantities because it may lead to an increased risk of heart disease (Reference 5). Fish, in particular, is a sugar-free food that has many added health benefits. Fish contains heart healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, which are "good fats" that may help decrease your risk of heart disease.

Grains

Grains are among the best sugar-free foods when you eat them in the least processed form. This means you should choose whole wheat and whole grain products over products made with white flour (i.e., white bread, pasta and rice). Whole grains have all of their healthy nutrients intact. White (also known as "enriched") grains are stripped of most of their fiber and nutrient content. Choose grains such as whole wheat, bulgur, quinoa, brown rice and oats.

Beans and Seeds

Beans and seeds are among the best sugar-free foods you can eat. In their raw form, beans are seeds do not contain sugar, and are filled with healthy fiber, which helps regulate your digestive system. Eat beans and seeds such as garbanzo beans, navy beans, kidney beans, black beans, pinto beans, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds.