Apricots are one of those beautiful tasty fruits that go with summer. They are packed full of nutrients and have some little known uses in the form of health benefits. Fortunately, when they are out of season they are readily available in tinned or dried form. If you are using dried apricots and are trying to avoid eating the food preservative sulphur dioxide (220) look for dark colored fruit. The bright orange color of dried apricots is obtained from using sulphur dioxide. The preservative free dried apricots are quite dark in color, and sometimes not quite as soft.
Some Nutrients in Apricots:- Beta carotene - Our bodies convert some of this into Vitamin A. The rest is a powerful antioxidant
- Lycopene
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Dietary Fiber
- Potassium
- Iron
- Phosphorus
- Calcium
Some Health Benefits- Heart protecting nutrients
- Good for eye health
- Protect LDL cholesterol from oxidation - Good for the heart
- Fiber is good for colon health
- Good for weight. Three apricots have about 50 calories.
- Can help protect against stroke
Some studies are showing that diets high in beta carotene can also help in delaying the aging of the brain and hold the effects of Alzheimer's disease at bay. With that being the case, it is good news that there is more beta carotene in canned apricots than in fresh. This is because the heat in the process releases more beta carotene from the cell walls of the fruit.
Georgina Cundall's ebook
Fabulous Fruits & Vital Vegetables gives lots of health benefits for many different fruits and vegetables, as well as plenty of tips and recipes for tasty eating.
Check it out, and see if it can make the difference in your healthy diet plan.
Eat healthy and stay happy,
Jocelyn
No comments:
Post a Comment