Hi, We were talking about fruit and its alleged high sugar content. I thought it worth enumerating the actual contents. On average fruit has 60% more sugar than vegetables. Many of the vegetables are 3% sugar (less than any fruit). Fructose or fruit sugar, is 3 times sweeter than sucrose (found in vegetables ?). Fructose energy utilisation does not require insulin, it is therefore preferred for diabetics, in addition it does not necessarily raise blood sugar levels. (check fructose packets at a health food store) There are plenty of fruits with less sugar in them than seaweed or dandelion greens! Obviously since fruit contains more calories (on average), one will have to eat less as compared to vegetables to meet calorific requirements. It is no surprise that some apes prefer fruit to vegetables. That commercial fruit is "high" in sugar may be of concern to our teeth, if true. However, plenty of the 'wild' fruits, blackburries, elderburries, currants, blueberries and so forth are rich in sugar- wonder if they are cultivated? Sprouts also yield significant amounts of carbohydrates, see the pea sprout. I read that apes ferment in their bowels, so the effects of fruit sugar intake to these levels may be natural. Since nature has designed fruits for animals to eat (and not leaves, stems or roots) it would seem more sensible to eat them. One question: what are the sugar contents of wild fruits and vegetables? I do not think they will be much different. I'm also wondering if captive apes, fed on agricultural fruit suffer tooth decay. any answers? TIA love, John --------------------------------------- Carbohydrate content of commercial fruit and veg- USDA Agricultural Handbook #8. Vegetable Carbohydrate g/100g Fruit Carbohydrate g/100g WATERCRESS,RAW 1 RHUBARB,RAW ? 4 TARO SHOOTS,RAW 2 ROSE-APPLES,RAW 5 SQUASH,ZUCCHINI,RAW 2 MELON,CASABA,RAW 6 PUMPKIN LEAVES,RAW 2 AVOCADO,RAW,CALIFORN ? 6 LETTUCE,ICEBERG,RAW 2 OHELOBERRY,RAW 6 CUCUMBER,RAW 2 PITANGA, RAW 7 CORIANDER,RAW 2 ACEROLA,RAW 7 LETTUCE,BUTTRHD,RAW 2 AVOCADO,RAW,ALL VAR 7 NEW ZEAL SPINACH,RAW 2 WATERMELON,RAW 7 CABBAGE,PAK-CHOI,RAW 2 STRAWBERRIES,RAW 7 RADISH SPROUTS,RAW 3 CARAMBOLA,RAW 7 CELERY, RAW 3 MELON,CANTALOUP,RAW 8 BALSAM-PEAR LEAF,RAW 3 AVOCADO,RAW,FLORIDA 8 SQUASH,SCALLOP,RAW 3 PAPAYAS,RAW 9 CELTUCE,RAW 3 PRICKLYPEARS,RAW 9 BALSAM-PEAR POD,RAW 3 STRAWBRRY,FRZ,WO/SUG 9 CHARD,SWISS,RAW 3 LEMON,RAW,WO/PEEL 9 CORNSALAD,RAW 3 MELON,HONEYDEW,RAW 9 WAXGOURD,RAW 3 MULLBERRIES,RAW 9 GOURD,WHITE-FLWR,RAW 3 veg av > PUMMELO,RAW 9 BUTTERBUR,RAW 3 GOOSEBERRIES,RAW 10 VINESPINACH,RAW 3 LEMON,RAW,W/PEEL 10 SWAMP CABBAGE,RAW 3 PEARS, ASIAN, RAW 10 ENDIVE,RAW 3 FEIJOA,RAW 10 RADISHES,RAW 3 LIME,RAW 10 MUSTARD SPINACH,RAW 3 PEACH,RAW 11 PURSLANE,RAW 3 ROSELLE,RAW 11 ARUGULA, RAW 3 NECTARINE,RAW 11 POKEBERRY SHOOTS,RAW 3 TANGERINES,RAW 11 DOCK,RAW 3 GROUNDCHERRIES,RAW 11 SPINACH,RAW 3 ORANGE,RAW,ALL VARIE 11 ALFALFA,SPROUTED,RAW 3 APRICOTS,RAW 11 BORAGE,RAW 3 ORANGE,RAW,CAL NAVEL 11 PUMPKIN FLOWERS,RAW 3 RASPBERRIES,RAW 11 SQSH,ZUCH,BABY,RAW 3 GUAVAS,RAW,COMMON 11 BEET GREENS,RAW 3 ORANGE,RAW,CAL VALEN 11 CBBGE,PE-TSAI,RAW 3 ORANGE,RAW FLORIDA 11 SQUASH,CROOKNECK,RAW 4 CHERRY,SOUR,RED,RAW 12 GOURD,DISHCLOTH,RAW 4 MAMMY-APPLE,RAW 12 CHIVES,RAW 4 LOQUAT,RAW 12 CHRYSANTHEMUM,RAW 4 BLACKBERRIES,RAW 12 SQUASH,SMR,ALL,RAW 4 PINEAPPLE,RAW 12 CARDOON,RAW 4 CRANBERRY,RAW 12 ASPARAGUS,RAW 4 CURRANT,RED/WHTE RAW 13 WINGED BEANS RAW 4 PASSN-FRT J,PURP,RAW 13 RADDICCHIO, RAW 4 PLUMS,RAW 13 MUSTARD GREENS,RAW 4 CARISSA,RAW 13 CHICORY,WITLOOF,RAW 4 APPLE,RAW,WO/SKIN 14 COWPEAS,LEAF,RAW 4 KIWIFRUIT,RAW,FRESH 14 MUSHROOMS,RAW 4 BLUEBERRIES,RAW 14 AMARANTH,RAW 4 PASSN-FRT JU,YEL,RAW 14 BEAN SPRTS,KIDNY,RAW 4 KIWIFRUIT,RAW,STORED 14 CHICORY GREENS,RAW 4 PEARS,RAW 15 TOMATO,RED,RIPE,RAW 4 APPLE,RAW,W/SKIN 15 TOMATILLOS, RAW 5 CURRANT,EUR,BLCK,RAW 15 JUTE,POTHERB,RAW 5 LONGANS,RAW 15 CABBAGE,STORED,RAW 5 ORANGE,RAW,W/PEEL 15 CABBAGE,FR HRVST,RAW 5 JAVA-PLUM,RAW 15 CAULIFLOWER,RAW 5 QUINCES,RAW 15 BROCCOLI,LEAVES,RAW 5 KUMQUAT,RAW 16 BEAN SPROUT,MUNG,RAW 5 LYCHEE,RAW 16 TOMATO,GREEN,RAW 5 LEMON PEEL,RAW 16 CRESS,GARDEN,RAW 5 CHERRY,SWEET,RAW 16 BROCCOLI,FLWR CL,RAW 5 SOURSOP,RAW 16 BROCCOLI,RAW 5 GRAPES,RAW,AMER TYPE 17 BROCCOLI,STALKS,RAW 5 MANGO,RAW 17 TURNIP GREENS,RAW 5 GUAVAS,RAW,STRAWBRRY 17 CHAYOTE,FRUIT,RAW 5 GRAPES,RAW,EURO TYPE 17 SEAWEED,LAVER,RAW 5 POMEGRANATES,RAW 17 BAMBOO SHOOTS,RAW 5 PERSIMMON,JAPAN RAW 18 CABBAGE,RAW 5 ELDERBERRIES,RAW 18 JEW'S EAR,RAW 6 SAPODILLA,RAW 19 KOHLRABI,RAW 6 FIGS,RAW 19 PEPPERS,SW,RED,RAW 6 CRABAPPLE,RAW 19 ONION,WELSH,RAW 6 JUJUBE,RAW 20 SQUASH,SPAGHETTI,RAW 6 STRAWBERRY,HVY SIRUP 23 EGGPLANT,RAW 6 SUGAR-APPLE,RAW 23 TARO,TAHITIAN,RAW 6 BANANA,RAW 23 PEPPER,SWT,YELL,RAW 6 PASSION-FR,PURPL,RAW 23 CABBAGE,RED,RAW 6 JACKFRUIT,RAW 24 CABBAGE,SAVOY,RAW 6 CHERIMOYA,RAW 24 SWEETPOTATO LEAV,RAW 6 CUSTARD-APPLE,RAW 25 TARO LEAVES,RAW 6 BREADFRUIT,RAW 27 SESBANIA FLOWER,RAW 6 PLANTAIN,RAW 31 PEPPERS, SWEET, RAW 6 SAPOTES,RAW 33 PARSLEY,RAW 6 PERSIMMON,NATIVE,RAW 33 PUMPKIN,RAW 6 TAMARINDS,RAW 62 SEAWEED,AGAR,RAW 6 average 15g/100g TURNIPS,RAW 6 ONIONS, SPRING, RAW 7 LAMBSQUARTERS, RAW 7 BEAN,SNAP,GREEN,RAW 7 BEAN,SNAP,YELLOW,RAW 7 MUSHROOM,ENOKI,RAW 7 COLLARDS, RAW 7 OKRA,RAW 7 PEAS,EDIBLE POD,RAW 7 FENNEL,BULB,RAW 7 KALE,SCOTCH,RAW 8 SQUASH,WNTR,ALL,RAW 8 CARROTS,BABY,RAW 8 YAMBEAN,RAW 8 HORSERAD TREEPOD,RAW 8 YARDLONG BEAN,RAW 8 SQUASH,HUBBARD,RAW 8 ONIONS, RAW 8 BRUSSELS SPROUTS RAW 8 RUTABAGAS,RAW 8 COWPEAS,YNG POD,RAW 9 CELERIAC,RAW 9 BEETS,RAW 9 PEPPER,HOT CHILI,RAW 9 SOYBEANS,SPROUTS,RAW 9 SEAWEED,KELP,RAW 9 SEAWEED,WAKAME,RAW 9 DANDELION GREENS,RAW 9 HYACINTH-BEANS,RAW 9 KALE,RAW 10 ARTICHOKES, RAW 10 SQUASH,ACORN,RAW 10 CARROTS,RAW 10 SOYBEANS,GRN,RAW 11 BROADBEANS,RAW 11 SQUASH,BUTTERNUT,RAW 11 POTATOES,SKIN,RAW 12 BEAN SPROUT,NAVY,RAW 13 WINGED BEAN,LEAV,RAW 14 LEEKS,RAW 14 PEAS, GREEN, RAW 14 GINGER ROOT,RAW 15 < fruit av MOUNTAIN YAM,HI,RAW 16 SHALLOTS,RAW 16 CHICORY ROOTS,RAW 17 BURDOCK ROOT,RAW 17 PARSNIPS,RAW 17 POTATOES,FLESH,RAW 17 LOTUS ROOT,RAW 17 COWPEAS, RAW 18 SALSIFY,RAW 18 CORN,WHITE,RAW 19 SUCCOTASH,RAW 19 CORN,SW,YW,RAW 19 ARROWHEAD,RAW 20 BEAN,LIMA,RAW 20 LENTILS,SPROUTED,RAW 22 PIGEONPEAS,RAW 23 SWEETPOTATO,RAW 24 TARO,RAW 26 CASSAVA,RAW 26 YAM,RAW 27 WINGD BEAN,TUBER,RAW 28 PEA,SPROUTED,RAW 28 EPPAW,RAW 31 GARLIC,RAW 33 average 9g/100g // The Vegan Bikers Home Page: http://www.nildram.co.uk/veganmc