Tamarind

Tamarind, native to tropical Africa and India, is also wildly popular in Mexico and the Caribbean. Sweet, tart, and delicious are the three best words to describe this fruit. High in vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, and potassium, consuming it 'as is' or making it into juice is a healthy choice for you and your family. In an interview, nutritionist Fatima Afana of the University of California at Davis, advised that tamarind, jamaica, watermelon and cantaloupe are great alternatives to sugar-filled sodas. They are just as sweet, but do not contain high levels of sugar. A high sugar intake could lead to the onset of diabetes and eventually obesity. Did you know that a can of 12-ounce soda contains the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar? According to Afana, “it is very important not to offer soda to our children because there is too much sugar in it.”