• February 23, 2026
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Certain fruits contain relatively few carbohydrates (carbs) and can be a healthy part of a keto, low-sugar, or diabetes-friendly diet without spiking blood sugar.

1. Raspberries

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Serving: 10 raspberries
Total carbs
: 2.26
Net carbs
: 1.02 g

Raspberries are low-carb, high-fiber fruits that contain antioxidants and vitamin C. They are especially beneficial for people with diabetes because they don’t spike blood sugar.

2. Kiwifruit

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Serving: 1 kiwifruit
Total carbs
: 10.5 g
Net carbs
: 8.25 g

Although they’re not the lowest-carb fruit on the list, kiwis still have a relatively low carb content for a fruit, while being packed with vitamin C, E, folate, potassium, and antioxidants.

In one study, researchers found that eating two kiwis with breakfast over seven weeks helps lower blood pressure, signifying that, like other fruits, kiwi can benefit cardiovascular health.

3. Strawberries

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Serving: 1 cup of whole strawberries
Total carbs
: 11.1 g
Net carbs
: 8.22 g

Strawberries are full of vitamin C and antioxidants that support the immune system and heart health. They are also relatively low in carbohydrates, making them a suitable snack, breakfast addition, or dessert replacement for people on low-carb diets.

4. Cranberries

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Serving: 1 cup of whole cranberries
Total carbs
: 12 g
Net carbs
: 8.4 g

Raw cranberries (as opposed to dried cranberries, which contain significantly more carbs) are a low-carb fruit. However, raw cranberries have a very tart, sour flavor that some people may not enjoy.

5. Coconut

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Serving: 1 cup of fresh coconut
Total carbs
: 12.9 g
Net carbs
: 5.25 g

Fresh, unsweetened coconut is high in fiber, meaning it has relatively few net carbs. If you buy packaged coconut, be sure to check the nutrition label to ensure it does not contain any added sugar.

6. Blackberries

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Serving: 1 cup
Total carbs
: 13.8 g
Net carbs
: 6.17 g

Blackberries are another berry with low net carbs due to their high fiber content. They also contain high levels of antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins, which have been linked to improved brain health, cognitive performance, and heart health.

7. Gooseberries

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Serving: 1 cup of gooseberries
Total carbs
: 15.3 g
Net carbs
: 8.85 g

Gooseberries are a good lower-carb alternative to grapes because they have a similar texture, with a lower carbohydrate profile.

Understanding Net Carbs

Fiber (present in fruit and other plant foods) is a type of carb that isn’t absorbed as well in the digestive tract, and therefore doesn’t affect blood sugar. Some people use “net carbs” (total carbs minus fiber) to reflect how many carbs your body may absorb from a particular food.

Unexpected Fruits to Include

Technically speaking, fruits are seed-bearing plants. Many foods that are typically thought of as vegetables are actually fruits, including the following:

  • Olives: 1 cup contains 5.18 g of carbs
  • Zucchini: 1 cup of raw zucchini contains 3.53 g of carbs
  • Tomatoes: 1 whole tomato contains 5.05 g of carbs
  • Avocado: 1 whole avocado contains 17.1 g of carbs (but 3.6 net carbs)
  • Cucumber: 1 regular-sized cucumber contains 5.9 g of carbs

Fruits to Avoid on a Low-Carb Diet

If you’re following a low-carb diet, you might want to limit how much you eat of the following high-sugar fruits:

  • Apricots
  • Cantaloupe
  • Dates
  • Dried fruit
  • Lychee
  • Pineapple
  • Ripe plantains

However, it’s important to remember that fruit of any kind can be part of a healthy, balanced diet. Although some fruits naturally contain more sugar than others, fruit also contains essential vitamins and nutrients like vitamin C, E, potassium, magnesium, antioxidants, and more.

Diets high in fruit, regardless of their carb status, have been associated with many health benefits, such as:

  • Blood sugar management
  • Decreased risk of colon cancer
  • Decreased risk of pancreatic diseases
  • Improve mental health
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. USDA FoodData Central. Raspberries, raw.

  2. Burton-Freeman BM, Sandhu AK, Edirisinghe I. Red raspberries and their bioactive polyphenols: cardiometabolic and neuronal health linksAdvances in Nutrition. 2016;7(1):44. doi: 10.3945/an.115.009639

  3. USDA FoodData Central. Kiwi fruit, raw.

  4. Richardson DP, Ansell J, Drummond LN. The nutritional and health attributes of kiwifruit: a reviewEuropean Journal of Nutrition. 2018;57(8):2659. doi: 10.1007/s00394-018-1627-z

  5. Monro J, Lubransky A, Mishra S, et al. Metabolic and blood pressure effects of consuming two kiwifruit daily for 7 weeks: a randomised controlled trialNutrients. 2022;14(13):2678. doi:10.3390/nu14132678

  6. USDA FoodData Central. Strawberries, raw

  7. USDA FoodData Central. Cranberries, raw.

  8. USDA FoodData Central. Coconut, fresh.

  9. US Department of Agriculture FoodData Central. Blackberries, raw.

  10. Xu L, Tian Z, Chen H, et al. Anthocyanins, anthocyanin-rich berries, and cardiovascular risks: systematic review and meta-analysis of 44 randomized controlled trials and 15 prospective cohort studiesFront Nutr. 2021;8:747884. doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.747884

  11. Martins MS, Gonçalves AC, Alves G, et al. Blackberries and mulberries: berries with significant health-promoting propertiesInt J Mol Sci. 2023;24(15):12024. doi:10.3390/ijms241512024

  12. USDA FoodData Central. Gooseberries, raw.

  13. USDA FoodData Central. Olives, green.

  14. USDA FoodData Central. Summer squash, green, raw.

  15. USDA FoodData Central. Tomatoes, raw.

  16. USDA FoodData Central. Avocados, raw, all commercial varieties.

  17. USDA FoodData Central. Cucumber, raw.

  18. Angelino D, Godos J, Ghelfi F, et al. Fruit and vegetable consumption and health outcomes: an umbrella review of observational studiesInternational Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. 2019;70(6):652-667. doi:10.1080/09637486.2019.1571021

  19. Głąbska D, Guzek D, Groele B, et al. Fruit and vegetable intake and mental health in adults: a systematic reviewNutrients. 2020;12(1):115. doi:10.3390/nu12010115

  20. Du H, Li L, Bennett D, et al. Fresh fruit consumption and major cardiovascular disease in ChinaN Engl J Med. 2016;374(14):1332-1343. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1501451

Brown haired white woman wearing a light blue sweater looks directly into camera

By Sarah Bence, OTR/L

Bence is an occupational therapist with a range of work experience in mental healthcare settings. She is living with celiac disease and endometriosis.



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